Best recent tennis technique book?

[HuusHould]

I did a search on this topic and the thread that came up was from 2012, so excuse me if this is a duplicate of a thread from more recent times. The last time I looked into this topic would've been even earlier than that, and on various recommendations I ended up purchasing "The tennis technique bible" by Chris Lewit and "World class tennis technique" by Paul Roetert and Jack Groppel. I have to admit I didn't read much of either, choosing to focus more on the tactical side of the game and just tweaking what I had via trial and error. I am actually asking for a friend, someone wanted a recommendation regarding a tennis technique book for Christmas. He struggles with the one handed backhand drive, so if there's a good section on that it would be suitable. Or even a section that can convince him to change to a double hander! haha
I was just wondering what the best tennis technique books are of recent times? Are the ones I mentioned still relevant? Or outdated? Have books been superseded with online video instruction, be it free or subscription? Would love to hear your thoughts!?

 

[Dragy]

I did a search on this topic and the thread that came up was from 2012, so excuse me if this is a duplicate of a thread from more recent times. The last time I looked into this topic would've been even earlier than that, and on various recommendations I ended up purchasing "The tennis technique bible" by Chris Lewit and "World class tennis technique" by Paul Roetert and Jack Groppel. I have to admit I didn't read much of either, choosing to focus more on the tactical side of the game and just tweaking what I had via trial and error. I am actually asking for a friend, someone wanted a recommendation regarding a tennis technique book for Christmas. He struggles with the one handed backhand drive, so if there's a good section on that it would be suitable. Or even a section that can convince him to change to a double hander! haha
I was just wondering what the best tennis technique books are of recent times? Are the ones I mentioned still relevant? Or outdated? Have books been superseded with online video instruction, be it free or subscription? Would love to hear your thoughts!?

The issue with both books and online instruction is you don’t consume it on court while hitting balls, neither do they give good feedback.

What would revolutionize self-coaching for adult rec players would be some instant-feedback method and/or tool. Not just racquet sensor (although that has its merit), but whole-body thing. Or training method, progression, focused on fail-proof self awareness drills.

Nothing beats good coach though and court hours. Actually, techniques is not too hard to achieve, you see thousands of players with good techniques. The difference is in time and discipline invested, where they work on technique, implement it in rallying and practice points, enhance with footwork, fitness and mental aspect, and only then apply in significant matchplay.

While most of us read books, watch YouTube, and then try to magically hit better backhands when up against our local park nemesis What can possibly go wrong?

PS I’m sorry for derailing this and not giving a book suggestion, just the idea of solving issues with BH via a book triggered me. Hope you enjoyed reading this overall. Merry Christmas to you and your friend!

 

[HuusHould]

The issue with both books and online instruction is you don’t consume it on court while hitting balls, neither do they give good feedback.

You could consume them on court, but I agree that the lack of feedback is an issue. It takes someone who already has a fair idea what they're doing to work things out for themself when they're evidently not doing what the instruction advocates, despite intending to.

What would revolutionize self-coaching for adult rec players would be some instant-feedback method and/or tool. Not just racquet sensor (although that has its merit), but whole-body thing. Or training method, progression, focused on fail-proof self awareness drills.

How does a racquet sensor work? It traces the path of the racquet? Maybe they could devise something that gives you an electric shock if your technique isn't appropriate for the situation!?

Nothing beats good coach though and court hours. Actually, techniques is not too hard to achieve, you see thousands of players with good techniques. The difference is in time and discipline invested, where they work on technique, implement it in rallying and practice points, enhance with footwork, fitness and mental aspect, and only then apply in significant matchplay.

While most of us read books, watch YouTube, and then try to magically hit better backhands when up against our local park nemesis What can possibly go wrong?

Yes, wholesale changes to the game don't happen overnight.

PS I’m sorry for derailing this and not giving a book suggestion, just the idea of solving issues with BH via a book triggered me. Hope you enjoyed reading this overall. Merry Christmas to you and your friend!

No worries. Thanks, Merry Christmas to you too!

 

[HuusHould]

Another one I see mentioned is from 2006- "$20 000 dollars in tennis lessons- your personal coach" Does anyone have an opinion on how this rates in relation to the "tennis technique bible" and "world class tennis technique"?

 

[Dragy]

How does a racquet sensor work? It traces the path of the racquet? Maybe they could devise something that gives you an electric shock if your technique isn't appropriate for the situation!?

What I mean, if you are generally in the ballpark technique-wise, sensor gives you some outcome related data, which may be interpreted towards whether some change or focus was good. But not immediate neither.

