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Biomechanics

"A professional player may compete an average of 7 years", said Paul. "What if we could extend that longevity to 8-9 years? We could increase the time that they can compete injury free. There's a monetary value that can be placed on that additional 1-2 years of professional play. And we can use this information to support the longevity for any player, not just the professionals." Tennis - the sport for a lifetime.

Duane has conducted studies on grip firmness. You might think that the tighter you hold the racquet, the more power (ball speed) you can generate. Duane's work demonstrated that this correlation did not actually exist to the extent player's believe. Grip firmness was carefully adjusted by the player prior to impact and did not have a major effect on ball rebound speed.

What's an optimal training schedule? Many pros train 4 hours a day, 6 days per week. Jimmy Connors trained only 1 1/2 hours a day - but it was focused and concentrated. As Paul told us, "It was quality versus quantity". Which is better? In general is one training method superior to another? Is it dependent on the individual or the skill level?

Studies have been conducted that confirm that tighter strings create more control, while looser strings create more power . That's not "intuitive" (evident). You might actually think that the ball has a longer "dwell time" (remains on the strings longer) if the strings are tighter, but that isn't so.

Are young beginner's bodies developed enough to play with an open stance? Should they learn a closed stance first and then transition to an open position. (We know for example that young "little-league" pitchers are not ready to throw curve balls and can injure themselves.)

Larger racquets are easy to use and maneuver - but there are still many off-center hits. Today, there may be greater injuries related to the stiffer and lighter racquets typically sold. Tennis biomechanists want to understand how these new racquets affect injuries in the long run.

Should you imitate a champion? Not necessarily. Although a tremendous amount can be learned from watching them, their strength, agility and endurance is probably far greater than yours. If your body size is similar to the pro's you may be able to recreate their strokes. But as tennis scientist, Prof. Howard Brody pointed out to the principal investigator who is only 5 feet 2 1/2 inches tall, "Science tells us you'll never generate Venus Williams' 120 MPH serve". (More on that another time!) It's also important to understand what's a good technique and what's a little idiosyncrasy (a uniqueness that doesn't necessarily contribute to performance) that a top player displays.

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