Importance of height (or not so much)

[andfor]

Originally Posted by Soianka

......Certainly, there are exceptions where really short players do really well like Cibulkova, Coetzer, and Olivier Rochus.

Ditto. Don't let stereotypes rule your thinking let alone better judgement (which involves your child's happiness). Remember, and with prudence, when we leave this place we can't take our money with us.

[D1 Parent]

Originally Posted by Dadof10s

Oh my goodness, what is with you people? Since I have read this forum I have seen people accuse Stefan Kozlov of lying about his age, accuse a mother of lying that soft ball smashing bothered her child's shoulder, and now accusing parents of drugging their children with growth hormone. This is very ridiculous stuff. HGH can add about 2 inches if given from a very young age at a cost of $2000 ever month, the effect stops immediately when it is stopped. The side effects for those 2 inches are massive, head aches, blurred vision, swollen hands and feet. Yeah, sounds like a realistic thing that they did when her dad showed up in USA with $11 and drove a cab for 5 years. Or maybe she just has a grandfather who was 6'5'?

I am so glad my kid is now playing college tennis. This stuff is comical.

[tennis5]

Originally Posted by Dadof10s

Oh my goodness, what is with you people? Since I have read this forum I have seen people accuse Stefan Kozlov of lying about his age, accuse a mother of lying that soft ball smashing bothered her child's shoulder, and now accusing parents of drugging their children with growth hormone. This is very ridiculous stuff. HGH can add about 2 inches if given from a very young age at a cost of $2000 ever month, the effect stops immediately when it is stopped. The side effects for those 2 inches are massive, head aches, blurred vision, swollen hands and feet. Yeah, sounds like a realistic thing that they did when her dad showed up in USA with $11 and drove a cab for 5 years. Or maybe she just has a grandfather who was 6'5'?

The real negative effects of HGH show up in the next generation. Junior's kids.

[tennis5]

Originally Posted by ndtennisfan

Curious if anybody has any thoughts regarding height as a factor in playing beyond juniors. It seems that there are quite a few juniors who are exceptional athletes and all-around players (Grace Min, Lauren Davis), but who struggle a bit to overcome the wingspan and power of the 5'9" plus women on the WTA. I can't help but compare it to basketball, where passion will get you through high school if you're a 5'5" male, but unless you're Muggsy Bogues your dream typically ends there. Just wonder if that's ever a consideration for other parents looking at spending tens of thousands of dollars over the years after age 13'ish, or even if it should be.

Being short in any sport, except gymnastics, is a disadvantage.

Spend the money if your junior is passionate about playing a sport, any sport.

Don't spend the money if you think of it as an investment for college or the pros, as the money would be better off in the bank earning interest.

[pvsportsfan]

Originally Posted by tennis5

Being short in any sport, except gymnastics, is a disadvantage.

Spend the money if your junior is passionate about playing a sport, any sport.

Don't spend the money if you think of it as an investment for college or the pros, as the money would be better off in the bank earning interest.

I agree. My kids are naturally short but I spend money on their sports because they like to play. Same with music lesson, dance, chess, etc. It's not an investment for college or pros. My investment for their college is in the tutors, SAT assistance programs, etc.

When they play any sport, height or size isn't even an issue. They have fun and they can even win. Pros? Nah, they don't need that - they're better off being well-rounded, academically-accomplished and getting a career path that will end up more valuable than some sports pro career in the long run.

In tennis, my 4'11" 12-year old daughter has even played up at 16s and 18s Open Doubles tourneys just for fun (partnering with an equally young player). No she's not a phenom but she does regularly beat older girls (including a couple who got college scholies --- and we all got a kick out of that) who are nearly a foot taller with outrageous disparity in wingspan. She's not thinking height when she plays. That same daughter also plays Los Angeles travel ball basketball where height is more of a premium, but again, height for a point guard isn't as valuable as quickness, vision, skill and a bunch of other things. With travel ball BB, she hangs out with older division girls who will get college scholies, and I'm sure she could be one herself if she wanted to push it, height notwithstanding, but what's the point? We spend money on both sports for her because she enjoys them.

