Marty Smith - Absolute Tennis

Absolute Tennis

Copyright 2017 by Marty Smith

All Rights Reserved.

ISBN: 978-1937559748

Published by New Chapter Press, 1175 York Ave, Suite #3s New York, NY 10065

Randy Walker, Managing Partner

www.NewChapterMedia.com

Distributed by the independent Publishers Group in Chicago (www.IPGBook.com)

Follow on Facebook and on Twitter at @TennisAbsolute

Follow the author on Twitter at @MartySmithAT

For more information, also go to www.absolutetennis.net

Copy editing by Jennifer DeLeonardo

Design by Kirsten Navin

The cover and back cover portrait are courtesy of Chris Nicholson

Interior photos are courtesy of Chris Nicholson, Lance Jeffrey, Ron Lopinto, Marty Smith and via Shutterstock and Wiki Images.

Illustrations by Sean Flanagan

Printed in the United States

TENNIS PLAYERS MOVE UP, back, left, and right at varying speeds with different types of footwork. They hit the ball fast or slow, deep or short, high or low, flat or with heavy spin. They play against a variety of opponents whose style of play can range from relentlessly aggressive to incredibly patient. During a match, emotions can quickly swing up and down and concentration may fade in and out. The spectrum of physical and mental skills required in tennis is broad, so when Marty Smith told me about his plan to write a comprehensive tennis instructional book, I thought it was a terrific idea. His book Absolute Tennis appreciates the wide-ranging nature of the sport and is a great read for tennis enthusiasts both new and experienced to the game.

Acknowledging the fact that tennis is a very athletic game, Marty starts by discussing balance, the kinetic chain, and movement. Next, he takes you through grips and each phase of every stroke, giving you insights to improve your technique and play your best tennis. At each step, he pairs his instructional text with engaging individual and frame-by-frame photographs of the worlds top players to illustrate his explanations. Federers serve, Nadals forehand, Djokovics return, and Murrays backhand are a few of the strokes that are highlighted. Marty discusses not only the strokes of today, but also explores strokes that may be used in the future. Viewing tennis through the prism of the games increasing speed, athleticism, and serving prowess, he explains how swings could evolve and makes a compelling case for three unconventional shots. Following the chapters on the key athletic principles and the strokes, Marty dedicates the last third of the book to strategy, the mind, and fitness. Successful tennis players think well on the court and his chapters on singles and doubles strategy provide tips on how to play smart. Additionally, his extensive chapters on psychology and fitness will teach you how to focus the mind to compete in a more consistent and confident manner as well as how to train your body to move faster and last longer. Back in my day, we did not have access to advice on psychology, stretching, nutrition, etc. that are now such an important part of training for the elite athlete.

Martys goal is absolutely clear. He wants to teach you a tremendous amount, all while entertaining you with his holistic, practical, and forward approach to tennis. So read on to gain a deeper understanding of tennis and learn how to improve different parts of your game. If you put his advice into action, you will have more fun on the court and win more, just as his many students over his decades of coaching have done.

I WAS ONCE COACHING a determined 11-year-old named Katy, who was frustrated by one particular aspect of her game: her backhand, an awkward shot that often went into the net. Marty, she told me, I cant hit backhands. Wanting to lift her spirits and bring back her enjoyment of the game, I taught her a new approach to her baseline game, a shot that I call the Overlapping Dual Forehand. Almost immediately, Katy began to make more solid contact, sending the ball confidently over the net. Today, she considers this new shot her secret weapon, and shes energized by tennis and excited by her growing skill.

As I see it, Katys experience is one to which tennis players of all ages around the world can relate. Its a story of hitting a roadblock and knowing that you are not yet the player you can be. Then, you get get a game-changing insight. It could be instruction on how to hit a different type of groundstroke, a new wrist movement or stance on the serve, or advice on how to better understand and refine a traditional stroke. Or your breakthrough could come from a less obvious angle, like guidance for improving your inner monologue or fitness. We all have the ability to take that step forward, sometimes we just need the right information. I hope this book provides you with it.

Absolute Tennis covers a wide range of topics. Thats because I believe tennis players who possess a well-rounded knowledge of the game not only understand and appreciate it better, but also are more likely to take the right course of action to improve the fastest. You can read the book cover to cover or use it as a quick reference when needed. So, for example, if youre working on your serve, you can refer to learning lessons and provide a list of exercises at the end of each chapter to invigorate your practice sessions or boost your fitness.

Setting up for my favorite baseline shot the forehand.

The book is divided into three main sections: the body, the strokes, and the mind. It concludes with a full chapter on fitness, a subject that is applicable to every aspect of tennis. The body section contains a chapter each on three important athletic fundamentals: balance, the kinetic chain, and movement. Here you will learn how to use your body for improved poise, power, and court coverage.

Once youve worked through these foundations, the book delves into the next section (Chapters Four through 12) which explain grips and the stroke techniques for serves, return of serves, forehands, backhands, and volleys, as well as the different spins and derivatives of these shots. All of these strokes have critical stages, and I take you through each one and, when necessary, recommend the best approach for recreational players versus advanced players. I also describe the footwork needed to improve play. In fact, I consider the legs so critical to the success of a shot that when describing the strokes I start with the legs and then work my way up the body.

I conclude the strokes section with , which is devoted to potential Future Strokes. In this chapter, I give a brief history of tennis evolution in the modern era and raise an important question: namely, are there any shots not taught today that could evolve into commonly used shots in the future? As I and many others see it, tennis will become faster and more athletic, and the serve more essential. With this paradigm in mind, I present three shots for you to consider: the overlapping dual forehand, the reverse serve, and the volleyball serve. In short, the overlapping dual forehand offers players more power, time, and reach during baseline rallies. The reverse serve grants more variety and choices on the serve, while the volleyball serve produces a higher contact point and adds racquet speed to the service motion. These strokes, along with the hybrid backhand also described in the book, may be strokes taught to future generations, and I explain why.