Tennis Science for Tennis Players

By Howard Brody

How does your opponent put that tricky spin on the ball? Why are some serves easier to return than others? The mysteries behind the winning strokes, equipment, and surfaces of the game of tennis are accessibly explained by Howard Brody through the laws of physics. And he gives practical pointers to ways players can use this understanding to advantage in the game.

Through extensive laboratory testing and computer modeling, Brody has investigated the physics behind the shape of the tennis racket, the string pattern, the bounce of the tennis ball, the ways a particular court surface can determine the speed of the game, and the many other physical factors involved in tennis.

• Language: English
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
• Release date: Nov 24, 2010
• ISBN: 9780812201468

Howard Brody

Howard Brody, M.D., Ph.D., is a professor of family practice and philosophy and director of the Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences at Michigan State University. He is the author of Placebos and the Philosophy of Medicine, The Healer's Power, Stories of Sickness, and Ethical Decisions in Medicine. Dr. Brody resides in Holt, Michigan, with his wife, Daralyn, and their children, Sheila and Mark.

Reviews for Tennis Science for Tennis Players

[jpsnow · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is an extremely scientific exploration of the physics of tennis. It dispels some of the myths that still persist today, but it's a bit dated now for two reasons. First, having been written in 1987, the rackets used in the examples are now obsolete. Second, the technology used to model ball trajectories and string tension have surely advanced since then. The entire chapters on position and spin could be re-worked using empirical evidence from the Hawkeye and other tracking systems used today. Overall, I still found it interesting and the bullet point conclusions in each chapter are worth any player's attention.