Here is a list of most of my favorite tennis books, and also a few others, alphabetized by the author's last name or the publisher/producer. The annotations or opinions are mine. If your local bookstore can't find one for you, most of these books ought to be available places like: www.amazon.com or www.bookfinder.com or www.biblio.com or www.alibris.com or www.barnesandnoble.com
Of course, you don’t really learn to play tennis by reading books, but by going out and playing practice matches, taking lessons, playing tournaments, team events, etc. On the other hand, we seem to get a clearer image of the game by reading what the great players, teachers, coaches, and writers have shared with us:
Agassi, Andre. Open. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-307-26819-8. Subtitle: An Autobiography.
I was surprised to find out that Agassi's childhood didn't appear to be anywhere near as happy as we may have been led to think. The inevitable conflicts with other players and coaches, his father's domineering/abusive behavior, the ever-present pain with injuries, the idea that he actually hates tennis, all that and more, make this well-written book a real "page-turner." He doesn't seem to have held back very much. Indeed, he appears to have given us more than we might have expected. Andre is very proud of his K-12 preparatory school in Las Vegas for underprivileged children.
American Sports Builders Association and the United States Tennis Association. Tennis Courts.
Eighth Edition, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-692-47173-9. Subtitle: A Construction & Maintenance Manual.
If you want to know anything and everything about building or taking care of a tennis court, this book has it all. Plenty of detail is here provided for all surfaces. Among the topics are: Designing an indoor or outdoor tennis facility, choosing a contractor, funding a tennis project, lighting, fencing, color coating, child-size courts, drainage, grading, net posts, renovation, repairing different kinds of cracks, and more. Nicely organized with index tabs, it has a glossary and an index in the back for looking things up. Over 250 pages (8.5" by 11"). Good work!
Anderson, Alan. How to Build Your Own Tennis Court. A Sunrise Book, E.P. Dutton, 1977. ISBN:
0-87690-251-4.
If you can locate a copy, this book is for the DIY guys who want to build their own tennis court in the back yard, or someplace else. In 1971 prices, he estimates that you could build a hard court for $7,872. If we translate that into 2023 dollars, using an online inflation calculator, we get about $59,825. This is a fun book to read, and very informative, too.
Antoun, Rob. Women's Tennis Tactics. Human Kinetics, 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0-7360-6572-6,
ISBN-10: 0-7360-6572-5.
Women tennis players are indeed different from men, so why not have a book just for them? With lots of drills and ideas with women players in mind, this is a nicely put-together source for players, teachers, and coaches. Strong buy.
Arnold, Katie. Don’t Let Youth Sports Hijack Your Life. Outside Online, September 16, 2014.
Subtitle: Too much competition too soon is bad for your kids and your family.
Ashe, Arthur, with Arnold Rampersad. Days of Grace. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1993,
ISBN: 0-679-42396-6.
A lot of young players today never really got to know Arthur Ashe (1943-1993), and that’s a shame. Ashe was #1 in the world in 1975, the year he won Wimbledon. Highly intelligent and articulate, he is sorely missed. Another book of his is Portrait in Motion, (Houghton Mifflin Company Boston, 1975. ISBN: 0-395-20429-1.) Ashe saw international tennis change from being something “fun,” to becoming the big-money sport that it is today. For more information, see https://arthurashe.ucla.edu/
Barrett, John, and Hewitt, Ian, editors for The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. Centre Court. Vision Sports Publishing, 2009. ISBN: 978-1-90532-651-8. Subtitle: The Jewel in Wimbledon's Crown.
This is a special tennis book covering the shrine of all tennis players: Centre Court, Wimbledon. Even though many changes have been made, the stadium's basic design from its construction in 1922 is still with us today. Great photo's, historical descriptions, stories covering Wimbledon's greatest champions, and many little-known facts.
Blundell, Dr Noel. So You Want to Be a Tennis Pro? A Lothian Book, 1995. ISBN 0-85091-666-6.
Subtitle: A practical and mental guide for players, parents, and coaches.
When I ordered this book [2012] recently online, there were NOT many copies of it on the market. Here are a few chapter titles: "Why Many Highly-ranked Juniors Don't Make It to the Pros: The million-dollar question," "The Golden Years of Skill Acquisition: Birth to 12 years," "The Emotional Roller coaster," "Choosing a Coach," "Tennis Parents: Saints or Sinners?" and much more. An Australian treasure, Dr Blundell has helped a number of athletes in different sports. Outstanding work.
Bollettieri, Nick. Bollettieri’s Tennis Handbook, Human Kinetics, 2001. ISBN-10: 0-7360-4036-6, ISBN-13: 978-0-7360-4036-5
Many Americans know that Bollettieri is a big name coach with several famous players to his credit. This book has a vast amount of information for the player and a little bit for parents, too. His Florida academy’s web site is: http://www.imgacademy.com/sports/bollettieri-tennis
Braden, Vic, and Bruns, William. Teaching Children Tennis the Vic Braden Way.
A Sports Illustrated Book, Little, Brown and Company, 1980. ISBN: 0-316-10513-9.
Vic Braden was one of America's most famous teaching pro's, and he writes very, very, well. This is an outstanding work on teaching kids to play. Vic also has several other tennis books to his credit.
Braden, Vic, and Wool, Robert. Vic Braden’s Mental Tennis. Little, Brown and Company, 1993.
Subtitle: How to psych yourself to a winning game. ISBN: 0-316-10517-1.
Buxton, Angela, and Simic, Nenad. SUCCESSFUL TENNIS. Firefly Books, 2010. ISBN-13: 978-1-55407-663-5. ISBN-10: 1-55407-663-3. Subtitle: 303 Tips.
This looks like a cute little paperback, and it is, but the content is jammed full of dynamite tips for the aspiring tennis player. The tips are in well-written in concise, 30 to 40-word paragraphs, each one labeled in big capital letters to let you know right away what they're talking about. The book is also nicely organized into the following chapters: Forehand, Backhand, Serve, Return of Serve, Footwork, Volley, Overhead, Mentality and Tactics, Doubles Play, and lastly, Fitness and Nutrition. This material is very practical help for those of you on the way up, or for solid tournament players who need to be reminded about concepts not yet committed to memory. Strong buy.