 

[user92626]

I agree with @Dragy on several points. Monitoring and instant feed-backs from a good coach seems like a must.

Tennis is action. Reading is gonna be extremely ineffective and limited.

Move into the 21st centry by at least watching Youtube. Youtube is video showing actions which your mind can decipher info much better.

Lacking a coach, you'll need at least a cam to record yourself and do self-analysis.

 

[tendency]

I agree with @Dragy on several points. Monitoring and instant feed-backs from a good coach seems like a must.

Tennis is action. Reading is gonna be extremely ineffective and limited.

Move into the 21st centry by at least watching Youtube. Youtube is video showing actions which your mind can decipher info much better.

Lacking a coach, you'll need at least a cam to record yourself and do self-analysis.

I disagree; when learning tennis a good coach will speed up the learning process. If you're a good athlete (and even not such a good one, your ceiling will just be lower..) you can teach yourself a very nice game with online instruction and religiously slow-motion recording yourself using phone & tripod and then learning how to analyze your technique.

 

[user92626]

I disagree; when learning tennis a good coach will speed up the learning process. If you're a good athlete (and even not such a good one, your ceiling will just be lower..) you can teach yourself a very nice game with online instruction and religiously slow-motion recording yourself using phone & tripod and then learning how to analyze your technique.

Well if u religiously do anything correctly...

How many people actually do that?

Even among pros, only few rise to the top, and they don't even lack means and methods.

 

[tendency]

Well if u religiously do anything correctly...

How many people actually do that?

Even among pros, only few rise to the top, and they don't even lack means and methods.

If you want to get to the 4.0 or higher level you have to do tennis religiously, so, there's your answer Only the serious & dedicated & and those that got the tennis religion make it above 3.5.

 

[PRS]

The tennis technique bible" by Chris Lewit

This is the only technique book I've actually read. I would say it's all still relevant, although he actually encouraged what I guess would be called a semi-Western grip on the one handed backhand (basically using semi-Western grip on forehand and just flipping the racquet on the one handed, hitting with the same side of the string bed). I tried that and have seen some people hitting with it and it doesn't really work very well.

Other than that, he does have a pretty good, thorough analysis of technique. Not the most well-written or organized, and he literally copied/pasted his section on disguising your shot so it appears in the chapter/section for every single stroke, word for word, but the information is good.

 

[tennis3]

If you want to get to the 4.0 or higher level you have to do tennis religiously,

Just show up for an hour on Sunday?

 

[dannyslicer]

Books have been made obsolete by video.

https://www.youtube.com/@EssentialTennis

That said, I've never met a 5.0 player who ever watched a technique video or book

 

[cks]

Nothing beats good coach though and court hours.

+1

 

[socallefty]

That said, I've never met a 5.0 player who ever watched a technique video or book

They probably read the books and watched the videos when they were 3.0/3.5s as kids on their way to 5.0. You need most of the instruction in the first few years of starting tennis.

 

[ubercat]

Mate Captain Obvious says your Hall of Infamy here. Drop a vid of the problem stroke and listen to the sensible people here. Yes that is a subset.

 

[ubercat]

For reps and grooving a good stroke nothing beats the wall and some painters tape to make a target to hit to. The hard part is the visualization in your head because at least for me if I don't visualize a point being played I just get bored and do half an hour instead of the hour I intended etc.

 

[Humbi_HTX]

... and listen to the sensible people here.

That takes a lot filtering.

 

[ubercat]

Yep and I'm very okay with me not making the cut

 

[Better_Call_Raul]

For reps and grooving a good stroke nothing beats the wall and some painters tape to make a target to hit to. The hard part is the visualization in your head because at least for me if I don't visualize a point being played I just get bored and do half an hour instead of the hour I intended etc.

The downside of the wall is that you don't know where the hell your shot landed. Long? Short? Wide? No feedback. You don't know.
I prefer a basket of balls and self feeds on a full court.

 

[ubercat]

I agree self feeds are good especially if you can get used to throwing them over your shoulder. A bit of column A and B with regard to the wall. I normally painters tape a box slightly to either side of the Cross hatch on the wall. So if you were on the forehand side and you're heading into that right hand box pretty darn good chance that it isn't going wide.

Same thing with length if you painters tape a line one foot above the wall and you're hitting pretty close to that pretty unlikely it's going out unless you're really just smacking the felt off it.

But yeah if your practicing high rollers against the wall and I have no idea why you would you have no idea whether they're going in or not

 

[K1Y]

What do you guys think about the book 'il mio tennis' by Riccardo Piatti. He explains his method of teaching that he also used on Jannik Sinner. Sinner completely changed his strokes because of Piatti his technical tips.