Invisible Greatness: Part 4

Thanks for the feedback, Stotty. I understand the reluctance to change what works for. I by no means look down on an experienced coach who has spent their life mastering the infinite details and variables of a sport. I can only speak for myself when I say, it's easy to shut down the learning process, especially when you are good, because then you think you know everything. That's what I thought when I started this series. I thought I knew everything these great masters were going to say. Ultimately, I was very surprised and delighted by what I learned and have already begun to implement the changes, slowly but surely, into my teaching to success. I hope this series inspires one or two helpful concepts. Cheers, N.

Very good points, Arturo.

physicality, agility, stamina, strength...these can be invisible strengths (and weaknesses). If you haven't read the earlier parts of the series, I recommend you do so. I address just the issue. What I have discovered is that physical "strength" comes in all shapes and sizes and can be improved with proper training. Have a look and see why some players who look stronger ultimately perform worse and how it is easy to overlook invisible strength. Cheers! N.

[don_budge]

A friend of mine - now no longer with us - told me a story that convinced him Gonzales was the greatest player who ever lived.

Stotty

Great story. The model is Gonzalez...as much for his competitive nature as for the completeness of his game. But the spirit was an indomitable will. Jimmy Connors said as much...he said that if he had to choose one player to play a match for him in which his life depended he would choose Gonzalez.

12-10 in the third over Rod Laver. Can you imagine how each point must have been contested? That video you posted gives us an inkling. It's a shame that these matches were not preserved in their entirety. Although I have to believe that somehow they were.

A friend of mine - now no longer with us - told me a story that convinced him Gonzales was the greatest player who ever lived.
Stotty

Great story. The model is Gonzalez...as much for his competitive nature as for the completeness of his game. But the spirit was an indomitable will. Jimmy Connors said as much...he said that if he had to choose one player to play a match for him in which his life depended he would choose Gonzalez.

12-10 in the third over Rod Laver. Can you imagine how each point must have been contested? That video you posted gives us an inkling. It's a shame that these matches were not preserved in their entirety. Although I have to believe that somehow they were.

[stotty]

A friend of mine - now no longer with us - told me a story that convinced him Gonzales was the greatest player who ever lived. My friend had seen Gonzales play many times and was as familiar with his game as we are with Federer's. In this story it's important to remember Pancho was ten years older than Laver and a good way past his prime.

Pancho played Laver in a match at Wembley. I think the year was 1966. Gonzales won 12-10 in the third. During the match Gonzales didn't play well. He was finding Laver difficult. He was struggling to return Laver's lefty serve on the fast indoor surface. Gonzales on the other hand was having a titanic struggle to hold his own serve. Nevertheless he managed to do enough to put the match at one set all.

His fortunes in the third set didn't change. Laver continued to win his service games easily while Gonzales struggled to hold his. He endured interminable deuce games but each time he managed to hang on and win his service. At 10-10 Laver suddenly dropped the first point on his serve. Gonzales produced another two decent returns he hadn't found the entire match. Laver then folded and dropped his serve to 15. Pancho then served out to love.

Virtually no one could do what Gonzales did in that match. The usual scenario when one player wins his serve easily while the other struggles is the struggling player ends up buckling under the pressure...often it's an avalanche. What you have to remember also is the set was 12-10, which is the equivalent of two sets today, so Pancho's feat was doubly impressive. And don't forget he was playing Laver...not just anyone. My friend told me that Gonzales was under enormous pressure during that match yet dealt with it and came out the winner.

Much has been written about Gonzales and it's tough to weed out fact from fiction. But when people who openly disliked Gonzales during his lifetime turn round and openly state he is the best player they ever saw, you absolutely know he must have been truly, truly great.

Stotty

[don_budge]

"The great champions were always vicious competitors. You never lose respect for a man who is a vicious competitor, and you never hate a man you respect. I don't like Rod Laver because he's such a vicious competitor, but I don't dislike him". - Pancho Gonzales

Stotty

I was thinking about this quote today as I was going about my business. Like the great video that you posted of he and Laver playing on the grass...it reinforces my choice of Richard Gonzalez as the model tennis player in my teaching paradigm.

The book is William Tilden. The model is Richard Gonzalez with the Don Budge backhand. Harry Hopman is the coach. Roger Federer is the Living Proof.-the don_budge coaching paradigm.

I should probably add something about tennisplayer.net and the forum to this. Let it suffice to say that it is left unsaid.

Great quote Old Boy...thanks again! Another absolute gem of a contribution from the licensedcoach...Stotty.

[don_budge]

"The great champions were always vicious competitors. You never lose respect for a man who is a vicious competitor, and you never hate a man you respect. I don't like Rod Laver because he's such a vicious competitor, but I don't dislike him."- Pancho Gonzales

Stotty

Priceless.

[stotty]

The great champions were always vicious competitors. You never lose respect for a man who is a vicious competitor, and you never hate a man you respect. I don't like Rod Laver because he's such a vicious competitor, but I don't dislike him. - Pancho Gonzales

Stotty

[klacr]

Tennis Etiquette...