Coleman, Chuck. CHEATING (in tennis). Amazon.com, 2024. Subtitle: A Practical Solution.
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-965064-86-3. Paperback ISBN: 978-1-965064-85-6.
eBook ISBN: 978-1-965064-84-9.
My first published book. I advocate for having umpires in all amateur tennis matches: Junior USTA tournament matches, high school matches, college matches below NCAA D-1, USTA team matches, or any match with something tangible "on the table" such as trophies, ranking points, ladder positions, etc. Each chapter has a cartoon and thought-provoking quotes for you to think about. Interesting or unusual strories, research, sport psychology discussion, secrets of serving well, and more.
Coyle, Daniel. The Talent Code. Bantam Books, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-553-80684-7. Subtitle: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How.
Motor learning has been a serious interest of mine for many years. This book goes beyond motor learning and tells us how people develop high-level skill in a number of different activities in our lives. There is quite a lot of discussion about myelin, which wraps around our nerve cells as we learn how to do something well. Whether it's music, sports, writing books, science, mathematics, all these things and more have commonalities as far as how someone becomes masterful. One factor (among others) in a person's development is that making mistakes is actually a good and necessary thing. The author traveled to several different places in the world that have become centers for developing world-class performance. Enjoyable read.
Cross, Rod, and Crawford, Lindsey. Technical Tennis. Racquet Tech Publishing, 2005.
ISBN-13: 978-0-97227-593-4, ISBN-10: 0-9722759-3-2. Subtitle: Racquets, Strings, Balls, Courts, Spin, Bounce.
Here we have the nuts and bolts of tennis, the math and physics of the game. Fortunately, it's written for everyday people who want "just the facts, ma'am," so you don't get smothered with too much technical mumbo-jumbo. [If you're a technically advanced sort of person, they have a 435-page book called The Physics and Technology of Tennis, that might interest you.] Among the topics: Choosing a racquet, Racquet Properties [power, control, weight, stiffness/flex, customizing], Strings & The Modern Game, Stringbed stiffness, Tension & Performance, Dwell time, All about Tennis Balls, Bounce concepts (from the racquet & the court), Spin & Trajectory, Spin & The Serve, and much more. Unless you're already an expert on this material, you will learn a lot from this one. Paperback, 152 pages.
DeHart, Ken. Master Your Tennis Game. Rockridge Press, 2019. Subtitle: 50 Mental Strategies and Tactics. ISBN: 978-1-64152-846-7.
van Daalen, Martin. Teaching Tennis. Volume 1. Xlibris Corporation, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-4628-7459-0.
Subtitle: The Fundamentals of the Game.
If you're looking for a solid textbook on teaching the game, a book that gives you the most "bang for the buck, then this is it. I must warn you, though. You must actually read the book, you cannot just leaf through it and look at the photo's. The vast majority of the book is text, but it's nicely broken up with titles, subtitles, bold type, italics, and so forth, to show you what's being described. If you want to learn how to teach tennis or improve yourself as a tennis teacher or coach, this is a very strong buy.
Faulkner, Edwin, and Weymuller, Frederick. Ed Faulkner’s Tennis. The Dial Press, 1970.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 70-76967. Subtitle: How to Play It – How to Teach It
Back in the 70’s, this was a teaching pro’s Bible. Faulkner covered the details better than anybody else. However, things have changed a lot since 1970, so you will need new material to supplement this one. Nevertheless, this will always be a very high-quality tennis book, and many of its gems of wisdom are just as true today as when the book was published. Classic.
Fein, Paul. You Can Quote Me on That. Potomac Books, Inc, 2005. ISBN: 1-57488-925-7.
Subtitle: Greatest Tennis Quips, Insights, and Zingers.
I've got to get more of Paul Fein's books. This one is great fun to read, nibble at, or devour the whole thing, if you like. A plethora of clever quotes from famous players. The book has humor mixed with insight, a nice combination.
Fine, Larry. The Piano Book. Brookside Press, 2001 (Fourth Edition). ISBN-13: 978-1-929145-01-0.
Subtitle: Buying or Owning a New or Used Piano.
Here's a book that has nothing to do with tennis. If you have children and think maybe you'd like to get them started on piano, or maybe you'd like to try it yourself, Mr. Fine has done a superb job of explaining the details of this complicated topic. He tells you about how pianos work, caring for a piano, moving pianos, background information on the brands on the market, and most importantly, teaching you what to know before going shopping.
As long as they're cared for, some pianos can actually go up in value as time goes on. Each year, the author puts out a new price guide with all the brand names in it. My copy has the same title, except the words '2008-2009 Annual Supplement to' are added in, preceding the original title, The Piano Book.
Fisher, Marshall Jon. A Terrible Splendor. Crown Publishers, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-307-39394-4. Subtitle: Three Extraordinary Men, A World Poised for War, and the Greatest Tennis Match Ever Played.
This is a true story, centered around the deciding singles match in the Davis Cup semi-final between the USA and Germany. Don Budge played for America and Gottfried von Cramm represented Germany. The match took place shortly after Wimbledon in the summer of 1937 before World War II began. I felt like I was inside Center Court with the audience, watching and listening.
The geopolitical, social, military, and economic events surrounding the match make this book unforgettable, as was the match itself. I learned many things about tennis, Bill Tilden, Budge, Cramm, the Nazi's, and events leading up to the Holocaust and World War II, and beyond. Be warned: This is not a "happy talk" sort of book. While you will get the image of one of the most beautiful tennis matches ever played, you'll also discover some harsh reality.
Forbes, Gordon. A Handful of Summers. A Fireside Book, published by Simon & Schuster, 1978. ISBN: 0-671-66183-3.
