Reviews (44)

Excellent!
Excellent book, unveiling another dimension of the game. I applied its content, and I saw immediate results. I did not have to practice many hours to change any of my strokes to win against players who used to give me trouble. On the other hand, based on my improved analysis of the game, I now know the shots I have to master in my practice sessions to get even better.
The best book for tennis lovers!
If you love tennis, then you will love this book!I had put off buying it for many months, because I was turned off by the title.I equated "ugly" with cheating, or using cheap tricks to try to win matches.But I was wrong.It's not about cheating; it's about strategy and using your head!
Excellent book.
This is a great book.The stories about playing days are getting a little dated, but the concepts are timeless.There are several sections that I'm going to re-read. The only people who shouldn't read this are my opponents. :D ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Psychological aspects    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Tennis    5. Sports & Recreation / General   

Editorial Review

A phenomenon when first published in 1972, the Read more

Reviews (50)

Highly Recommended
I'm in my late 30's and have been playing tennis my whole life.I'm a self-rated (USTA) solid 4.5, maybe even a low 5.0 for singles, 4.5 for doubles.
Must Read
This book has had a very positive impact on my life. I have suffered with concentration problems for all my life and was recently diagnosed with ADD. I was always told at school that i was intelligent but didnt "try hard enough" and thats why I was failing. But funnily enough trying hard seemed to make things worse for me. My difficulties have led me to being fired from several jobs due to lapses of attention. After reading this book I have been putting the ideas in to practice through the medium of chess (I am an expert level player) and have noticed an improved abiltity to focus my mind. I hope now to move forward in life and repair my shatterd self esteem and gain confidence to take on new challenges. This is a great self help book!.

THE LEARNING PROCESS
This book is excellent.As a great believer in learning new things, this book interested me greatly.My tennis has improved enormously,on the mental front firstly.Because of this i can make changes to my game rapidly and without frustration.This advice in the book also helps in other areas of learning.Recently i started to learn spanish and using the inner way of learning i have progressed quickly.Great book you must read it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Psychological aspects    2. Psychology Of Sports    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Tennis    6. Sports & Recreation / Tennis   

Reviews (17)

...Only because ZERO stars was not an option
I read this book only for its tell-all possibilities - if you're at all familiar with professional tennis, you know how tightly controlled the image of the sport has become; in other words, its ripe for a tell-all.And Spadea, a bitter outsider with access to players at every level, would seem to be in perfect position to deliver.Of course he doesn't, so any fellow gossip-mongers can stop reading here.Among the insights he does offer the reader: that he's painfully aware of being older; that he has a habit of dismissing perfectly reasonable advice; that he equates stubbornness with bravery and delusion with ambition; that at 31 years old, he will occasionally "mess around" with various girls; that he swings from sky highs to career-ditching lows like a metronome; that he intensely dislikes James Blake; that he desperately wants to be famous; that the standards of the publishing world couldn't get any more lax.
Great book.Thanks Vince
I coulnt put this book down until I finished it. Spadea makes us a mid lot professional player for a couple of days, you suffer when he loses, you meet Andre Agassi, you chase models, etc. If you love tennis, you will love this book, and you could even end pushing for Vince in the circuit.

white men should not rap
Especially tennis players.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Personal Memoirs    4. Spadea, Vince    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Sports - General    8. Tennis    9. Tennis players    10. United States    11. Biography: sport    12. Sports & Recreation / Tennis   

Reviews (14)

Best Collection of Conventional Wisdom Clearly Stated
I did not see an original thought in the book, but that is not a negative.Pat has collected a consistent and complete book of conventional wisdom about tennis doubles strategy.She expresses it more clearly than I have seen anywhere, with excellent examples and illustrations.It is a book that you read on different levels as you master the art.I have loaned it out many times and will have to buy a third copy soon, because it tends not to come back.
Court Position - Shot Selection - Bible!!!
Excellant easy to read book on the mental decisions of Where should I be and towards where should I hit.Nothing on actual shot execution.I have bought over 10 copies and some seasons we actually use each chapter as the text for each weeks training/lessons.
Not practical
This book was written in a very complicated language.I bought the Skip Singleton's "Inteligent Doubles" and found it far uncomplicated and better to understand and to put in practice . ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Doubles    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Tennis   

Reviews (8)

Can it really be this simple?
It works for me. Just like a lot of enthusiasts I've purchase more than a fair amount of tennis media. I bought Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Handbook, and hated it. He goes into excruciating detail which I found difficult to conceptualize, consequently increasing my frustration levels.
Gets you results
Great pointers to improve your game immediately. My son ( HS tennis team) debates some of the pointers as being short term gimmicks but as long as I can 'still' beat him I'm okay with that!

