The Spanish Method: Keys and Flaws
By Chris Lewit arents often ask me, “What makes Spanish tennis so great?”, or, “What do they do differently in Spain?” Many folks have never been there and are curious how such a small country became a world superpower in tennis. They also want to know how my academy and summer camp are influenced by the Spanish approach. Here are the keys to the Spanish Way and—more importantly—the flaws in the classical Spanish approach. Spanish coaches do some great work—but they are also commonly deficient in some areas. In my academy and summer camp, I have distilled the best of the Spanish philosophy and drills while seeking to upgrade and evolve the areas of Spanish training that are flawed. I call this the Modern Spanish Method, and it’s at the heart of all my coaching.
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Strengths Consistency Spanish coaches are obsessed with being solid—making few errors. One of my mentors in Spain, Luis Bruguera, father and 60
coach to two-time Roland Garros champion Sergi Bruguera, and more recently a coach of Garbine Muguruza, is fond of saying: “To be solid brings confidence and reduces anxiety. To be solid does not mean to be a defensive player.” A hallmark of the Spanish style is consistency and control of the ball. Consistent players win a lot of tennis matches, and consistency is the foundation for future high level play. Racquet acceleration and forehand weapon While consistency is a major focus in Spain, coaches and academies over there generally stress racquet acceleration and weapon building, particularly with the forehand. Spanish players are famous for their amazing forehands, which often combine power with incredible topspin rates. This is no accident, and at my academy, we use many of the famous exercises from Spain to specifically develop a forehand weapon like Rafael Nadal. Movement and footwork Spanish players are well known for their superiority in movement skills. To say that Spanish coaches are obsessed with positioning and footwork would be an understatement. Spanish training constantly
New York Tennis Magazine • June 2020 • NYTennisMag.com
stresses proper technique and good energy with the legs and feet, and also helps players develop the reading skills with the eyes necessary to anticipate better—an often overlooked but critical aspect of moving well. The best Spanish players like Nadal often combine superior movement skills with tremendous anticipation and reading. Defense In Spain, defense is always valued and included in the training curriculum. Some coaches and countries focus purely on attacking styles. Spain has a balanced approach to developing a top player, combining the big forehand weapon with solid defensive capabilities. We have the same philosophy in my camp. Physical conditioning Spanish players are known for having the best fitness and stamina to outlast their opponents. It’s no mystery then that they are also known for being the most mentally tough. Spanish coaches understand that mental fortitude and physical fitness are intricately intertwined. Ultimately, you can’t have one without the other. Spanish programs therefore stress more off-court fitness than any other method I