[Soianka]

Originally Posted by tennis5

Being short in any sport, except gymnastics, is a disadvantage.

Spend the money if your junior is passionate about playing a sport, any sport.

Don't spend the money if you think of it as an investment for college or the pros, as the money would be better off in the bank earning interest.

Being short is also an advantage in figure skating. There are probably some other sports where being short can be an advantage.

[chalkflewup]

What about limbo dancing?

[tennis5]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

What about limbo dancing?

Being a jockey?

[jht32]

Being taller is an advantage in most sports, but I'm thinking that tennis is not near the top of the list in terms of the importance of height. Therefore, tennis is not a bad sport to choose if you are vertically challenged.

Off the top of my head, this is my list of the importance of height in different sports. Of course, some team sports have different positions where the importance of height is different.

Volleyball, Basketball
Swimming
Football
Lacrosse
Tennis, Golf
Baseball
Soccer
Cross Country
Gymnastics, Diving

Success at tennis is determined by so many other factors that are even more important than height, such as mental strength, hand-eye coordination, quickness, etc. These factor can all be "measured", but none as easily or accurately as height. Because of the ease of measuring height, it leads people to take the easy road and put too much emphasis on height as a measuring stick.

[ClarkC]

Originally Posted by Soianka

Being short is also an advantage in figure skating. There are probably some other sports where being short can be an advantage.

Distance runners need low body weight and are therefore shorter than average as a group.

[pvsportsfan]

Originally Posted by jht32

Being taller is an advantage in most sports, but I'm thinking that tennis is not near the top of the list in terms of the importance of height. Therefore, tennis is not a bad sport to choose if you are vertically challenged.

...

Success at tennis is determined by so many other factors that are even more important than height, such as mental strength, hand-eye coordination, quickness, etc. These factor can all be "measured", but none as easily or accurately as height. Because of the ease of measuring height, it leads people to take the easy road and put too much emphasis on height as a measuring stick.

Some sports where height is a complete non-factor include the following. In fact, you will see that height is even a disadvantage in some of these.

Powerlifting - This is not a trivial sport. There is a vast pool of participants nowadays as many major sports have adopted this sport's exercises. At the elite level, height is a disadvantage. I remember Anthony Clark (bless his soul), one of the sport's great superheavyweight superstars, while weighing in the mid-300s, was listed at 5'8", although homeboy was closer to 5'6". This type of height is not an exception in this sport.

US Olympic Weightlifting - See above.

Archery - It may be surprising to some, but this is not a niche, kooky sport. This activity has been around for thousands of years, practiced by many cultures around the world. Do a Google search on US Olympic women championship teams and you will be surprised to see how short the gold medal teams are. Every single one of the women Olympic championship teams, since the inception of women's archery in the Olympics, without exception, are the same type of stock (short) as Grace Min. Those of you who know this sport know what I mean.

Shooting - This is an important Olympic sport and something that every country in the world does (not Olympics, but the activity itself) to some extent. Height is completely irrelevant. Although not for sports, in my opinion the greatest shooter of all time was a sniper from Finland named Simo Hayha. He is credited with over 700 kills in WWII. The guy was 5-feet tall. Yes, that's 5-feet even.

50 meter to 100 meter sprints - Usain Bolt is an exception. Go to a high school meet and see for yourself. Don't go to a high school in the boonies or an area with rich kids paying for lessons and "starring" in dual meets. Go to an urban high school please. The best you can say is that height is a non-factor, but you will see many, many fast sprinters who are shorter than the norm.

Boxing - I know this is debatable. I will argue that it is a matter of styles. There are many different styles in this sport that can be potentially successful. A height-based style can be successful, but so can a different style.

-------------
So that's my list. And I like these because they represent sports that have carryover value to other sports and other activities in life.

