Chapter one
The objectives of this manual.
Nowadays, the level of knowledge on the human body and on what surrounds it causes the theory of the technique to execute strokes to be considered only and exclusively in a scientific sense. In this regard, everything that appears to be approximate is incomplete and sometimes incorrect.
I do not intend to say with this that my theory is perfect and that the others are not. On the contrary, I made it possible for it to be consulted free of charge on-line and I submit it to your judgment: this will certainly make the students I’ve had in the course of the years happy as they will find an exhaustive update of what I taught them.
This manual illustrates “The theory of push lines” and the five fundamental principles of the playing techniques of modern tennis.
The language used can easily be understood also by novices and the technical terminology is used only when it is considered essential and it is, in its turn, explained in simple words.
The use of photos and diagrams makes everything clear, understandable and enjoyable.
This work is useful to the beginner so that he may start placing his first strokes correctly. It is also an excellent instrument for competitive players to check playing techniques, general training methods and specific preparation in view of a tennis match.
On the other hand, Instructors and coaches may find the theory and its principles useful for a comparison of these with their observation of the movements of their students to identify possible variances, to decide consequently which specific and most suitable interventions are to be implemented.
Moreover, the theory of push lines and fundamental principles can be used as a guideline to playing techniques and they can also be considered as a schematic simplification of training techniques, because they condense all the technical moves in a logic key of only three groups, helping the player to express his potentialities completely and with simplicity.
Remaining faithful to the fundamental principles, which adhere to the dictates of physics and biomechanics, helps to obtain the maximum performance with the minimum effort, which in tennis playing means sending the ball faster and placing it better with the lowest possible spending of energy in order to play longer at the highest psychophysical level.
Adopting smooth and natural movements to carry out a technical move also has the advantage of allowing the player to avoid injuries which are often caused by an improper technique, as for instance the bothersome tennis elbow.
The movements of the best tennis players of today’s professional circuit, whether they are all-court players like Roger Federer or back court pressing regulars like Rafael Nadal, are the best possible confirmation of the validity of the “theory of push lines” and of its fundamental principles: the more they correspond to the technical move of professionals the higher the position of these in the ranking.
This also applies to women’s tennis with the significant examples of the Williams sisters.
Obviously, to reach the highest levels of world tennis, beside a perfect playing technique you also require a super athlete’s physique, stategic and tactical intelligence, a great capacity to work off stress, an excellent agonistic mental preparation and, finally, what I call the “gladiator’s instinct” in tackling the most important points of each match, because there is no draw in tennis, you either win or lose.
The following chapters should be read in sequence in order to maintain the logical thread which will progressively lead to have some fixed points and foundations on which to build our knowledge of tennis technique, thus obtaining a clear picture of what is important to know, which will accompany us whatever our playing level is.
Thanks to a knowledge of tennis technique adhering to reality, we can acquire a valid capacity of analysis and self-criticism, of becoming aware of our own abilities and of the limitations that these impose on us, so that the precious self-determination which is essential in managing the psychological dynamics of a match may gradually take shape in our head.
Applying the capacity of analysis to future opponents would allow us to choose more effective strategies and tactics and also to watch the tennis matches of professional players in a more enjoyable, instructive and inspiring way.