instructional column
Cup
of Joe
Waking up to the facts and myths of winning tennis.
How Important is Being a ‘Natural’?
By Joe Dinoffer
In “Cup of Joe,” we want to evaluate accepted methods of how tennis should be played and coached in the context of the modern game. Some readers may conclude that many of the accepted ways of thinking are now obsolete; other readers may feel their importance is reinforced. Either way, we want to hear from you—about this current topic and on other topics you’d like us to address. Email me at joe@oncourtoffcourt.com and we will try to publish your comments in future columns.
©susan mullane
USPTA and PTR Master Professional
M
artina Navratilova and Bill Macatee covered one of Roger Federer’s early-round matches at a recent Grand Slam. Bill asked, “Federer seems to move so freely, does that just come more naturally to some players?” Martina responded with surprise: “Natural? Are you kidding? Nothing is natural about tennis. Moving well is hard work and then you have to hit a moving ball with a stick! It’s not natural at all.” The point Martina was making is that, while some players may look smooth and effortless, playing tennis well is hard work and requires countless hours of repetitive practice to master at a highly competitive level.
Q: But aren’t some people more athletic than others and therefore tennis comes more naturally to them? A: Yes and no. Relatively speaking, some players may move faster or swing more freely. However, 8
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Martina’s point is that the sport itself just isn’t natural and all great players have to work very hard for what they achieve. After all, nobody is born with a racquet in their hands.
Q: You mean Federer was not that natural as a junior tennis player? Or Nadal?
A: They are both so different. Most experts would say Federer makes tennis look easier than Nadal, but both are great. These are two players who can help us distinguish between effective tennis and graceful tennis. As of the writing of this article, Nadal has a 14-8 record against Federer. Federer is arguably more graceful. However, the match-up record speaks for itself. Then there’s the story of basketball legend Michael Jordan, who was cut from his high school team. Hard work got him to the top. Was he a “natural” and also graceful? Most would say yes. But, he only got to the top by putting in the hard work.
Q: So, someone like Jim Courier got to the top but you
wouldn’t call him a natural? Or Agassi? Or Sampras? Or, on the women’s side, how about Davenport or Henin or Venus Williams?
A: These are all unique examples, like every player at all levels. There is
one thing that is consistent with all of them. They all do one or two things extremely well on the court, and they worked very hard on everything else so they had few glaring weaknesses. But, were they “born” to do it, like racehorses? No. Speaking of racehorses, an interesting fact is that the times that racehorses run major events like the Kentucky Derby have been steady for decades. No improvement. But, this is not the case with human athletes. Track and field times steadily improve.
‘While some players may look smooth and effortless, playing tennis well is hard work and requires countless hours of repetitive practice.’
clarifies that you’ll get the best results by practicing things that will make you better. He calls it “deliberate practice.” I’ve also heard it called “practice with intent” and “practice with a purpose.”
Q: Can you say how much natural talent is important or necessary to excel in tennis? A: This is a tough one to pinpoint since there are so many levels and de-
grees of excellence in tennis. For example, to play at a pro level in the top 100 in the world might take more talent than to play in a 4.0 recreational league. But it’s important to note that determination and work ethic under the guidance of an expert coach are even more essential than pure “natural” talent. Some basic natural ability is needed, but the idea that a “super-human” talent is essential to high levels of success on a tennis court is just not a fact.
Summary
Some of the world’s best players look “natural” and some don’t. Picture talents like Nadal, Connors, Becker, Davenport and Courier. Now picture players like Federer, Goolagong, Kuerten and Sampras’ serve. The first group of champions are not the most graceful or “natural-looking” players, but their records are legendary, and they have each certainly left their mark as being among the best in the history of the sport. The second group is equally applauded in the history books and yet these players seem to float around the court with the grace of legendary actor, singer, and dancer Fred Astaire. So, is it essential to be graceful and look “natural” to play high-level tennis? Apparently not. This is good news. There’s hope for all of us, even if we can’t dance. Joe Dinoffer is a Master Professional in both the PTR and USPTA, a distinction awarded to only a handful in the tennis industry. He has published numerous books and videotapes, and is a frequent speaker at tennis conferences around the world. For more information, visit www.oncourtoffcourt.com.
Q: That’s interesting. What’s the difference? A: Racehorses are trained to be as fit as possible and work with their
riders, but they cannot be taught how to run in ways that their human counterparts can be coached. It’s the same in tennis. Play keeps improving because of improved coaching. A good athlete with great coaching will almost always beat a great athlete with poor coaching, all other factors such as technique and experience being equal.
Q: So, is natural talent at all important? A: Absolutely. Some degree of talent is certainly helpful. But, consider
what Geoff Colvin writes in the book Talent is Overrated. He emphasizes that you need a lot of time working on your skills. How much? Colvin shares a neatly rounded 10,000-hour figure that was originally postulated by Herbert Simon. In other words, success takes hard work. Colvin also
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