No matter whether your goal is to improve your technique or expand your mental game, these tennis books offer guidance in both areas. From strategy and tactics training and nutrition they cover it all.
The book highlights that, regardless of natural athletic talent, character and mental strength are often what determine success on the court.
Winning Ugly by Brad Gilbert
Winning Ugly is an invaluable classic tennis book, teaching players how to outwit superior opponents through various strategies and mind games. Written by former professional player and now-renowned coach Brad Gilbert – known for his intense competitive spirit and analytical approach to tennis instruction – Winning Ugly reveals some of his secrets while providing practical advice that transcends conventional tennis instruction norms.
Gilbert provides readers with real-life anecdotes from his career that serve as effective examples of strategies and techniques he employs to defeat his competitors. He outlines how one can analyze an opponent’s style of play before adapting their strategy accordingly in order to maximize success, all using an engaging writing style to keep readers engrossed and eager to discover how they too can beat even their toughest rivals.
Gilbert’s philosophy of “winning ugly” provides valuable lessons for tennis players of all levels. Instead of trying to overshadow an opponent with greater skills, it often pays dividends to exploit his or her weaknesses instead. This may require taking risks or trying unconventional shots – and also remaining aware of different dynamics and opportunities that present themselves during, during, and post match.
Gilbert stresses the importance of adapting to various playing surfaces and environmental conditions in his book. He addresses how to adjust ball speed, bounce of court surface and other considerations to optimize performance; also including techniques like drop shots to break opponent rhythm.
Gilbert doesn’t support either end of this spectrum: gamesmanship and cheating. Instead, he emphasizes being aware of all rules and regulations of sport as he stresses its significance for match results. Furthermore, Gilbert stresses how key it is for each matchant to mentally prepare before beginning play and stay focused for its entirety – with key strategies for maintaining positive mindsets while avoiding negative self-talk or distraction during high pressure situations.
The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey
Gallwey offers readers a timeless guide for attaining a state of “relaxed concentration,” the key to peak tennis performance and life success alike. He pioneered sports psychology by applying lessons from Zen thinking and humanistic psychology to sports psychology as a whole – teaching readers how to master their mental game of tennis.
This book is an essential read for all tennis players, particularly beginners. It provides essential introductions to basic strategy and competition concepts that can help enhance overall gameplay and development of positive mindsets. Furthermore, this text includes helpful advice for overcoming mental hurdles and cultivating healthy mindsets.
Harlan Coben’s Edgar Award-winning Myron Bolitar series continues in this riveting tennis thriller by following Myron through a tragedy and mysterious letter that lead him deeper into murderous plots and sabotage schemes involving top tennis players competing at top levels of their sport. A must-read for fans of tennis as well as readers interested in what happens behind closed doors between top players at tournaments of any sort!
From legendary players to historic matches, this book explores the backstory of one of the most beloved sports in history: tennis. Packed with intricate research and engaging prose, it makes this an essential read for those passionate about this timeless game and their quest to learn more about its rich history.
Brad Gilbert, a former professional tennis player who once reached number four in the world rankings, shares the secrets of some of his greatest competitors such as Andre Agassi and Rafael Nadal in this engaging book on tennis psychology.
Gallwey emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through balanced eating and sleep for maximum tennis player performance and personal improvement. A must-read for tennis enthusiasts as well as anyone wanting to enhance both personal and professional lives!
The Complete Guide to Tennis Training by John McEnroe
No matter your experience level in tennis, reading about it can bring many advantages. Not only can it give an overview of its rules and history; but reading also can provide tips to enhance your technique and create strategies to win competitive matches.
If you are a fan of John McEnroe, this book by a journalist who followed him around for a year can provide more insight into who lies behind his controversial court antics and his life after retirement from professional tennis. It offers unique insights into one of history’s most controversial players as well as how he reinvented himself after retiring.
Tournament Tough by Brad Gilbert, a former pro tennis coach who reached number four in the world at one time and mentored Andre Agassi’s successful late 90s career, is one of the newest books on our list of best tennis books. It provides comprehensive yet user-friendly guidance covering everything from stroke development and mental toughness training, through injury prevention strategies.
The Complete Guide to Tennis Training addresses both physical and psychological elements of tennis play, including conditioning exercises, Mary Carillo’s chapter for girls, drills tailored for all levels of play and fundamental techniques like footwork and stroke development. It offers comprehensive coverage.
Another invaluable resource is BETTERWAY PUBLICATIONS’ 1989 1st US Edition of “Intensive Tennis Training – Betterway Publicationss, 1989 (1st US Edition 160 pages). Written to provide players and coaches with all of the tools necessary to improve their game, this book features strategies for both singles and doubles games as well as drills and exercises including full color action photos.
Tennis Strokes for Success by Doug MacCurdy & Shawn Tully was published by Sports Illustrated in 1994 as its 1st US Edition; comprising of 158 pages. The book covers basic strokes before providing an easy-to-follow conditioning program including stretching, weight training, plyometrics and medicine ball exercises – many coloured action photographs of top players make this book essential reading! A must for any tennis enthusiast!