Technical Tennis: Racquets, Strings, Balls, Courts, Spin, and Bounce
What are the single most important variables in racquet performance? What racquet and string features combine to provide the most control, comfort, and feel? How can a player create maximum spin? This informative primer answers these and other elusive equipment and performance-related questions that perennially plague hackers and experts alike. A simplified, layperson's companion to the authors' previous work, The Physics and Technology of Tennis, this conveniently sized guide to selecting...
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What are the single most important variables in racquet performance? What racquet and string features combine to provide the most control, comfort, and feel? How can a player create maximum spin? This informative primer answers these and other elusive equipment and performance-related questions that perennially plague hackers and experts alike. A simplified, layperson's companion to the authors' previous work, The Physics and Technology of Tennis, this conveniently sized guide to selecting racquets and strings includes bite-sized explanations of the possible expectations of equipment choices.
ForewordvPrefacevii1RacquetsIntroduction1Choosing a Racquet-the Basics1Mistakes When Buying a Racquet3Three Types of Racquet3Racquets and Player Psychology5Racquet Features Combine with Strokes7Selecting a Racquet Is Art & Science9Care of Racquets9Racquet Properties10Power11The Components of "Power": Exit Speed, Rebound Speed, Racquet Speed13Match Point Box 1.1Effect of Grip Firmness on Power15The Maximum Exit Power Point Changes with Racquet Speed17Comparing Racquet Power19Racquet Power Defined as Rebound Power21Match Point Box 1.2Maximum Effort Power22Rebound Power Is the Sum of All Racquet Properties24Power and Energy Loss25Match Point Box 1.3Maximum Theoretical Ball Speed25The Bad News: Rebound Power Values Aren't Readily Available26Control27Rebound Control27Weight28Weight and Apparent Weight28The Six "Weights" of a Racquet28Racquet Weight30Light vs Heavy Racquets33Ideal Racquet Weight34Balance Point and Pickupweight36Swingweight38Twistweight41Spinweight42Hittingweight ("Effective Mass")43Stiffness (Flex)44Racquet Stiffness44Measuring Racquet Stiffness45Match Point Box 1.4Vibration Comparison between Racquets46Racquet Vibrations, Sweetspot, and Feel48Vibration Dampening50Shock & the Center of Percussion51Match Point Box 1.5The Difference between Shock and Vibration55Customizing A Racquet56Match Point Box 1.6Customizing Weight, Balance, & Swingweight57Further Reading582StringsStrings and the Modern Game59Stringbed Stiffness61Static & Dynamic Stringbed Stiffness62Effect of String Material and Gauge on Stringbed Stiffness66Effect of String Tension on Stringbed Stiffness68Effect of String Pattern on Stringbed Stiffness71Effect of Headsize and Stringbed Suspension System on Stringbed Stiffness71Match Point Box 2.1Rise in String Tension During a Shot72Stringbed Stiffness Summary73Tension and Performance74Tension and Power75Tension Loss and Going "Dead"77Tension Loss and Feel78Tension Loss and Control79Tension Loss and Sound79Tension Loss and Prestreteching79Tension and Spin80Tension and Player Perceptiveness80Dwell Time and Performance82Dwell Time82Dwell Distance84Dwell Error85Dwell Time and Force85Dwell Rules of Dwell Time86Further Reading863Balls & BounceBall Basics87Ball History87Rules about Balls87Match Point Box 3.1Ball Testing to Compare New and Old Balls89Pressurized and Pressureless Balls90Ball Bounce Off the Court90Friction91Bounce Factors93Bounce Factor #1Angle of Incidence94Bounce Factor #2Incident Speed and Spin95Bounce Factor #3Hardness of Court96Bounce Factor #4Court Smoothness or Roughness98Horizontal Bounce Speed99Effects of Friction on Ball Spin102Ball Bounce Off the Strings108Angle of Impact109Tilting the Racquet Head113The Bounce Path off the Strings113Further Reading1174Spin & TrajectorySpin Basics119Generation of Spin120Influence of Incident Angle and Spin on Rebound Spin121Match Point Box 4.1Effects of Spin on Bounce off the Strings121Types and Uses of Spin12318 Different Ways to Hit the Ball126Spin Before and After Bounce127Effect of Grip on Spin128Can Racquets and Strings Increase Spin?130Match Point Box 4.2Can Players Feel Spin131Increasing Spin with Stroke Technique132Simple Topspin Experiment133Match Point Box 4.3Topspin and the Federer Forehand134Effect of Racquet Tilt on a Topspin Forehand137Spin and the Serve139Ball Toss139Tips on Serving140Arching the Back to Serve142Slice Serve144Serve Actions144Forearm Slows Down145Match Point Box 4.4The Sampras Serve146Force on Handle147Trajectory148Vertical Launch Angle148Hitting the Ball Deep150Further Reading152
