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Editor’s Note: John Carpenter is a rare tennis coach. In addition to having a solid grasp of contemporary techniques, John has extensively researched the history of how the game has been taught – that is, the very words that have been employed for decades to discuss how concepts are communicated. John’s intriguing book, Modern Tennis Instruction: A Historical Guide to Play Your Best Tennis, goes all the way back to the game’s roots in the 19th century – and all along the way, he’s made many fascinating discoveries about everything from grips to swing shapes and much more.
In the story below, John offers a thoughtful way to address how players can best organize themselves to hit forehands. The ATP Tour once had its “Big Three” – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer. John too has a “Big Three” that’s certain to make you a better tennis player – find, load, rotate.
As a student of the game for more than 50 years, I’ve found it frustrating to hear instructors and coaches speak about different fundamentals with pet cliches that don’t really convey useful information. Some talk about footwork. Others emphasize racquet acceleration. And then there’s that longstanding term, “watch…
