6 Feet or so possibly the idea height in tennis !

[Ty Ana Williams]

What is the perfect height in tennis today ? We say 6' or so. Unlike other sports, this height is the idea balance for the ultimate tennis player. Today's tennis speed, quickness, and reflex as well as the talent, mind set and hard work. Just take a look at the best in the Open Era. 6 Feet or so possibly the idea height in tennis !

Agassi 8 slams 5' 11"

Ashe 3 slams 6' 1"

Borg 11 slams 5' 11"

Connors 8 slams 5' 9"

Courier 4 slams 6' 1"

Edberg 6 slam 6" 1"

I could finish this way but I'll just get to the best of the best

Sampras 14 slams 6" 1"

Federer 12 slams 6' 1"

McEnroe 7 slams 5' 11"

Laver 11 slams 5' 8"

I could mention the players over 6' 2, but the tall list will make my point.

Height in this game don't get you much, just a nice profile.

On the other hand this rule don't apply to the Ladies 8)

Ty Ana Williams "The best to be"

 

[VGP]

This is news how?

About 25 years ago, the average height for top male tennis players was 5' 10", now it's 6' 1".

Below 5' 9" you've gotta rely on speed and quick hands. Speed goes away with age and injury.

Above 6' 3" you're gonna have knee and hip problems due to lateral movement, or you'll blow out your shoulder or suffer abdominal tears because you've had to rely on your serve too much.

 

[Leublu tennis]

This is news how?

About 25 years ago, the average height for top male tennis players was 5' 10", now it's 6' 1".

Below 5' 9" you've gotta rely on speed and quick hands. Speed goes away with age and injury.

Above 6' 3" you're gonna have knee and hip problems due to lateral movement, or you'll blow out your shoulder or suffer abdominal tears because you've had to rely on your serve too much.

Thanks. 6'1" average today? I would have thought it was higher.

 

[Lefty5]

I'm 6' 1", doesn't seem to be helping me much... :-(

 

[hollywood9826]

Well maybe the average says something. But I think ideally 6'3" or 6'4" would the best. Most people tend to agree that if not for Safins head he would be right up there as far as physical tools are concerned.

NBA more and more are measuring wingspan of prospects, maybe that has something to do with it in tennis.

Roger appears to have long arms for 6'1" so maybe a height of 73 inches with a 76 or 77 inch wingsopan would be ideal.

 

[Jonnyf]

Stats are flawed because the ATP's profile's aren't accurate. Harsh but true :wink:

 

[hollywood9826]

Obviously the accuracy of the profiles would be in question. Pete looked to be more than 2inches taller than Andre.

 

[VGP]

Well maybe the average says something. But I think ideally 6'3" or 6'4" would the best. Most people tend to agree that if not for Safins head he would be right up there as far as physical tools are concerned.

NBA more and more are measuring wingspan of prospects, maybe that has something to do with it in tennis.

Roger appears to have long arms for 6'1" so maybe a height of 73 inches with a 76 or 77 inch wingsopan would be ideal.

Yes and no.

Safin's head as always been a factor, but lately his knee and ankle have been more of a problem....

How many guys 6' 3" and up have had career ending injuries that involve their knees and hips? Or shoulders like I said before? Quite a few.

 

[sureshs]

How do you know it the ideal height since really tall players like Querrey, Mirnyi, Isner or Karlovic did not exist in the old days?

 

[Racer41c]

I think your hitting close, but your missing what I think is the key point. It's my observation that short legs makes a player "first step quick" which is a huge benefit in tennis, baseball and a lot of other sports. Long legs are a much better benefit when it comes to straight line speed.

Which is why I've always thought Sampras was the proto type. Fairly big guy with short legs.

 

[quest01]

I would say 6'1 is the ideal height because both Federer and Sampras are both that height.

 

[fastdunn]

In general, top 5, 10, 25 players were taller in 90's, when it was around 6'1" and peaked
at over 6'2+ in 1999.

Now it went down a few inches, it often goes slightly under 6 foot(183 cm) since sometime in mid-2003.

Currently top 10 players' average is slightly under 6 foot but in general top 5, 10, 25 players are at about slightly over 6 foot and didn't really go over 6'1"(185.5 cm) since 2003.

I think general trend at the moment is going smaller becasue of baseline oriented game.
Coincedentally the surface slowdown finalized between 2001 - 2003.
(If the trend continues, players like Nishikori or Young might have better chance than Isner in the near future).

http://www.tennis28.com/charts/Player_Heights.GIF

 

[fleabitten]

In general, top 5, 10, 25 players were taller in 90's, when it was around 6'1" and peaked
at over 6'2+ in 1999.

Now it went down a bit, it often goes slightly under 6 foot(183 cm) sometimes since mid-2003.

Now top 10 players' average is slightly under 6 foot.

I think general trend at the moment is going smaller becasue of baseline oriented game.

http://www.tennis28.com/charts/Player_Heights.GIF

That's a great graph. Thanks for sharing. Do your run the tennis28.com site? There's some very interesting stuff there. I found this graph that I think is a little easier to read and covers the heights of all the GS finalists since 1968.

flea

 

[fastdunn]

That's a great graph. Thanks for sharing. Do your run the tennis28.com site? There's some very interesting stuff there. I found this graph that I think is a little easier to read and covers the heights of all the GS finalists since 1968.

flea

No, I don't run the site. I just thank whoever runs the site. I first encounter the site from Moose Malloy's posting.

Anyway, in terms of GS finalists stats, current average height seems to be similar as right about... 24 years ago !

 

[fgzhu88]

I think your hitting close, but your missing what I think is the key point. It's my observation that short legs makes a player "first step quick" which is a huge benefit in tennis, baseball and a lot of other sports. Long legs are a much better benefit when it comes to straight line speed.

Which is why I've always thought Sampras was the proto type. Fairly big guy with short legs.

No... longer limbs are better in two ways
1. you can take longer strides each step and if you're fast you will be able to retrieve more balls
2. longer arms give you more leverage on your serve and not to mention reach.

 

[my_forehand]

Height doesn't really matter THAT much.

 

[JamaicanYoute]

I've always thought 6'1" was the perfect height. Bigger than the smaller guys (which helps with power, serve, wingspan, etc) but not too tall that your body is more clumsy/injury prone.

I don't know why the taller guys in tennis are so injury prone (in tennis), but history has shown us that it is a factor. I.E - Krajicek, Phillipousis, T. Martin, Safin, etc.

With that said, I think as time goes by, and people hit the gym, and technology improves, it's less and less of an issue..BUT taller people start out with that advantage and can use it.

 

[lawrence]

damn the shortest finalist is like 176..
i stand barefoot at 5"5'
haha.. oh well, looks like i have to make a huge dint in that graph when you guys see me at wimbledon in 2010 look out for the short kid

 

[Leublu tennis]

OK. Of the current top 10, Federer, Nadal, Gasquet and Blake are all 6'1".

Roddick and Djokovic at 6'2", and Murray (6'3") are over. The rest are Youzhny, 6'0", Davydenko, 5'10", and Ferrer at 5'9". Which is the ideal height since its mine.

The average comes to 6' .6". Thats point 6".