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TennisOne Lessons 
Understanding Evolutionary Change versus Compulsory Change David W. Smith, Senior Editor TennisOne The saying, “the only thing that is truly consistent is change,” can be applied to the way students learn to play tennis. However, it is interesting that depending on how players learn—or depending on the foundation they first develop—millions of players end up stagnating at levels far below their potential or desire, never really making the change to more prolific play. It is a given that any new player to tennis will make changes in the initial patterns and strokes they first learn. But this observation must be understood in the context of natural adaptations versus changes that must occur for the player to reach his or her potential or become truly skilled. Obviously, as a player becomes more comfortable and familiar with the complex interaction of moving, swinging, and hitting a moving tennis ball (and, accordingly, applying various spins, speeds, and hitting the ball to strategically optimal locations), the student will evolve as he developes an affinity for these components. Mandatory Change If a student learns inferior, grips, strokes, and footwork, then the aspect of reaching “skilled” levels is dependent on the player’s ability to make mandatory changes in many of those hitting elements. The player must change from the inferior, ineffective, or just plain flawed patterns that were first learned, and, at some point, adopt and master more effective, prolific and opportunistic methods. Unfortunately, as millions of players discover, these necessary changes are often frustratingly difficult if not out-right impossible! Why Mandatory Change is so difficult This concept, to learn a more rudimentary or basic level of play first, then to transition to a more effective, prolific, and advanced method later is fairly unique to tennis. In my study of tennis for over 30 years (and teaching of the sport for 35 years!), I have found that few sports or skilled activities adopt this learning mantra. In reality, most sports teach the same foundation the pros and other advanced players use. The difference is in the equipment or distances: Basketball coaches use smaller basketballs and lower hoops; golf instructors use shorter clubs and hit to shorter expected distances; piano teachers teach all the fingers, not avoiding the frustrating use of them in favor of teaching more simple “two-finger” pecking just to get the student “playing the piano” sooner. Yet, of the 117 books I have on tennis, (not to mention many DVD’s, web-sites, the USTA, and even teaching pros in the industry), most teach a foundation of methods that are less challenging with a focus on ‘getting the student to play tennis faster.’ All these methods seem to be based on a general fear that if we teach challenging methods first, because of the difficulty, the student will abandon the sport quickly. Now, while I know there are those who resist anything that is challenging, the truth is, most students—even kids—understand the concept of learning things that will lead them to become more prolific players. I don’t know one kid who would recognize how shooting a basketball “granny” style would eventually lead them to the NBA. Nor, would piano students be satisfied learning to play with only two fingers when they know that more fun songs require the use of all the fingers. Unlike most other sports, in tennis, we tend to see instructional entities promote a more rudimentary teaching pattern to give the student an early sense of “accomplishment.” However, I call this perception a “false sense of success,” since it not only does not allow for more progressive improvement (without making some significant changes), but it does not tell the student “when” such changes need to occur! Thus, the student ends up recognizing, at some point, that better players are doing many things differently! Unfortunately, this recognition may occur after one year or ten years…long after the student has developed too many poor playing skills or habits! However, tThe real reason that change is so difficult is that as soon as the student begins to compete, regardless of whether that competition is in the form of local park or club matches or tournament and league-play, the desire to win will always override the desire to use more effective stroke mechanics—if those mechanics are unfamiliar, uncomfortable, or do not feel confident in their use. This phenomenon will always cause the student to revert back to more comfortable or familiar grips, swing paths, footwork, or hitting strategies, even though they know such methods will not allow them to progress to more advanced levels. In other words, once competition is introduced, the desire to win trumps everything. What Each Student Should Know From a learning perspective, every student should ask themselves this one question before they attempt to play tennis: Is the method I am learning based on advanced play or is it something that I will specifically need to change later on? Obviously, if the student could care less about improvement and has no real interest in becoming more skilled, then this concern is irrelevant. However, in my experience, I don’t think I’ve ever come across a player who basically says, “Gee, I’d love to play tennis but I really don’t want to be any good.” Most people who pick up a tennis racquet, either for the first time, for simple recreational play or as a new student in a tennis class, will wonder if they could be any good at the sport. Those who generally end up saying things like, “well, I’m probably never going to be any good at this sport usually don't stick around long enough to find out. I can attest that among the 3,000 plus players I have taught, from