Winning Pretty Part 1: Introduction

High speed video—a game changing tool. In today’s technologically focused world, the internet and social media are revolutionizing the way athletes learn and how coaches and players share knowledge about technique. High-speed video is an innovative, game changing tool to analyze and correct technique. Researchers like Brian Gordon–and others at the university level–are using 3D motion capture systems to investigate biomechanical phenomena at a deeper level than ever before. It’s an exciting time to be a technical coach, technophile, or techniquephile, and there are many avenues for the average person to learn about high level technique. Yet tennis players, parent-coaches, and coaches are frequently overwhelmed with a tidal wave of information online, making it difficult to discern the best way to build strokes and movement. It may be possible to learn good technique from YouTube, Instagram, and online courses, but there is a multitude of conflicting and confusing information. I have worked with many players, parents, and coaches led astray by following online tennis sources with dubious validity. On the bookshelf, there are a lot of books about general tennis subjects, but few thoughtful and accurate books describing how to build cutting-edge, world-class tennis techniques. Winning Pretty: biomechanics without jargon…