Just requires proper practicing
The title suggests you will play better tennis in 2 hrs, which is true. It depends on the level of player you are. For a beginner you will learn a lot from this book quickly because you do not have any ingrained techniques.
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Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Sports & Recreation    3. Tennis    4. Sports & Recreation / Tennis   

Editorial Review

Written for tennis newcomers but with enough detail to satisfy seasoned players, Read more

Reviews (11)

Great for tennis beginners!
I just started playing tennis and jumped in with both feet - joining an ALTA team.Practices were great but I knew nothing about the rules and terms.This book does a great job of explaining everything and it turns out several women on my team own it!

This is a great book!
I had never picked up a racket before, and I found this book very helpful and easy to understand.

great information
It is clear, informative and very useful for the beginner or the one who has forgotten what she learned in high school phys ed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Sports & Recreation    3. Tennis    4. Sports & Recreation / Tennis   

Reviews (5)

Great Analysis of Subject
This is an excellent review of every conceivable aspect of tennis and the colliding forces on the ball.It covers frames, spin, deceleration...about the only thing I can think of that was not covered was differences in altitude and high altitude vs. regular tennis balls.Mathematical formulas are provided throughout describing the physical phenomenon that is being explored.I loved the section of the rate of deceleration of the ball, which helped me to understand why my serves seemed to be quite fast, but only registered 95-100 mph at the net.This was good stuff!
Viewpoint from Avid Tennis Player & Engineer
It was very interesting to read technical explanations for tennis realities...Since the book is filled with obtuse scientific concepts such as Vertical Angular Acceptance, Coefficient of Restitution, etc., most readers may find the material difficult.I've summarized some of the finer points from the book at my blog site:
The BEST Book on the Science of Tennis
Simply put... this beautiful book is the best book on the technology of tennis and should be read by every MANUFACTURER of tennis gear, as well as those serious about increasing every aspect of their game!This is well written, beautifully designed and packed with information that any tennis player will enjoy and benefit from! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Force and energy    2. General    3. Physics    4. Physics (Specific Aspects)    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Tennis    8. Technology / General   

Reviews (8)

Help for Mental Midget Tennis Players - Like Me
I bought this book specifically because this year I have been nervous and unconfident during matches.Was this helpful?Absolutely!Does it completely cure the problem and will listening to this make your problems go away?Absolutely not!
Hey this really does help
Obviously if you are going to buy this CD you play tennis. Alot of tennis.
Shows to how to bring your best game to the court!
I've done a lot of sports in my life, and have only rarely been given any guidance by coaches about how to address the issue of nerves, tension, relaxation, focus, and playing my best physical game while my mental side was going crazy with the tension of the moment. It's no easy task, but Jeff Greenwald's "Fearless Tennis" finally tackles a subject that affects all of us who play the game, any game for that matter. Relaxing and hitting our best stuff under the pressure of a match, at any level, has always been elusive at best. It's obvious when your hear this CD, that Jeff has "been there". His professional experience on the tour gives credence to his insights on how the pressure of a match can undermine so devastatingly our ability to hit the ball like we do when it doesn't count. I think Jeff has done us all a great service by combining his extensive match experience, knowledge of the game,and advanced psychological training to produce this CD.I feel like Jeff has lifted a real load of mental anguish off my shoulders every time I walk on a court. I'm playing more relaxed, hitting out more on the pressure points, and am making fewer errors. I have mixed emotions about letting everybody know about this great CD. Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio Adult: Other    2. Sports & Recreation / General    3. Sports & Recreation / Sports Psychology    4. Sports & Recreation / Tennis    5. General    6. Psychological aspects    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Sports Psychology    9. Tennis    10. Visualization   

Reviews (7)

This is a great book
Whether you be a beginner, a recreational player, of any age, or a professional tennis player this is a book people at all levels of ability will want to read.It is a great book for anyone who likes to play tennis.Dr. Murray writes very well and his insights on the mental aspects of the game, which are so important, will help all of us play better tennis.

Mental equipment is truly important
Mr. Murray does an excellent job of proving that "mental equipment" is helpful and beneficial to your game. I truly believe that you can't operate to your fullest physically without aid from the mental side of the game. The only thing that I was less than satisfied with is that he dedicates majority of his book to illustrate how mental equipment is important, but offers little assistance in improving your mental equipment. He uses excellent examples and truly illustrates his point clearly and directly. As for tips on how to improve your mental equipment, he has only offered about 1-2 pages worth of advice. For example, he spends 32 out of 34 pages of the chapter on attentional control, explaining the different types of attentional control, the problems with attention (such as:excessive stress, choking, etc.), and also explains how having selective attention and concentration is highly useful. He goes on to tell you the optimal effects of stress on attention. The only problem with all this is that after illustrating all the problems, and explaining where you need to be in terms of attention control, he offeres little advice to explain how to achieve the optimal attention control. In fact, only 2 pages out of 34 were actual advice on how to improve attention control and find that state of effortless effort commonly called the "zone" by tennis players. But, one must give Mr. Murray credit for writing a book on the mental game as very few books are written on this subject effectively. Afterall, isn't the human mind very complex? My suggestion is to buy the book if you want to learn about his philosophy on the mental game of tennis, but if you want advice on how to improve the mental game, then you might be slightly disappointed unless your satisfied with the 2 pages of every chapter dedicated to specific tips for improving.

