What is “True” in Tennis?

There are multiple truths in the forehands of the top three players. What is really true in tennis? It’s a big question but one that club players or even tournament players often don’t ask. One answer is that there are multiple “truths” in tennis. There are many viable ways to hit the ball across a wide range of grips and strokes and swing patterns. That there is no single “right” way–only a range of valid possibilities. Over the years I have come to believe more and more that this is the only accurate premise. There may be some wrong ways to approach the strokes, but the idea of a single truth is probably an illusion. For me the final push over that edge came studying Novak Djokovic and the fascinating similarities and differences in his forehand compared with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. (Click Here.) This premise of relative truth is – to make an understatement – is far from universally accepted in tennis. In fact the opposite is probably closer to the truth. Conflicts and debates over the “right” way to play and teach are endemic. They drag on endlessly and often become personal and acrimonious. An after dinner…