This is a fun book, particularly if you're over 45 or you know some of the players he wrote about. If you're not a baby boomer, it's still a very entertaining read. Forbes was a South African Davis Cup player, among the top 30 in the world, who came along before the big money arrived. It's a little bit like Taking Your Tennis ON TOUR (in the "M" section, below), only the author covered his own experiences. The sequel, Too Soon to Panic (1997), is also very good.
Friedman, Milton and Rose. Free to Choose. A Harvest Book, Harcourt, Inc. 1980, 1990. ISBN: 978-0-15-633460-0 (pbk.) Subtitle: A Personal Statement
When I read this book for the first time, it was like I was learning the facts of life, only in this case, a Nobel Prize Winner in Economics was telling me how things ought to be here in the United States and elsewhere. I recall listening to somebody who knew Dr Friedman, saying that in a classroom (as a student) at the University of Chicago, there was no doubt that he was by far the smartest guy in the room. If you think economics is dull, give this book a try. It's a classic. Another possibility is educational video: https://www.freetochoosenetwork.org/
Fox, Allen. If I’m The Better Player, Why Can’t I Win? A Tennis Magazine Book, Distributed by Simon and Schuster, 1979. Co-authored by Richard Evans. ISBN: 0-914178-28-8
A very nice tennis psychology book which also has some advice for parents. Allen Fox was the coach at Pepperdine, has a Ph.D. in psychology, and was ranked in the top ten in the USA five times. Two other books by Mr. Fox are: Think to Win: The Strategic Dimension of Tennis (1993), and The Winner’s Mind: A Competitor’s Guide to Sports and Business Success (2005).
Frost, Marcia. Monthly Guide to College Tennis Planning for the High School Senior.
ISBN: 9781456545697. Subtitle: A workbook to get you through the year.
There seems to be not a whole lot of printed information available for juniors who hope to play college tennis. And so, this book fills a need for many young people. Informative, and to the point. Ms. Frost also has a similar book of the same basic title, except that it's for Junior year high school students. Nicely done.
Gallwey, W. Timothy. The Inner Game of Tennis, Random House, 1974. ISBN: 0-394-49154-8.
Tim Gallwey became famous in the 1970’s due to the success of this book, which he followed up with Inner Tennis – Playing the Game a few years later. Both are interesting books that delve into the psychological side of tennis. I enjoyed many of the “tricks” he wrote about for helping people improve their performance.
Giampolo, Frank, with Levey, Jon. Championship Tennis. Human Kinetics, 2013.
ISBN-13: 978-1-4504-2453-0. ISBN-10: 1-4504-2453-8.
No tennis book can make you a strong player or coach all by itself, but if you were looking for a good place to start, this would be one my top two or three choices. In addition to the nuts and bolts of all the strokes, he gets into topics in sport psychology, how to find a good teacher or coach, planning your practice sessions, fitness, styles of play, sportsmanship, and much, much more. 244 pages, including an index. Great work!
Giampolo, Frank. The Tennis Parent's Bible Second Edition. ISBN: 9781523255931.
Giampolo has the kind of experience and success in tennis coaching that has given him the respect America's top teachers and coaches. If you want to be a better tennis parent, teacher, or coach, then get yourself a copy. Quality, depth, wisdom ... it's all here. You will not be disappointed.
Gilbert, Brad, and Jamison, Steve. Winning Ugly. A Fireside Book, Simon & Schuster, 1993. ISBN: 0-671-88400-X. Subtitle: Mental Warfare in Tennis – Lessons From a Master.
Brad Gilbert has helped Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray of the UK, whose Lawn Tennis Association hired him in and effort to try and produce a British top-ten player. The book is chock-full of wisdom and fascinating stories from a guy who’s won 20 professional singles titles and also 20 runner-ups. A "thinking man's player," Gilbert has provided commentary many times on ESPN television.
Gorringe, Christopher. Holding Court. First Published in Great Britain in 2009 by Century, Random House, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 25A. ISBN: 9781409062615.
If you're a Wimbledon fanatic, you should have a wonderful time with this book. Gorringe was Wimbledon's chief executive for 26 years. You'll learn some tennis history, politics, finance, funny stories, and much more. Easily worth the price of admission.
Greenwald, Jeff. The Best Tennis of Your Life. Betterway Books, of F+W Publications, 2007.
ISBN-13: 978-1-55870-844-0, ISBN-10: 1-55870-844-8. Subtitle: 50 Mental Strategies for Fearless Performance.
Greenwald writes very well and has a lot to teach us. Each of the 50 short chapters has a profound, valuable lesson for the dedicated player. Two thumbs way up!
Harman, Bob, with Monroe, Keith. Use Your Head in Tennis (Revised Edition). Kennikat Press, 1974. ISBN: 0-8046-9111-8
Here’s a classic tennis book I first read back in the 70’s. Don’t be fooled, though. There’s a gold mine of knowledge here, if you will just take the time to get a copy and read it. Outstanding.
Hines, Henry, and Morgenstern, Carol. Quick Tennis, E.P. Dutton, 1977. ISBN: 0-525-04275-X
This little paperback deals with movement and mobility on the tennis court. Hines was a track and field athlete who helped several tennis players, including Arthur Ashe, with their ability to get around on the court faster than they ever had before. The idea of a stride pattern was one of several important topics.
John-Roger, and McWilliams, Peter. You Can’t Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought. Prelude Press, 1988. Subtitle: A Book for People with Any Life-Threatening Illness - Including Life.
ISBN: 0-931580-20-X.
Jones, Charlie, and Doren, Kim. Game, Set, Match. Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2002. ISBN: 0-7407-2219-0. Subtitle: A Tennis Book for the Mind.
This is a fun little book of quotations, short stories, etc. Some of them are more serious than others. A number of famous people helped out with the writing.
Jones, C. M. Tennis: How to Become a Champion. Faber and Faber, 1970. ISBN: 0 571 04714 9.
