What do coaches bring to the table?

[doubletrouble]

It seems like all the top players feel a coach is an essential part of their game...I know except of course Federer but what part of the equation is the coach?

Agassi hires Gilbert and revives his career....Agassi fires Gilbert and hires Cahill who Hewitt just fired. Roddick hires Gilbert and wins the US Open. Henman hires Annacone does great at the French but still can't win Wimbledon. What does it all mean or is it just musical coaches?

So how much does a coach figure in a players success? Could Agassi have done what he did without Gilbert? He certainly had the talent but it took Gilbert to bring it all together. And Gilbert certainly brings some intangibles along with his knowledge of the game and I think that is what has brought Roddicks game up to a new level.

Is it strategy, a style of play, philosophy or something else that the coach brings to the table?

[VictorS.]

I think coaches can play a number of roles depending on their expertise and strengths. Brad Gilbert, for example, is know very much as a strategist. Both Agassi and Roddick improved tremendously mentally under the guidance of Gilbert. Gilbert is admittedly not much of a technician (sp?)...he doesn't really tinker too much with his player's strokes and form.