Comments and suggestions
Dear John,Read more

Subjects:  1. Psychological aspects    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Sports Psychology    5. Tennis    6. Sports & Recreation / Sports Psychology    7. Psychology of Sports   

Reviews (3)

An excellent update to "The Physics and Technology of Tennis"
A few years back I did read "The Physics and Technology of Tennis."Even though this was a sensational book that gave me the physics knowledge to moonlight as a racquet development consultant, "Technical Tennis" is a great update."The Physics and ..." consists of a collection of papers that were published in TennisPro magazine between 1993 and 2000.Meanwhile, "Technical Tennis" was published in 2005.Tennis technique and technology have changed since the mid nineties.The authors thoroughly study these changes.They do a great analysis of Sampras second serve that remained a standard even for today's pros.They also analyze Federer's forehand that is a marvelof versatility, speed, and accuracy. Nobody hits a forehand using Federer's technique.But, maybe thanks to this book more tennis players and especially pros will emulate it.
Read this book before you buy a racket or take a lesson.
This book cuts through all the marketing hype and gets to the physics of rackets, balls, and courts.Explains what matters when selecting a racket.Helped me find a racket that helps my tennis elbow.The previous book was very long.It also was redundant and contradictory in places.This book solves those problems.
Technical but accessible
The previous "version" of this book -- The Physics and Technology of Tennis -- is a daunting read for all but a few. In Technical Tennis, the authors cover many of the most important technical aspects relating to the interactions among racquets, strings, balls, and court surfaces, but the information is MUCH more accessible (and portable). The writing style is smoother, too, than Physics, so one could actually read through this entire volume in an evening. This book represents a great effort to render a complex subject in such a way that the concepts and principles are within the grasp of the interested lay-person, without being condescending or patronizing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Equipment and supplies    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Tennis    5. Sports & Recreation / Tennis   

Reviews (3)

A book that is really useful for your tennis. No doubts.
I want to highly recommand this book, "The Truth about Winning"
"The Truth about Winning" will help you win a lot more matches because thinking clearly matters so much during competition.Whether you're a club player or a world-class pro, Tom Veneziano will teach you how to play your best tennis
Bo Jackson knew football and baseball.Tom Veneziano knows tennis.If you want to take your tennis game to the next level ... read this book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Sports & Recreation / Tennis    3. Instruction and study    4. Psychological aspects    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Tennis   

Features

• Illustrated

Subjects:  1. Racket Sports    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Squash    5. Tennis    6. Sports & Recreation / Tennis    7. Sports coaching    8. Squash & rackets   

Reviews (6)

Great Read!
This is a great book for the beginner looking for a specific strategy. This book could be applied right away. it totally makes sense. It is simple. I highly recommend it. It was a fun light read too.

Dynamite Doubles

Thoroughly "user friendly" instructional advice
Championship tennis player Helle Sparre in collaboration with sports broadcaster Jim Schock teaches the club and tournament players just how to improve their "doubles" tennis game in a single afternoon in Dynamite Doubles: Playing Winning Tennis Today! Players should address four basic questions about doubles tennis: What should I have done?; Where should I have been?; How could I have gotten that?; and Whose was that?. Enhanced with line drawings throughout, Dynamite Doubles offers thoroughly "user friendly" instructional advice and insights recommended to the attention of all dedicated tennis players seeking to substantially improve their doubles play! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Tennis   

Reviews (1)

Fit to Play Tennis
This book is a must-have for every tennis player. It covers all relevant topics of and gives you dozens of easy-to-follow exercises on how to keep the body in tip-top condition. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Sports & Recreation    3. Tennis    4. Training    5. Sports & Recreation / Tennis   

Reviews (3)

New Edition is Way Better
I'm a multi sport athlete who trains all year round regardless of what sport I play. I bought a few of these Ultimate Guide to Weight Training books, and they definitely helped me train specifically for the different sports that I play. Then about a year later I received an email from amazon that there was a new edition out.These upgraded editions are even better than the originals, with more articles and a lot more sport-specific information. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who plays a lot of sports or wants to specifically focus on training for one sport in particular.