At age 19, I found this book and thought it was the greatest thing I’d ever read. Times have changed, so this isn't the latest stuff anymore. Nevertheless, it's an enjoyable read, and there are many good things in here you won't find in any other tennis book.
Kessler, David A, MD. The end of overeating. Rodale, 2009. ISBN-13: 978-1605297859.
ISBN-10: 1605297852. Subtitle: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite.
What a blockbuster this one is. Dr Kessler has done basically an exposé of the food industry here in the USA. By using sugar, fat, and salt (usually in combination), many producers of the food we eat have created what the author calls "hyper palatable food." The result is that we get hooked on this stuff in much the same way that smokers get addicted to nicotine. No wonder so many of us are overweight. Hardcover, 320 pages.
King, Billie Jean, with Brennan, Christine. Pressure is a Privilege. Life Time Media, 2008. Subtitle: Lessons I've Learned from Life and the Battle of the Sexes. ISBN: 978-0-9816368-0-1.
This is an interesting book from a great champion whose name is on our National Tennis Center in New York.
Personally, I would have liked to have read more stories about Billie Jean's many tournament victories with other women players on the tour, and not quite so much emphasis on the Riggs match. The book has many, many pearls of wisdom, so check it out and see what you think. 190 pages.
Kirchoff, David. Weight Loss Boss. Rodale, 2012. Subtitle: How to finally win at losing - and take charge in an out-of-control food world. ISBN-13: 978-1-62336-199-0.
If you need to lose weight (you're a normal American), I hope you'll give this book a try. Kirchoff is the CEO of Weight Watchers International, but his story is very down-to-earth. He struggled with weight loss for a number of years, and his story is as compelling as it is fun to read. A tournament winner, this one. Go for it!
Koran, Nancy. The Zen of Tennis. 2002. Illustrations by Carl Anders Aabo. ISBN: 0-9679796-8-4.
Subtitle: A Winning Way of Life.
If you feel that etiquette and sportsmanship are important, this would be an excellent choice for your tennis library. The book has lots of enjoyable cartoons that illustrate many situations that come along as we travel the journey of the tennis player. Good job!
Kramer, Jack, with Deford, Frank. The Game: My 40 Years in Tennis. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1979. ISBN: 0-399-12336-9.T
If you like tennis history, this book is a gem. Jack Kramer, one of the greatest of all time, gives us a telling picture of what tennis was like before and after the Open era began in 1968. Chapter 4, “The Shamateurs,” will probably tell you things you never knew before. Combine this one with Michael Mewshaw’s book, Short Circuit, listed below.
Laver Rod, with Collins, Bud. The Education of a Tennis Player. New Chapter Press, 2009.
ISBN: 978-094-2257-625.
This is a new, updated version of the same book that was first published in 1971. Rod Laver was to the 60’s and early 70’s what Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are today. Rocket won a “calendar” grand slam (all four majors in a single, calendar year) twice, in 1962 and 1969. This edition has, among other things, a short chapter covering Laver's stroke, which he suffered in 1998. Co-author Bud Collins was famous in his own right as a prolific tennis writer and TV announcer for many years, publishing an Encyclopedia of tennis history [look under Collins, above].
Lee, MJ, Whitehead, J, Ntoumanis, N, & Hatzigeorgiadis, A. Relationships Among Values,
Achievement Orientations, and Attitudes in Youth Sport. 2008. Journal of sport & exercise psychology, vol. 30, no. 5, pp 588-610.
Levy, Allan M., M.D., and Fuerst, Mark L. Tennis Injury Handbook. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1999.
ISBN: 0-471-24854-1. Subtitle: Professional Advice for Amateur Athletes.
In addition to covering injury treatment and prevention, Levy and Fuerst tell us about what to eat and drink, first aid, advice on health gadgets, and material devoted to seniors, women, and juniors. Excellent!
Lewit, Chris. The Secrets of Spanish Tennis. New Chapter Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-937559-49-6.
For quite a number of years now, players from all over the world have traveled to Spain to become the best. Lewit gives us lots of drills, history, the enthusiasm, dedication, and hard work that the Spanish coaches and players are so well known for. Spanish players are expected to be prepared to suffer; there's a whole chapter on that. Drills for developing racket-head speed, Footwork & movement & balance, Patience and Consistency, Defense, Physical conditioning, and many famous players and coaches. Also has the names and websites of several well-known tennis academies, in case you decide to go to Spain to become the best you can be. Well done!
Loehr, James E, and Kahn, E. J. Net Results, The Stephen Greene Press, 1987. ISBN: 0-8289-0634-3. Subtitle: Training The Tennis Parent For Competition.
As you can see from the subtitle, this book is written for parents of tennis players. If you have a child-tennis player of your own and you know nothing about sport psychology, this would be a very good book to have. The issues associated with psychology and tennis are long lasting and profound. Perhaps someone will come up with a tennis sociology book to go along with this one! Other books Loehr has produced include: The New Toughness Training for Sports (1995, with Chris Evert), Stress For Success (1998, with Mark McCormack), and Science of Coaching Tennis (1989, with Jack Groppel, D. Scott Melville, and Ann M. Quinn).
Loehr, James E., Ed.D. The New Toughness Training for Sports. A Plume Book, 1994. Subtitle: Mental, Emotional, and Physical Conditioning from One of the World’s Premier Sports Psychologists.
ISBN: 0-452-26998-9.
Marks, Bonita L, Ph.D. Taking Your Tennis On Tour, Racquet Tech Publishing, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0-9722759-6-5, ISBN-10: 0-9722759-6-7. Subtitle: The Business, Science, and Reality of Going Pro.
If you’re thinking about venturing out to play pro tennis, this would be a "must-have" book. Dr. Marks prepares you for important issues that you will surely have to deal with at some point. Read this book and discover what you're really getting into. The chapter titles are: The College Route to the Pros, Physical Toughness, Nutritional Toughness, Mental Toughness, Develop Your Business Sense, Financial Planning, Your Sponsorship Plan, Sponsorship Contracts, Do You Need a Sports Agent, Matchmaking, Travel Toughness, and Knowing When to "Hang it Up."
