The Myth of the Message Board

John Yandell

Last month my article on the Myth of the Magic Bullet generated a lot of response. (Click Here.) Quite a few people wrote in to say "no" to the magic.

Now let's look at another horrific fallacy—the Myth of the Message Board—that players talking to other players, or sometimes just themselves—can solve their own technical and tactical problems and realize their dreams.

Here is a typical post on the largest message board in tennis: "You can learn everything about tennis right here on this forum."

There are a few informed posters and credible teaching pros, but the overwhelming discourse there I would describe as the deluded leading the blind. These are players who are allegedly dedicated to improving, but make assertions based on their own thoughts and imaginations, spending hours pontificating about things that are misleading, untrue, and often destructive.

It's a similar phenomenon to the mania with You Tube posts. But in general even less informed, if that is possible.

My point in the first article was that YouTube was flooded with bullshit from alleged tennis authorities who could magically transform your game or even turn you into Roger Federer or any superstar you wished, or at least give you their strokes—for a price.

Although a lot of posters reference bogus info and videos from You Tube, at least as many or more just spin their own theories.

I post there occasionally when I think the discussion isn't so far gone as to defy rational discussion. With occasionally being the operative word.

But here are some examples where it's too far gone...

The Grip Dinosaur

"Anyone that hits with the same forehand grip all match is a dinosaur. High balls Semi western. Low balls Eastern. That's the modern game."

"What's the most significant difference between a beginner and an intermediate player at rec tennis? In my opinion the players who learn and employ the wide athletic base while executing the shots.

"The effective utilization of lower body is way more important than "trivial" details centered around arm and hand. The wide athletic base is the most significant differentiator in tennis."

"A good hip drive to get a loose arm started from a known location. You can vary the hip drive to get the percent of hit you want."

"Not sure why the loop seems better but it might be that the velocity never hits zero like it will in straight take back. The straight take back doesn't seem as hip drive friendly-more just torso while the loop feels better with hip initiation."

"The eastern grip is a nightmare if you want to hit reliable top spin as a rec player--way too complicated for less than ordinary skills."

"Overall Roger is not the best model to copy, not because of being too advanced, but because he's rather idiosyncratic with his own techniques, and because he kind of developed some very specific traits for his game style as he aged, which deviate from ultimate rock solid fundamentals."

These are just a tiny fraction of the crazy assertions about technique. More:

Count 5 after the bounce on the groundstrokes. Don't prepare too early.

There is a focus on magic backswing shapes, lag and snap on the forehand, snap of the wrist on the serve and even on the one-handed backhand. The open stance serve (whatever that is) is the serve of the future.

So many of the things I've written about in the Myths section. (Click Here.) I thought originally I could list a few dozen more, but as with the YouTube myths it just got too painful...

Psycho

But the message boards can get even weirder, moving from debates on technique into the purely pyscho sphere. For example:

"I think I lost all of my previous matches because my opponents had learned too much from me!"

Or this:

"People from larger countries can spiritually connect with a much larger population such that a competitive mindset might come a bit easier for them."

What?

The message boards are just another example of how the internet was allegedly supposed to bring us closer to truth. I can't speak for other areas of knowledge, but for tennis my belief is the opposite is true.

The solution? Obviously Tennisplayer.net! At least on our Forum subscribers can reference actual video evidence or closely reasoned articles from established researchers and coaches.

Stayed tuned for our side by side webinar!