Classic Style Tennis and the Club Player

[Ash Doyle]

Most articles and lessons one read about tennis technique mentions that the modern style game with it’s western-style grips and open stances require better timing and a higher level of athleticism to execute well when compared to the classic style game with it’s eastern forehand and closed stance. Most books also state that at the club level matches are won through consistency more than anything else. Since the classic style of tennis technique is easier to execute and has a greater margin for error, it would seem to me that it would be easier to be consistent and avoid errors. For the average club player, what would be the pros and cons of learning this style?

[Camilio Pascual]

Club players are much older than pro players. It seems a technique that requires better timing and a higher level of athleticism would be foolsih to learn by older players and non-pros who don't have the time to get to a higher level of athleticism. We are also generally comparing world class athletes to people who were good high school and college athletes. So those would be some cons to learning the pro styles. Another may be that it is not winning tennis at many club levels. These are genearalizations, a club player can be a 65 year old 3.5 doubles matron or a 22 year old 5.5 who did well in college tennis.