Martens, Rainer. Joy and Sadness in Children’s Sports, Human Kinetics Publishers, 1978. ISBN: 0-931250-15-3.
Rainer Martens is a very highly regarded sport psychologist. This is an excellent general book about sports and young people. The only drawback, as far as we’re concerned, is that it’s not specifically about tennis. Nevertheless, there are many ideas in it that apply to tennis. Another strong book of his is Coaches Guide To Sport Psychology, Human Kinetics Publishers, ISBN: 0-87322-022-6.
Martens, Rainer. Successful Coaching. Human Kinetics, 4th Edition, 2012. SBN-10: 1-4504-0051-5. ISBN-13: 978-1-4504-0051-0.
McEnroe, Patrick, with Peter Bodo. Tennis for Dummies, Wiley Publishing, Inc, 1998.
ISBN: 978-0-7645-5087-4.
Like many books in the Dummies series, this one has plenty of laughs to keep you reading. More importantly, it gives you hundreds, if not thousands, of great tips and important details to get you on the right path in your journey to a higher skill level. Excellent starter book for someone taking up the game. Two thumbs way up!
McEnroe, Patrick, with Bodo, Peter. Hardcourt Confidential. Hyperion, 2010. Subtitle: Tales from Twenty Years in the Pro Tennis Trenches. ISBN: 978-1-4013-2381-3.
Unless you actually played with the "big boys" in tennis yourself during the last 20-25 years or so, you will learn a lot of interesting things about pro tennis and life surrounding pro tennis. Patrick McEnroe has played with the best players in the ATP all over the world, worked in the TV broadcast booth many times, and spent several years as America's Davis Cup Captain. This is a fun book to read.
Mewshaw, Michael. Short Circuit. Atheneum, 1983. ISBN: 0-689-11384-6.
Mewshaw’s book is an entertaining, damning exposé of professional tennis. Inside Tennis magazine published an article by Mewshaw in its November/December 2007 issue, where he wrote, once again, on the subject of guarantees, prize-money splitting, gambling, and tanking. A real page-turner if you’re old enough to remember the players included in the story, but even if you don’t remember them, it’s still a fascinating book.
Milligan, Kevin. Mendocino: A Painted Pictorial. Coastside Graphics, 2002. Subtitle: The Art of Kevin Milligan. ISBN: 1-886571-04-X.
Here we have a marvelous collection of beautiful paintings by Kevin Milligan, who is not only a master artist, but also has many years of tennis teaching and coaching. Accompanying the paintings are many fascinating stories about the people and local history from the coastal town of Mendocino. Strong buy.
Milligan, Kris. Movie Stars - Romance. Gardiner's Tennis Ranch: The Summer of '73. Kris L. Milligan Tennis Services, 2014. ISBN 978-0-692-32337-3 (EPUB) ISBN 978-0-692-22433-5 (Print)
Some tennis books are so very, very serious. Winning is everything, they seem to say. Here's a fun book to read, with lots of interesting, humorous, and romantic images and stories. It's obviously great for baby boomers who are old enough to remember what it was like in 1973, but even if you aren't "of a certain age," check it out, anyway! This is Kris' second book. His first was a nice beginner/intermediate book entitled: The Family Guide to Tennis (ISBN: 978-0-615-35820-8)
Moynihan, Maura. Murphy Bear's Tennis Lesson. Murphy Bear Books, LLC, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-615-20563-2. Illustrated by Lee Berzman.
Here is a very nice children's book on tennis, recommended for ages 3-8. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story line and all the colored drawings that came with it. Well done!
Murray, John F, Ph.D. Smart Tennis: How to Play and Win the Mental Game, Jossey-Bass, 1999. ISBN: 0-7879-4380-0. Helping out was General Editor Rick Frey.
The author starts with the idea of getting to know yourself in order to figure out how to improve what you're doing with tennis. From there, you can move on to several different elements in sport psychology, such as: Imagery, Goal-setting, Confidence, Focus of Attention, Self-Talk, Over learning, Relaxation, Choking, and more.
Nadal, Rafael, and Carlin, John. RAFA. Hyperion, 2011. Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4013-2451-3. Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4013-1092-9.
A New York Times bestseller, this book is very well written and enjoyable to read. There are a lot of things here about Rafa that are not available from TV and internet websites. If you're a Nadal fan, then you must get yourself a copy. Not to be missed.
Oon, Desmond. Can Eastern Wisdom Improve Your Tennis? You bet. Themps Marketing Directions Sdn Bhd, Malaysia, 1999. ISBN 983-40112-0-2.
I gobble up anything Desmond Oon writes. If you already know how to hit the ball, but are having trouble competing or just not playing as well as you think you ought to be playing, then this book might be fantastic for you. It's very strong in a general sense, regardless of whether you need it for tennis or other aspects of life.
Oon, Desmond, PhD, with Lafont, Damien, PhD. Conversation with a Zen Tennis Master. Synergy Books Publishing, 2013. Paperback. ISBN: 978-1-4675-6524-6. Subtitle: Courting the Mind, Minding the Court.
Here is an outstanding book for all tennis players, regardless of skill level. If you care about tennis, or you just need a "boost" in order to strengthen your game, this a powerful stuff.
Patton, Bill. How to End Cheating in Junior Tennis. A Kindle e-book, 2015. Subtitle: 21 Ways To
Eat an Elephant.
Peterson, Carl, and Nittinger, Nina. Fit to Play Tennis, Racquet Tech Publishing, 2006.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9722-759-5-8, ISBN-10: 0-9722759-5-9. Subtitle: High Performance Training Tips.
Most of this book talks about physiological types of things, but they also cover some mental elements of the game, too. 18 contributing writers helped produce this wonderful 400+ page paperback full of hundreds of positive things you can do to improve your performance.
Peyrouton, Alan G. Letters to an Aspiring Tennis Pro. Available on Kindle and Nook. 2015.
