What is Open Stance?

Open stance is standard in modern tennis--but what is the key to developing it? "Open-stance" hitting has become the standard with players and coaches alike. The trend has been developing for a long time, but how did this really come about? Often times, "modern" open stance hitting is contrasted with the "obsolete" footwork of the past. Like many observers of the game I just assumed that the players of the past stepped into every ball. But I had to examine that assumption after I watched a video called "Kings of the Court," with some great historical footage, produced by my fellow Tennisplayer contributor Ed Atkinson. (Click Here.) The video is revealing because it has so many instances of open stance hitting, from Bill Tilden to Rod Laver. The fact is that even before the start of the open era, the great players were using open stance positioning. Today it may be done by design, but the great players of the past slipped into open stance hitting as easily and gracefully as today's players. Great past champions often hit open stance, as the great American champion of the 1930s and 40s, Bobby Riggs, demonstrates on this high forehand. The video also...