Novak Djokovic is probably the best tennis player of all time. It is no secret that it has many talents and skills. From his technique to his mental hardness and everything in between.
Even his physical abilities are not too shabby. Flexibility, stamina and movement are only a few that come to mind.
While Novak is undoubtedly a physical specimen, it’s not the fastest tennis player I’ve ever seen. Obviously, it is not the strongest. And I would say that he is probably not one of the most powerful.
From the total athletic point of view is not the most Athletic player out there.
But here is my argument … Despite the fact that I am not the most athletic player on the tour, Novak is still (in my opinion) the best movement on the tennis court.
How can it be?
How can someone who is not the best athlete in sports have the best features of movement?
First, do not forget that I am not saying that it is not athletic (is). I say that if I should measure his linear speed, the ability to jump, explosiveness, strength/strength, etc. – He would probably score at the top of these physical properties.
Still, he is still the best motion! And here’s the reason …
Has an overwhelming advantage in terms of its ability Read the game.
This is a combination of its reactive Delip’s step. His ability to perceive the incoming ball – and make the right decision very early As for where it is to be built on the basis of tactics, the phase of the game and how it feels the ball at that moment.
Finally, I don’t think people give their expectations a sufficient credit. He seems to know where his opponent will hit before they do it!
These skills – reaction, perception, expectation – are what allows the player to be labeled as Novak “Best Motor in Tennis”.
Junior Example
I recently started working with a young 10 -year -old player. Before our first lesson, his mother mentioned that he was called slowly. That it does not move on the tennis court quickly.
During the heating of our first lesson, I asked this young boy to make several jumps, sprints and other athletic movements. I didn’t measure anything specifically, I just watched.
Maybe he wasn’t the fastest 10 -year -old I have ever seen, but he was certainly not the slowest. Actually, I saw slower players of his age … players who won the national and European championships.
The reason why he appeared slowly on the tennis court had nothing to do with his running speed (or its lack) – but the result of its insufficiently developed perceived abilities.
Especially compared to more experienced – and higher ratings – counterparts.
It is not that he could not run fast enough to trace certain balls, it is that it did not start his movement to the upcoming ball quite fast … Ala Novak.
Had problems with the ball judgment. Was the ball forcing him to get back? Or rush forward?
This is a seemingly simple concept. If the ball is short, move forward. If the ball is deep, move back. But it’s nothing but easy to handle … Especially for beginners and younger players.
I feel slow!
When I play against the players who are better than me, I often feel slow. It is not because I am slowly slow, because – for any reason – I do not read the game fast enough.
I could be late on my split step (or not a step at all).
I may not be able to handle the speed of the ball.
I may not judge the ball well enough, so contact too late, too early, too high or too low.
Or maybe it’s something completely different (we don’t always know why we feel slow or late or out of time … That’s why tennis can be such a hard sport).
Contrast to do when you play someone you are significantly better than. You feel fast. You are always on the ball. Their shots will no longer understand your receptive abilities.
Elite players – and especially Novak – feel mostly like this. They feel fast because they read the ball early. They are already moving and preparing for their shots Before the ball even exceeds the net.
The best way to train perception
Research on how to expand the skills of perception in tennis is still mixed, even if certain progress has been achieved.
For example, a study by Shim et al (2005) revealed that elite players had better response times and times when returning from a real player, compared to the return serving from a ball machine. Studies from other sports, such as football goalies, had similar findings.
This in my opinion Huge Consequences for training. Expert artists seem to highlight various impulses from the environment, including their opponent, when taking sensitimate decisions.
In the case of the return of serving in tennis, the returner can pick up the hints from the ball, the rocket angle in the impact and so on. When returning, it serves in an artificial way, the performance decreases because these stimuli are no longer available to the player.
What about reaction balls?
Do you know those reaction balls that are reflected in different directions? Coaches often use them in “agility” and “reaction time” training. But are they effective/relevant?
The answer is yes and no. Yes, in the development player that could (keyword here) have a certain initial advantage. But on a very small window of time.
Once the player reaches a certain level of tennis, the use of these balls is limited because they do not transmit very well real tennisplay. As we have seen from research, artificial exercises do not correlate well with real sports scenarios. These environments are different, allusions are different, and therefore is limited (if any) transfer to the target skill.
They can be an entertaining tool for use for warming, but they are unlikely to be moved by a needle of performance in any significant or measurable way.
The final point
Remember, just because I’m good in returning shots from the machine Not means I will be good at subtraction Real live shots.
The best form of practice – whether it is an improvement in the return of serving or getting a high deep backhand – is to practice these images on live exchange.
This means returning against a good server. A server that can hit its goals. A server that has the ability to hit speed, rotation and consistency. And a server that doesn’t tell you where to serve.
And don’t understand me badly, if there is someone who sees value in physical condition, it’s me. It can help extend strength, reactivity, acceleration and reduce the likelihood of injuries. I saw it first hand.
But eventually move better – like Novak or other elite players – Players have to learn to read the game better.