If you are serious about becoming a top-notch professional or even a strong college player, here is a book filled with the kind of wisdom that many other tennis books lack. The stories are real, from the author's own experience. To illustrate his world-class advice, he also shares several quotes from famous people throughout history. You will learn of the challenges we, as players, must face as we navigate our way through the tennis world. A clean winner.
Pluim, Babette, M.D., PhD., and Safran, Marc, M.D. From Breakpoint to Advantage, Racquet Tech Publishing, 2004. ISBN: 0-9722759-1-6. Subtitle: A Practical Guide to Optimal Tennis Health and Performance.
Here we have a book that “includes description, treatment, and prevention of all tennis injuries.” The book is large (11" tall, 8.5" wide, 7/8" thick). They've gone into a lot of detail, but it's not overwhelming. Many photos & diagrams. If you’re serious about tennis, this would be an MVP candidate for your tennis library. An absolute "must" for coaches, trainers, and tennis parents. 370 pages, and an index in the back.
Richey, Cliff, with Hilaire Richey Kallendorf. Acing Depression. Printed in Canada by New Chapter Press. ISBN: 978-0942257663. Subtitle: A Tennis Champion's Toughest Match.
In 1970, Cliff Richey reached #1 on the men's professional Pepsi - ILTF Grand Prix rankings list. This book offers hope for those who struggled with mental illness, particularly depression. A courageous work by the "Bull." He revealed things about himself that many people would keep under lock & key. Nicely done.
Roetert, Paul, and Groppel, Jack (Editors). World-Class Tennis Technique. Human Kinetics, Inc, 2001. ISBN-13: 978-0-7360-3747-1; ISBN-10: 0-7360-3747-0.
This is not just a book on how to hit the ball, although they certainly cover that very well. Other topics included are: Learning styles, Equipment, Playing on different surfaces, Different types of fitness training (strength, flexibility, explosiveness/power/speed), Footwork, Tactics, and more. A number of well-known people in tennis helped out with the writing.
Roetert, E. Paul, and Ellenbecker, Todd S. Complete Conditioning for Tennis. Human Kinetics, 2007.
ISBN-10: 0-7360-6938-0; ISBN-13: 978-0-7360-6938-0.
Unlike the book above, this one focuses on preparing the player for the physiological side of playing competitive tennis. Includes a DVD. If you want to be competitive nowadays, it is not enough to just go out and hit the ball. You must do the physical training so that your body will be able to do what you ask of it when match day arrives. Confidence and injury prevention also become part of the equation when improve your overall fitness.
Sadzeck, Tom. Tennis Skills - the Player's Guide. Firefly Books, 2001. Seventh printing, 2012.
ISBN-13: 978-1-55209-494-5. ISBN-10: 1-55209-494-4. Subtitle: The back-to-basics essentials for all levels.
Here is a strong book for beginners and intermediates. Advanced players will also find some new ideas if they read carefully. Sadzeck uses lots of photographs, diagrams, and a number of sequential groups of photographs to give you good technique in the basic strokes. Contains a glossary, stretching exercises, several good drills, basic tactics, grips, suggestions for practice using on-court targets, singles and doubles strategy, and footwork concepts. Has an index in the back. Nicely done!
Sampras, Pete, with Bodo, Peter. A Champion's Mind. Crown Publishers, 2008.
ISBN: 978-0-307-38329-7. Subtitle: Lessons From a Life in Tennis.
A few quick statistics on Pete Sampras: 14 Grand Slam titles, 286 consecutive weeks at #1 on the ATP computer, 64 professional singles titles, and over $43 million in prize money alone. Pete was sort of a "keep your head down, mouth shut, stick to business" type of player. That quality was very appealing to me. The book was easy to read, and I enjoyed traveling though life with one of tennis' greatest superstars.
Saviano, Nick. Maximum Tennis. Human Kinetics, 2003. ISBN-13: 978-0-7360-4200-0.
ISBN-10: 0-7360-4200-8. Subtitle: 10 Keys to Unleashing Your On-Court Potential.
Enjoyed going through this book, and hope to read it more carefully in the future. It has many, many pearls of wisdom from a top-50 ATP player and a long-time coach. A very "smart" tennis book. Here are a few chapter titles: "Embrace Your Playing Personality, Customize Tactics, Optimize Technique, Simulate for Success, Focus On What You Can Control, Play From the Heart." Several famous tennis players and coaches helped out with the writing. Strong buy.
Schiff, Peter D., and Schiff, Andrew J. How an Economy Grows and Why it Crashes. Collectors Edition. Wiley, 2014. Fully updated with New Chapters and Color Illustrations. ISBN: 978-1-118-77027-6.
Using a simple story with colored illustrations to help explain free-market economic ideas and concepts, the Schiff brothers have created a very special book. Don't let this one pass you by. For 12-and-older kids, all the way up to 99-year-olds. Precious.
Seebohm, Caroline. Little Pancho. University of Nebraska Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-8032-2041-6. Subtitle: The Life of Tennis Legend Pancho Segura.
Caroline Seebohm has done her homework and come up with an excellent, informative, and very enjoyable biography. Pancho's childhood in Ecuador was not easy. The description of what it was like in the early days of the pro tour (40's and 50's, before open tennis) is probably one of the best that you'll ever find. You'll get to read about Big Pancho's (Gonzales') point of view on things, which is something new for many of us. Segura played a crucial role in teaching the American superstar, Jimmy Connors. IMHO, this book should be required reading for today's and tomorrow's touring professionals, who are enjoying the fruits of the labor of guys like Budge, Kramer, Riggs, Mulloy, Schroeder, Parker, Kovacs, Gonzales, Hoad, Sedgman, McGregor, Pails, Olmedo, Laver, Rosewall, and of course, Pancho. Outstanding!
Segura, Pancho, with Heldman, Gladys. Pancho Segura’s Championship Strategy: How to play winning tennis, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1976. ISBN: 0-07-056040-4.