[slice bh compliment]

Squash and racquetball professionals tend not to be tall.
Elite cyclists are not usually tall.

[tennis_ocd]

I'd think that height isn't really factor for 99.9% of tennis players ... actually a great highschool sport for an undersized child.

[pvsportsfan]

Originally Posted by tennis_ocd

I'd think that height isn't really factor for 99.9% of tennis players ... actually a great highschool sport for an undersized child.

That pretty much sums it, I think.

Locally, here in the Los Angeles area, one only need look at rosters of the various sports in high school and that observation applies. Tennis is a refuge for the undersized kids. Not only that, but for those who may not be as physically imposing. Just start young, pay for private lessons for years, and presto. In mainstream major sports for boys, and basketball and softball for girls, there are what are called "studs" -- physical specimens in dimension, speed, strength, etc. You rarely see that in tennis. In tennis, it is not rare to see a 5-feet little kid beat legitimate 17-year old high school players regularly (I see that a lot locally) just by skills alone. Can't happen in the major mainstream sports.

[Number1Coach]

Originally Posted by Soianka

Wow, personal attack much?

OMG, people didn't believe a suspect story of a 9 year old playing a 2 hour, 45minute match even though QS has abbreviated scoring and most junior matches of older kids don't last 2 hours and 45 minutes and certainly don't result in calluses after 1 match.

But we shouldn't dare question a questionable story because it will offend your delicate sensibilities.

Get a grip, please.

I was at Claremont and witnessed Coy Jones and Alyssa Smith play a 5 1/2 hr match ,, they started before us (1st match) and finished after we played our 2nd match of the day .

[andfor]

Originally Posted by Number1Coach

I was at Claremont and witnessed Coy Jones and Alyssa Smith play a 5 1/2 hr match ,, they started before us (1st match) and finished after we played our 2nd match of the day .

If that's a 3 set match, which it probably was that still comes out to less than 2 hours a set. For a QS match using the abbreviated scoring format to last 2:45 is a little hard to believe. Not saying it did not happen just that what's in print is not always reliable.

[tennis5]

Brad Gilbert is the voice at the Australian Open.

So funny.

Not his direct quotes below, but somewhat.

He is talking about Ferrer. He says his height is listed as 5'9.

Something like yeah maybe with his shoes on.

But, then says he gives hope to all the short guys out there.

The other commentator said, "and the balls are so low, it helps to be short".

[ndtennisfan]

Interesting article which touches on both height and physicality (in the womens game): http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1226249833651

[Love10s]

Originally Posted by andfor

If that's a 3 set match, which it probably was that still comes out to less than 2 hours a set. For a QS match using the abbreviated scoring format to last 2:45 is a little hard to believe. Not saying it did not happen just that what's in print is not always reliable.

Actually, I find it very easy to believe. I think the problem is that some posters from other sections aren't aware that the system in SoCal is different.

Jan. 1, 2012, was the first time SoCal went QS. Before that, all 10U tourneys were regulation balls. This year, 10U are all green ball. They also are REGULAR SCORING.

I checked, and this particular tournament in Lakewood, Calif., was best of 3 sets, with a match tiebreak to 10 in lieu of the third set. The match in question was 4-6, 7-6, 1-0 (1).

Now, I've seen a lot of 10U matches in SoCal over the years, and I can tell you firsthand that some of them are quite long--yes, even 3 hours. And that was with yellow balls. Remember, the green balls are advertised as "resulting in longer rallies."

[Misterbill]

Y'all are talking height, as in vertical, right?

I think the biggest factor is wingspan.....horizontal.

For most humans, height = wingspan.

The ability to get to a ball is based on quickness+speed+wingspan. If a player is short (small wingspan) that deficiency can be made up through quickness and speed.

That's why a short, agile player can often out-get a tall, clunky player.

Verticality provides better angles on serves and overheads, but except for that, I assess height for what it means to horizontal wingspan.