ages 4 to 84, I’ve only encountered a couple of players who simply did not have enough ability to actually be any good, no matter what tools, methods, or teaching patterns were employed. That small percentage of players has led me to believe that nearly all people who pick up a tennis racquet can indeed become very, very good. One notable example of this was when I taught tennis in southern California, where I had a freshman boy come out for my tennis team. With a policy of not cutting, he was the last boy on my ladder of 45 kids. He not only was the worst player as a freshman, he simply could not “drop-hit” a tennis-ball and make reasonable contact when he first came out for the team. However, he had desire and we taught him the mechanics of what I call my Advanced Foundation; and to make a long story short, he became the highest ranked doubles player in southern California by the time he was a sophomore! He won over 180 matches with three different partners, and lost only 5 times. When Does “Productive Change” Occur? Understand, that, as I mentioned at the start of this article, that all players will change from what ever initial patterns they first attempt. However, there is an important side note to this statement: When players learn an Advanced Foundation (grips, strokes, footwork, and strategies that are based on advanced play), these players usually experience what I call “Evolutionary Change.” Just as in science, the term “Evolutionary Change” usually refers to an “adaptive change” that benefits the organism. In tennis, when the foundation is based on advanced principles, then the change is not only usually beneficial, it is natural and is based on the person’s personality, character, and perception of strengths as they continue to play more tennis. Such changes can include more (or less!) aggressive grips, stances and loop swings on groundstrokes, variations in serve backswings and stance, the use of more slice or more topspin on various shots, and variations on follow-throughs or strokes. Not only are such adaptations or evolutionary changes natural, they occur with little or no suggestion from a teacher. While there can always be suggestions to try something if the student is being too mechanical, it is rare indeed that pros need to teach such changes in a student’s game. Injuries It is always interesting to see hundreds of recreational player’s exhibit or encounter pain or injury from playing tennis. The most interesting thing to me is to compare the hours upon hours pros play and practice each day, subjecting their bodies to the rigorous pounding and stress that such play mandates. Yet, even while pros do indeed encounter injuries, the comparison to the typical injury that most recreational players encounter,(with exponentially less time on the court and exponentially far less number of shots hit on a day-in and day-out basis), is far greater and usually include far more different types of injuries. The saying, “The pros make it look so easy,” is commonly heard among recreational and club players. Well, to tell you the truth, it looks so easy because the pros use far more efficient and prolific strokes. If I had to label the one thing that separates the pros from the capable recreational player (besides the obvious time spent on the court and training methods), is that recreational players add many movements and elements during any given shot that are not only unnecessary, but are detrimental to the body and the shot itself! The simple lack of balance (caused by doing something within the swing that is unnecessary) in any swing not only throws off the consistency and potential effect of a shot, it also is the main cause of injury in players. Injuries occur when the natural body mechanics are either stressed or moved unnaturally. Players who typically use inferior form do so within very poor biomechanics. Then, when such players attempt to hit harder (because they see skilled players do so), they aggravate and intensify the potential for injury. Conclusion Obviously, from the gist of this article, players need to employ more advanced strokes and methods early on. Note, I don’t promote hitting at speeds associated with more advanced play. Nor, do I promote extreme advanced “idiosyncrasies.” As mentioned, almost all players will evolve and develop adaptive patterns to augment their foundation. More extreme stroke patterns are usually a result of this adaptation…it is not always a “taught” pattern. (However, at most academies, players are usually introduced to more extreme stroke patterns naturally, over time, once their foundation is established.) Remember, simply hitting thousands of balls every day will seldom lead to more advanced play, unless those hits include the constant practice of more advanced, more prolific stroke patterns. Obviously, there are many components to hitting a ball not just well, but more effectively, more consistently, and with the ability to defend against more effective. Players will want to study all the components of every skilled stroke. There are hundreds of highly informative and accurate articles found here at TennisOne. There really is no reason anyone who has the desire can’t become a highly skilled player. But, avoiding the pratfalls and flawed learning methods are certainly not only a step in the right direction, they are steps that will prevent a lot of frustration and stagnation in every player. (Click link to purchase Dave Smith's newest Book Coaching Mastery, at tenniswarehouse.com or go to www.coaching-mastery.com for more information and order a personalized autographed copy direct from the author. Your comments are welcome. Let us know what you think about Dave Smith's article by emailing us here at TennisOne .
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