Excellent Book - Helped My Teams
I purchased this book as an athletic director.I got this and the other sports books in the series.I received excellent feedback on the tennis book.The coach did not know much about training, but said the book is easy to read and understand.even the exercises he did not know how to do, there were photos and descriptions which made it easy for the players to use it.Definitely worth it.

Good general not sport specific
It is a good guide to weight training for someone just starting out and it is easy to understand. But, If you have any other books in the series you do not need this one. The tennis guide is very much like the one for soccer. This book is not very sport specific, if you are looking for a strengh and conditioning book more sport specific to tennis, Complete Conditioning for Tennis by the USTA would be a more valuable resource. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bodybuilding & Weight Training    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Tennis    5. Training    6. Sports training & coaching   

Reviews (1)

Not a book for beginners
This is a good book for coaches and parents that know a lot about tennis, but if you are a parent looking for a book to help you with the basics, do not buy it. It does not help you with the basics, it does not have any photos or sketches -except for some cartoonish drawings- to help you with the drills, movements, position of your legs, arms, shoulders, etc.
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Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Sports & Recreation    3. Tennis   

Reviews (17)

A Literary Second Serve
In The Rivals, a middling addition to the tennis book industry, Johnette Howard argues that the Evert-Navratilova rivalry both reflected and changed women's tennis and women's role in professional sports.Fair enough.She also portrays the rivals as two intelligent, highly skilled and articulate women whose friendship was tested and strengthened by their on-court competition.Fair enough again.Also, the book is a quick, good read, albeit in the style of a 270 page sports column, where everybody always talks in the present tense.When all that is conceded though, what new perspective or insight does The Rivals bring to the party?In my view, not much, if anything that couldn't be found by reading the autobiographies of the two champions, which Howard generously cites frequently.As for the writing on tennis here, there is nothing that can come close to John McPhee's classic Levels of the Game in recreating the context, tension, and skill of tennis at the highest levels.

Times Have Changed
Given the high octane, big-money state of womens' tennis today, this book is a quaint look back at how things used to be in the 70s and 80s when tennis was more popular, but still much less sophisticated, than today's game.
Great read for tennis fans
I loved this book because it reminded me of when I used to actually watch tennis and especially women's tennis.I was in love with Chris Evert and loved the detail that is put into telling her story.I was also surprised at how much I enjoyed the information I learned about Martina.A great read for anyone that grew up watching these two great athletes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1956-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Evert, Chris    7. Navratilova, Martina,    8. Sports - General    9. Sports rivalries    10. Tennis    11. Tennis players    12. United States    13. Women    14. Biography & Autobiography / Sports   

Reviews (6)

A Story That Teaches the Secrets of Bad Writing
This book is anti-literature. The "story" is silly, cliched, and unconvincing. I threw the book out. I could have attempted to re-sell it, or even donate it to a local library, but I wanted to do my small part in making sure I didn't unnecessarily expose anyone else to Mr. Zosel's vision. I'm a little annoyed that Amazon requires that I award this book even one star.

Inspiring, educational read
Solid sport psychology concepts in an engaging format. I didn't put the book down until I was finished with the last page! Tennis players of all ages can relate to Tony and learn with him as he develops his mental game.

Tony's Da Bomb
I think Vision Tennis is a great book.It teaches people how to deal with tough situations in the game of tennis.Being a tournament player, I was able to learn a lot of things that helped me to be a better player, both physically and mentally.I liked it when the author described how he played against the top players in his region.The author, Michael Zosel told you how not to choke and what you should do before playing a match.It ended up being a great story in the end.If you want to get better both mentally and physically you must read this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Psychological aspects    2. Psychology Of Sports    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Tennis    6. Sports & Recreation / General    7. Sports psychology   

Reviews (8)

Dissatisfied
I didn't really like the book because there was not enough about Andre really.It was 95% about his father.I guess I was mislead by the title.

Authentic and insightful
This is a great book for Agassi fans who want an inside scoop on Andre's life.Mike is a very tough guy and tells it the way he sees it.They have been through a lot.For me, this book provides justification for the admiration I have developed for Andre over the years of watching him play and following his story.The book is a beautiful tale of determination, character, soul, and ultimately, family.It is a quick read, thoroughly enjoyable, and I appreciate Mike's efforts in making it available.

More than a good biography . . .
Being a fan of Andre Agassi, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It's a bag of mixed candies - Mike's biography, real life drama of an immigrant family, story behind Andre's "rise, fall and rise" .. and more.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Sports - General    5. Tennis    6. Biography & Autobiography / Sports   

Subjects:  1. Sports    2. Sports & Recreation    3. Tennis    4. Training