There used to be some unspoken rules regards the play of stronger versus weaker players. When playing up...when playing a stronger player you should give your best and don't quit if you are getting a good licking. At the same time...you shouldn't consider yourself too good to play down. To play with a weaker player than yourself. You still owe it to that player to play your best and you owe that to yourself as well.

It was sort of an honor to practice or play with someone who is stronger than you. There is a lot to gain and to be learned from the experience. But pass it on as well. It is a great honor to be in the position to pass down the tradition.

Well said don_budge.
It's nice to be important, it's more important to be nice.

Figured common respect and etiquette went out the window when they decided to slow the courts and players started using bigger racquets.


Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Tennis Etiquette...

There used to be some unspoken rules regards the play of stronger versus weaker players. When playing up...when playing a stronger player you should give your best and don't quit if you are getting a good licking. At the same time...you shouldn't consider yourself too good to play down. To play with a weaker player than yourself. You still owe it to that player to play your best and you owe that to yourself as well.

It was sort of an honor to practice or play with someone who is stronger than you. There is a lot to gain and to be learned from the experience. But pass it on as well. It is a great honor to be in the position to pass down the tradition.

It is an honour, no question. Both sides know the unwritten (the best things are always unwritten) protocol. Playing better players at the right time is one of vital parts of the puzzle in my view. Players often take a big leap this way.

Stotty

[don_budge]

Tennis Etiquette...

There used to be some unspoken rules regards the play of stronger versus weaker players. When playing up...when playing a stronger player you should give your best and don't quit if you are getting a good licking. At the same time...you shouldn't consider yourself too good to play down. To play with a weaker player than yourself. You still owe it to that player to play your best and you owe that to yourself as well.

It was sort of an honor to practice or play with someone who is stronger than you. There is a lot to gain and to be learned from the experience. But pass it on as well. It is a great honor to be in the position to pass down the tradition.

[stotty]

I like it Stotty.

Fair points all the way through. Really about the individual and what makes them improve. But yes, there has to be something in it for everyone.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Thanks, Klacr. I should made myself clearer in my first post.

[klacr]

Like I said judgement and timing are everything. There has to be something in it for everyone so the gap cannot be too wide. Lambs to the slaughter is of no use to anyone. You also need a decent hierarchy for players to work their way up on.

For those who insist on playing up before their time I have paid hitters they can use, which is fine. My hitters are usually very busy. When it comes to squads it's all about balance. Someone has to be the best player and it's all about give and take. I make sure the two best players in a squad get bi-weekly opportunity to play in the next squad up, which is my way of testing the water and preparing them. It works. Trust me...I'm a tennis coach.

My set up is different to that of most coaches. I raise money and have a sponsor to part-fund the training of children who are keen and show potential. It's tough to engineer this kind of a set up but incredibly worth it if you can pull it off.

As to myself, I just played with anyone when I was coming up. So long as I was hitting tennis balls that's really all that mattered. I have never viewed tennis as beating the hell out of anyone, or them me. I'm an extremely calm individual and I always played tennis that way too.

Stotty

I like it Stotty.

Fair points all the way through. Really about the individual and what makes them improve. But yes, there has to be something in it for everyone.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[hockeyscout]

For me personally, put me up against the best. Beat the snot out of me, sink or swim. See if I survive, and when I do (because I always do) I will learn far more and be that much hungrier and wiser on the next go around. I'll believe I'm the favorite in the match, no matter who I play and will continue to believe that until they beat me. I want the pressure. I'll thrive on it. Put my back against a wall. Make me feel the stress and pressure and see what I do in a tough situation. If I was a brain surgeon or I was an F-16 fighter pilot I'd love to see how I do. Bring me your toughest situation.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

I like the attitude Kyle.

I have two girls.

No matter how good they get I will always be able to find top 1000 ranked guys to beat them.

Finding someone one better than Serena Williams is not tough. Get men to play em.

[stotty]

So practicing with better players is a good thing. I don't disagree. But what happens if you're the better player thats now playing with a weaker player? Shouldn't they also play with someone better? Where does it stop?

Yes, Everyone wants to play with someone better, but kinda sucks if you're the better player now playing down. Just being devil's advocate.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Like I said judgement and timing are everything. There has to be something in it for everyone so the gap cannot be too wide. Lambs to the slaughter is of no use to anyone. You also need a decent hierarchy for players to work their way up on.

For those who insist on playing up before their time I have paid hitters they can use, which is fine. My hitters are usually very busy. When it comes to squads it's all about balance. Someone has to be the best player and it's all about give and take. I make sure the two best players in a squad get bi-weekly opportunity to play in the next squad up, which is my way of testing the water and preparing them. It works. Trust me...I'm a tennis coach.

My set up is different to that of most coaches. I raise money and have a sponsor to part-fund the training of children who are keen and show potential. It's tough to engineer this kind of a set up but incredibly worth it if you can pull it off.

As to myself, I just played with anyone when I was coming up. So long as I was hitting tennis balls that's really all that mattered. I have never viewed tennis as beating the hell out of anyone, or them me. I'm an extremely calm individual and I always played tennis that way too.

Stotty