Segura was known for being a very intelligent, articulate teacher as well as a famous player. This book covers a LOT of material, and cannot be read just a few days. The book is covers tennis in general, not Pancho, whose biography precedes this review. Very strong work.
Seles, Monica. Getting a Grip, Avery (Published by the Penguin Group), 2009. ISBN: 978-1-58333-330-3. Subtitle: On My Body, My Mind, My Self.
Monica Seles has 53 professional singles titles, including nine Grand Slam singles titles. Retired now, she's also done a number of humanitarian/philanthropic works. Her career as a player was largely destroyed by a madman who stabbed her in the back during changeover at a tournament in 1993. Worse yet, the guy was not required to do any serious time. In this autobiography, she wrote frequently about her problem with junk food and the weight gains that resulted from overeating. The story has a pleasant ending. Nicely done, Monica :-)
Smith, David W. David W. Smith's Coaching Mastery. Manahawkin Printing, 2008. Subtitle: The Ultimate Blueprint for Tennis Coaches, Tennis Parents, Tennis Teaching Professionals.
ISBN: 978-0-9832616-3-6 or 978-0-9749026-1-6.
When you first look at this book, it stands out in its sheer size. It's 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall, and it's a full inch thick! Starting a tennis program somewhere? It's all here. Lots of photo's, comment boxes from the author, drills, basic concepts, advanced concepts, you name it, this book has what you need to know for teaching and coaching.
Sowell, Thomas. Charter Schools and Their Enemies. Basic Books, 2020. ISBN: 978-1-5416-7513-1.
I spent part of my life working as a substiute teacher in public schools, and so, the issue of school choice, for those who come from a humble background, is a serious issue for me. Sowell writes beautifully, but he packs quite a punch to those who work against the creation and nurturing of charter schools. This is required reading ;-)
Spang, Peter. Zennis. A Perigee Book, published by The Berkeley Publishing Group, member of Penguin Putnam, Inc, 1998. Subtitle: An innovative approach to changing your mind, your play and you entire tennis experience. ISBN: 0-399-52389-8.
Here we have a number of important psycho-social concepts for serious players, coaches, and others to consider. The combination of the words "Zen" and "Tennis" didn't go over to well with some people, but don't let that stop you from reading this. It's excellent.
Stewart, CF. Unflappable. Sorento Publishing, 2006. Subtitle: The Life and Times of Whitney Reed.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9749023-2-6. ISBN-10: 0-9749023-2-2.
I never got to see Whitney Reed play, which is a shame. He was #1 in the USA in 1961. Players of this time fought hard together, and they often partied hard together.
Some people regret the "fun"
element that seems to be lacking in the big-money pro tennis of today. At least you can read this book and go back in time to an age where players were not as sophisticated as they are today. Marvelous book.
Stauffer, René. The Roger Federer Story. New Chapter Press. Originally published in German under the title "Das Tennis-Genie" by Pendo Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, Munich and Zurich © 2006. Translated into English, updated, then re-published in 2007. ISBN-13: 978-094-2257-397, ISBN-10: 094-2257-391. Subtitle: Quest For Perfection.
If you're a Federer fanatic, then this book is for you. The only problem might be that the book ends in 2007, and we're almost done with 2012 as I write this. At this time [December 2012], he's #2 in the ATP World Tour singles rankings. You will learn a great deal about this international superstar, including lots of behind-the-scenes information and biographical history you won't see on TV or the internet.
Stein, Harold, M.D., and Slatt, Bernie, M.D. Hitting Blind. Beaufort Books, Inc., 1981. ISBN: 0-8253-0061-4. Subtitle: The New Visual Approach to Winning Tennis.
Two eye doctors got together and discovered that most world-class tennis players don’t always watch the ball all the way to the strings! Contains numerous photos that prove their point. Among other things, they cover the difference between "fast" and “slow” tennis. Since vision is key to good tennis, this book has a lot to offer.
Stricker, Paul R., MD, FAAP. Sports Success Rx! American Academy of Pediatrics, 2006. ISBN- 13: 978-1-58110-227-7, ISBN-10: 1-58110-227-5. Subtitle (1): Your Child’s Prescription for the Best Experience, Subtitle (2): How to Maximize Potential AND Minimize Pressure.
Dr. Stricker gives us a great deal of wisdom and good advice regarding children and sports. I discovered this book in the following web site: http://www.positivecoach.org
Talbert, William F, and Old, Bruce S. The Game of Singles in Tennis. J. B. Lippincott Company, 1962. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 62-14232.
This one is truly an oldie and a goodie. A great many pearls of tennis wisdom are here from guys who really did their homework. Talbert and Old also did a “sister act” to this book entitled (naturally) The Game of Doubles in Tennis Both books contain many diagrams you can analyze and discover why the authors said what they did in the adjacent paragraphs. Among other things, you will learn about tennis history, psychology, probability and geometry.
Tarran, Bruce. George Hillyard - The Man Who Moved Wimbledon. Matador, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-78088-549-0.
Have you ever wondered what lawn tennis was like during the years just before and immediately after the very first Wimbledon in 1877? Well, now you can find out. If you enjoy tennis history, this outstanding work will be an absolute delight for you to read. In addition to the enjoyable descriptions and stories of what happened in those days, Mr Tarran has also provided many photographs that have never been published before. Strong buy.
Thompson, Jim. The Power of Double-Goal Coaching. Balance Sports Publishing, LLC. 2010. Subtitle: Developing Winners in Sports and Life. ISBN: 978-0-9821317-4-9.
Tilden, William T. How to Play Better Tennis. Cornerstone Library, 1950.
Bill Tilden (1893-1953) was one of tennis’ first super-champions, dominating the game in the 1920’s and 30’s, with 3 Wimbledon titles, 7 U.S. Championship titles, and 7 consecutive Davis Cup wins. Other books of his are: The Art of Lawn Tennis, and Match Play and The Spin of the Ball. Tilden was a good tennis writer; you will surely learn a lot from his books. Unfortunately, he got himself into trouble. You can read about him on Wikipedia.org, along with many other famous players.
