Height is very important in tennis: Stefan Koubek case study

[DoubleHanded&LovinIt]

As if this wasn't clear with Querrey (who in relation to his peers on tour, powder puffs his groundstrokes, especially that forehand), Karlovic (no groundies or movement), and Isner (limited movement and super flat, mostly out of control groundstrokes).

I pose a more subtle supporting argument. If you all are tennis buffs, like myself, and have seen Jarko Niemenen play, say I? (Crickets?) Anyhow, I'm sure many of you are up watching Blake playing tonight against Stefan Koubek. To all of you who have seen Jarko and Koubek play, do you agree with this opinion: these guys are nearly the EXACT same player, except Jarko is taller. But check out the difference in results.

 

[DoubleHanded&LovinIt]

Ok, so Johnny Mac and Ted Robinson have picked up on a subtle point (which makes Stefan even more similar to Jarko). The whole well positioned in the middle of teh court, directing groundstrokes like it's practice, flat-footed thing. It's like Tai-Chi.

 

[Gmedlo]

omg, are you trying to say that in tennis, shorter is better?!?!?!?!??!?

I agree to an extent. But I still think being taller has more advantages.

Being taller is just like being a lefty– by all means you have more advantages, but a lefty hasn't won the USO since 1984 (as McEnroe gladly pointed out during the blake-koubek match). Everyone wants to be a lefty and be taller, yet those attributes don't seem to yeild good results unless in the hands of a player that doesn't overuse those advantages (see Isner blasting serves in stands, then paddycaking ball back )

I think it has more to due with players relying on advantages they have, such as height.

 

[DoubleHanded&LovinIt]

omg, are you trying to say that in tennis, shorter is better?!?!?!?!??!?...I think it has more to due with players relying on advantages they have, such as height.

No...I agree.

 

[tennis_eel]

The ideal height for a tennis play is 6'1 or 6'2 is it not?

 

[daddy]

The ideal height for a tennis play is 6'1 or 6'2 is it not?

Abosutely it is. All the best there is are usually there or there about, tom 10 people are there or there bout, and rarely some top 10 players go out of these couple of inches. Chek the history, it hapennes but rarelly and tru the decades, 70s 80s up to now. Almost for the lat 50 years.

I think movement ( sheer speed and athleticism incl the change of directions )is something which is required in tennis, coordination of course and positionning ( foot work ) in order to perfectly use technique and hit the ball using all your assets. Then comes the technique, which is ony exadurated if you are phisically ready and have above mentioned things.

Mening, in tennis you can play top level tenni no atter how high you are or so, if you manage to overpower and shpuld i say hide your weak spots,movement and foot work for high players obviously .. They can do good , it just that many 6'11" and 6'10" guys ever give tennis a shot so we done have them and these that come may not be the best so ..

 

[johnny ballgame]

As if this wasn't clear with Querrey (who in relation to his peers on tour, powder puffs his groundstrokes, especially that forehand)

Off-topic maybe, but dude... Querrey has a huge forehand. HUGE. H... U... G... E.

 

[topgun78956]

I am 5'9 and for tennis i would like to be about 6 feet. That is ideal to me because you wont need as much spin on your first serves, your longer arms produce more torque for hard shots, and you are still small enough to be quick and nimble. I think in the middle is the best height for tennis.

 

[Alexandros]

It's all a question of trade offs. Increased height will give more leverage on your serve and allow you to handle high balls more easily but the higher centre of gravity almost always detrimentally affects your movement. Yes, there are some very tall people with great movement (Safin in his heyday comes to mind) but even then you would think that Safin would move even better if he were a couple of inches shorter.

Even Venus Williams, who surely has the best movement for a woman of her height in the history of the game can get those long limbs tangled up when balls are hit straight at her.

 

[Noveson]

omg, are you trying to say that in tennis, shorter is better?!?!?!?!??!?

I agree to an extent. But I still think being taller has more advantages.

Being taller is just like being a lefty– by all means you have more advantages, but a lefty hasn't won the USO since 1984 (as McEnroe gladly pointed out during the blake-koubek match). Everyone wants to be a lefty and be taller, yet those attributes don't seem to yeild good results unless in the hands of a player that doesn't overuse those advantages (see Isner blasting serves in stands, then paddycaking ball back )

I think it has more to due with players relying on advantages they have, such as height.

Wow I don't agree at all. First of all there is a difference between being 'tall' and being GIANT. Isner's height really is a double edged sword. Whereas being tall, like 6'3" is a great advantage. Ever thought maybe the reason Leftys haven't one much is because there are so much more right handers? What about McEnroe, Conners, Nadal, ect....

 

[Richie Rich]

there is definitely a fine line between being tall versus being gangly and somewhat un-coordinated. for men it seems to be around the 6-4 mark. isner and querrey look like exceptions. isner looks to have decent movement based on what i saw yesterday against fed. querrey's footwork isn't the best but it is better than some shorter players for sure

 

[Eviscerator]

The ideal height for a tennis play is 6'1 or 6'2 is it not?

The bar keeps rising. For now 6' 2" may seem like a perfect height, but don't forget some of the great players who have come along that are 6' 4" or 6' 5" like Safin and Ivanisevic respectively. Sadly neither had a strong mental game, otherwise both would have won more slams.