In high-level tennis, rhythm variations are almost imperceptible but effective, cleverly concealed by very similar preparations and visible only after the ball has left the opponent’s strings.
In all this, the wrist, although biomechanically acting in a minimal percentage and only at the end of the kinetic chain (and still remains fixed at impact), could, in my opinion, contribute to determining the ball’s trajectory within the overall action of speeding up the tool, for example to execute a top spin lob instead of a lifted shot with a lower arc.
In the lob, the action of the string bed recalls the teaching of the old-style top spin “from low to high”; while normally players adopt an evolution of this type of spin, with a percentage of rotation more “forward”, since they perform a sort of semi-ovalization connected with a higher impact and hit the ball on the ascending phase instead of descending.
I like to identify the two actions, that of the lob and that going forward, with the terms “under-over ball” and “over ball” (even though it is known that the string bed at impact is always perpendicular to the ground).
Complex actions, which include various elements, among which the most visible is the racket head with its corresponding string bed; but that originate from below, from the ground, hence from the push of the legs.
According to biomechanical studies by Bosco, speed would not be expressed horizontally but vertically, from bottom to top, confirming the action of the legs in the overall movement, whether it be a shot with spin upwards or forwards.
The question therefore is:
“Can the wrist impact, even minimally, in terms of sensitivity and control, while maintaining an accentuated execution speed, in retaining the ball more or less at impact, determining its trajectory and length?”
More rotation should result in a lowering of the rhythm of the exchange, due to the fact that the ball stays in the air longer.
But in reality, it must be seen what type and how much percentage of spin has been imparted to the ball.
Taking into consideration one of the biomechanical elements, the heaviness of stroke (heaviness of stroke) given by “speed + spin”, clarifies a bit the idea of the “top forward” mentioned above.
Even the back spin has now become an offensive shot, so the ball is more charged than it was with the previous technique.
Following such considerations, my attention now shifts towards the mental and tactical-strategic aspects of rhythm.
Rhythm is one of the elements to be sought and trained according to a methodology of mental training called “s.f.e.r.a.”, understood as recognition and perception of the energy flows inherent in movements, i.e., the internal rhythm, one’s own “biological” (breathing, muscular districts…) and external, due to one’s own play and the opponent’s.
It thus indicates the quality of the action.
From the mastery of the internal rhythm depends the functional use of the individual’s energy resources, thus a better implementation of tactical choices.
At a tactical-strategic level, it is a quality employed by the player continuously during the match, connected with the ability to read the various phases of the match, condensed in embryo in the optimal management of the individual exchange.
Therefore, rhythm is a fundamental element of modern tennis.
This is already known from the initiation phase, in mini tennis, as an essential coordinative ability (rhythmization).
But the concept goes well beyond, evolving and completing itself with all the technical-tactical, mental, and physical aspects of the performance.
In short…the rhythm is magic! 🎾✨