Tennis myths

As in all sports and situations in life, people like to preach at regular tables in various disciplines. Today 5 tennis myths and my opinion on them.

1.Always choose setback

Who hasn't read Winning Ugly by Brad Gilbert, I think this book is the first time I read about choosing backlash. Many supposedly clever tennis players believe they have an advantage when they hit back, but the statistics say otherwise. Most of the time the player who starts serving wins the set, but only 55 percent of the time. I would always base my choice on several factors, such as how I feel, the surface and the type of opponent. I go into detail about the coin toss in my new reel on Instagram.

2. the 7th game is decisive in the set

I think it's one of the most dangerous beliefs, because it's harmful to waste too much energy thinking about what's going to happen in the seventh game of the set. In tennis, whoever wins the last point always wins the match. Everything else is secondary.

3.I play better in training

Unfortunately, you hear this sentence everywhere, and there are certainly exceptions where it is true. I still see it critically, since you often get hit a lot in training, you are less likely to notice weaknesses in your game. Mastering a shot means being able to use it in all situations. If the pressure of the match weakens the shot, then there is still potential. If you have confidence in your game, you will be able to improve in a competitive situation rather than slump.

4.Throw the ball higher when serving

Throw the ball higher when serving, this phrase was used on many trips home from tennis tournaments with my parents. Well-intentioned but oversimplified, throwing the ball high can give you more time but it can also break your rhythm. Everyone has to figure out how to throw for themselves. I would change the myth to, A good shot is half the battle when serving.

5.Serve and volley/net play is extinct in modern tennis

This is partly true, but a distinction must be made. In the past, serve and volley was the tactic of most players and it was rarely played from the back. Today almost every top player mainly plays aggressively from the baseline, but good volley play is still essential. Alcaraz often rushes to the net, and even Djokovic and Nadal regularly use serve and volley. When measured, serve and volley can be extremely efficient and the element of surprise is great. The courts and playing conditions have become too slow for most players for consistent serve and volley.

Feel free to DM me on Instagram about other tennis myths you know that interest or bother you. I would like to go into this in a second part.

With sporty greetings

Hendrik