Jim Brown - Tennis: Steps to Success-4th Edition

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Brown, Jim, 1940

Tennis : steps to success / Jim Brown, Camille Soulier. -- Fourth edition.

pages cm

1. Tennis. I. Title.

GV995.B6924 2013

796.342--dc23

2012044147

ISBN-10: 1-4504-3208-5 (print)

ISBN-13: 978-1-4504-3208-5 (print)

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Copyright 1989 by Leisure Press

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E5779

To the memory of Clyde and Martien Brown and Milton G. and Leah St. Martin Soulier

The sport of tennis has changedfrom the way a racket is constructed to the way it is held, the way it is swung, and the strategy used in singles and doubles.

Although tennis will continue to change, the fundamentals will not. The anything goes look of todays strokes is effective only if there has been a structured approach to learning the game that allows each player to find his or her unique style of play.

The fourth edition of Tennis: Steps to Success provides that approach for players, teachers, and coaches. With it, you can build a solid foundation or improve on the one youve already developed. Every paragraph, drill, illustration, and color photograph in this new edition has been reexamined, rewritten, or added by two authors who have played, taught, and coached the sport. There is something new on every page.

In steps 1 through 8, beginners can build their games with forehands, backhands, serves, and volleys before learning how to use specialty shots such as the half volley, lob, overhead smash, and drop shot. They can measure their success on a 10-point scale for each of the 84 drills in the book.

Intermediates can progress far beyond basic strokes, increasing and refining their skills with game- and match-specific drills as they move closer to becoming an advanced tennis player. Using steps 9 through 11, they can put their collection of strokes into a game plan that includes big-picture strategies and point-by-point tactics.

Instructors and teaching professionals who have established systems can select from the drills, activities, and grading systems to enhance their programs. The Sport of Tennis introduction includes a brief history of tennis, updated equipment details, and an explanation of rules. An appendix has been added that contains evidence-based guidelines for warming up and cooling down, plus an expanded discussion of common tennis injurieshow to recognize, treat, and hopefully prevent them. If you or your students are new to tennis, the glossary contains 189 terms.

Coaches continually add pieces of information to their personal tennis databases. Tennis: Steps to Success accelerates this process. In addition to the fundamentals of stroke production, more than 250 suggestions are included in the final three steps on singles tactics, doubles tactics, and special situations.

The success of this book and the entire Steps to Success series is based on a systematic but flexible approach to playing and teaching. Tennis players and teachers around the world follow the same sequence of learning activities as they work through each step. Previous editions of Tennis: Steps to Success have sold more than 100,000 copies in English and have been translated into seven languages.

With this book, you are assured of getting the following court-tested teaching and learning components:

Stroke Fundamentals

Steps 1 through 8 provide explanations for executing each stroke and images that give you a mental picture of how to hit the ball. The explanations include tips for getting into position, gripping the racket correctly, taking it back, swinging, and following through.

Color Photos

Color photos have replaced line drawings. Each step has multiple images of real tennis players demonstrating correct techniques.

Self-Paced Drills

The self-paced drills for each stroke are designed to be performed in the order in which they appear. You should keep score along the way. The drills are diagrammed and explained in terms that have been successfully used with thousands of students.

Levels of Difficulty

Following each drill are suggestions for making it more or less difficult, depending on the skill level of the player. Almost any drill can be made challenging for a beginning, an intermediate, or in some instances, an advanced player.

Success Checks

Every player needs key reminders about stroke production. Success checks are cues the player and the teacher can use to improve technique without overloading either of them with too much information.

Missteps and Corrections

There are no perfect tennis players. All of them make mistakes. Missteps tell you what to look for, and corrections explain how to fix the problem. Players who are familiar with common mistakes ahead of time may be able to avoid them altogether.

Success Summaries

Near the end of each step is a success summarya quick review of what youve learned in that step.

Scoring Summaries

The scoring summary is a worksheet at the end of each step to record your scores. Almost every drill in the book is based on a 10-point scoring system. Perhaps youre almost a 10 on some strokes. If so, youre not a beginner anymore.