Thomas W. Rowland

I requested this book out of interest in tennis. And I have learned a lot about tennis that I did not know about.

What an interesting book, the psychology of tennis is just as important as the technique I guess. This book explores a little of both. I like the tips on how everything from the racket, shoes, string, grip and court composition makes a difference in the game. I would have liked a little more of the physical how-to, but how to get your mind in the game is also a very important part of tennis. Thanks to LibraryThing EarlyReviewer program for letting me find that out.

The book is a combination of disparent concepts that relate to athletics in general and some are specific to tennis. The author is a physician who looks at athletics from a physiolgical and clinical study standpoint. The paucity of clinical study data renders this attempt of little value. The information on racquets and the physics of spin are somewhat useful. The psychological aspects of tennis are also somewhat interesting. Overall the book is moderately valuable.

This book goes into immense detail of how the mind works, to explain what makes a great tennis player. There are some facts mentioned that I will try to incorporate, like focusing on yourself, instead of the other player on the court, and using imagery.