The Groundstroke Revolution Continues to Take Tennis Forward

When it comes to our understanding of how tennis balls are best hit, the last 50 years have been a ceaseless revolution.  Again and again, beliefs are shattered, new approaches surface, and everyone from instructors to players to coaches and parents is forced to see how points are won (and lost) in a different way.

These endless upgrades have occurred most of all in the world of groundstrokes.  Yes, there have been a goodly number of new insights about the serve, including enough dialogue about pinpoint and platform for a 48-hour breakout session.  On the other hand, quite tragically, my belief is that our sport’s collective understanding of the volley is significantly less informed than it once was – including how the shot is taught, as well as how it’s hit and practiced.

But when it comes to groundstrokes, the territory is rich – and the biggest beneficiaries of this have been half a century of players who consistently improve and dazzle us with their baseline prowess.

Consider just a few ways the revolution has left its mark: When, thanks to Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, and Chris Evert, the two-handed backhand emerged in the early ‘70s, it was thought to…