Toon, Kathy. Get Your Game Face On! Good Sports Productions, 2009. ISBN 978-0-9824341-0-9.
Sport psychology has come a long way in 25 years. More and more players are realizing that you can't just do on-the-court practice drills and then expect to play well on match day. Learn how to shake off your mistakes and start every point correctly. If the mental part of your game could use some help, this book will help you. Other elements of preparation are also covered. Nice work :-)
USTA Guide to Tennis on College Campuses, United States Tennis Association. No ISBN number.
For those of you who want to play college tennis, this book has a solid foundation of information and ideas to guide you as you approach your college education. If you are unable or would rather not play on your college's intercollegiate team, USTA has a club tennis program. If your school doesn't have a club tennis program yet, the USTA can probably help you start one.
United States Professional Tennis Association, TENNIS - A Professional Guide. Kodansha International (Japan), 1984. ISBN: 0-87011-682-7. Subtitle: Official Handbook of the USPTA.
A number of famous people in the world of tennis contributed to this guide for teaching pro's. My favorite chapter is the one on history, but you might like singles or doubles strategy, nutrition, mental training, fitness/conditioning, basic shot making skills, preparing for matches, choosing a tennis pro, how to become a teaching professional, ethics, and more. 326 pages.
United States Tennis Association, Friend At Court. Senior Editors: Steve Gerdes. Produced for the USTA by H.O. ZIMMAN, Inc. 193 pages. Subtitle: The Handbook of Tennis Rules and Regulations, 2023 Edition.
Contents
Introduction
Summary of Important Changes for 2023 Edition of Friend at Court
Part 1 ITF Rules of Tennis
Part 2 The Code: The Players' Guide to Fair Play and the Unwritten Rules of Tennis
Part 3 USTA Regulations (Including FAC Comments)
Part 4 USTA Emergency Care Guidelines
Part 5 Umpire Assignment, Selection, Certification, and Training
USTA Policy
Discrimination Complaint and Resolution Process
Part 6 Glossary
Part 7 Index to the ITF Rules of Tennis, The Code, & USTA Regulations
The Officials' Code of Conduct
To get your copy, go to: https://www.ustaproshop.com/
United States Tennis Association. QuickStart Tennis. Published for the USTA by H.O. Zimman, Inc. 2009. No ISBN number. Writers: Kirk Anderson, Anne Davis, Sharon Cleland, Jason Jamison, Gary Avischious, and Marikate Murren. Edited by E.J. Crawford. Subtitle: A Guide for Parents and Recreational Coaches.
If you're going to be teaching little children to play tennis, whether they're your own or somebody else's, this is an excellent book to have. Teaching children under the age of eight or ten is NOT the same as teaching high school kids or older; it is a whole new world. The new name for the QuickStart tennis system is: Red, Orange, and Green Ball Tennis. To have some success with teaching the little ones, you will probably need this book or something similar to it. Equipment, the need for fun in your lesson plans, adjusting the games etc for different levels of child development, teaching aids and tools, psychology of teaching tennis, specific lesson plans, all these things are covered in an easy-to-read format. Two thumbs way up!
Vaidyanathan, Nirupama. The Moonballer. ISBN: 978-0-98995-390-0. 2013.
This is a fascinating autobiography of India's very first woman tennis player to win a main-draw match in a Grand Slam tournament. It was quite a difficult struggle, because she did it without the kind of traveling entourage that we see in many of the top players today. Well done!
Veneziano, Tom. The Truth About Winning. 3rd Edition. Tom Veneziano Enterprises, 2006, 2001. ISBN: 0-9716203-9-3
Found out about this book when I was surfing the web and came across Coach Veneziano's web site, www.tenniswarrior.com Bought myself a copy, and he’s come up with a way of thinking that will help you, regardless of your skill level. Later on, I got his audio CD entitled "The Refocus Technique - Controlling Your Emotions in Tennis," which was also very strong. In addition, you can subscribe to his free email lesson. Two thumbs up!
Wegner, Oscar, with Ferry, Steven. Play better tennis in two hours. McGraw-Hill, 2005. ISBN-13: 978-0-07-143717-2, ISBN-10: 0-07-143717-7. Subtitle: Simplify the game and play like the pros.
Oscar Wegner has had a great deal of success teaching tennis in Spain, Latin America, Germany, Russia, and elsewhere outside the United States. After studying his DVD's and the book above, I have to conclude that a good deal of the technique/methodology I was taught as a player and later used as a teacher and coach in the 70's and beyond was, unfortunately, not so good. OTOH, we were all in the same boat. Oscar's ability to keep things simple for beginners (and the rest of us) is an important concept that sets him ahead of the pack. The M.I.T. men’s coach was very impressed; so was Bud Collins. His web site is http://www.oscarwegner.com/ Very strong buy.
Whistle Blowers and Victims (unknown author), Cheating in Junior Tennis and Solutions and Soul
Massages. A Kindle book, 2022. ASIN: B09RPPL8KN
Williams, Richard, with Davis, Bart. Black and White. Atria Books, 2014. ISBN: 978-1-4767-0420-3.
Subtitle: The Way I See It.
If you're a real tennis "nut," this is a book you'll want to have (or borrow). I really didn't know very much about Richard Williams before, other than little snippets of information from internet, television and tennis magazines. His life experiences are something we should all know about, especially if you're an American. Learn about the man who took Venus and Serena all the way to the top. Nicely done!
Woods, Kathy and Ron. Playing Tennis After 50. Human Kinetics, 2008.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7360-7244-1, ISBN-10: 0-7360-7244-6.
Subtitle: Your guide to strategy, technique, equipment, and the tennis lifestyle.
The authors have done a nice, thorough job, covering a lot of ground for players over 40 or 50 who are thinking about health, fitness, and having fun with tennis. All right, I guess there are plenty of younger players who would also like this book! Good tennis books usually have something for everybody, and this is no exception.
The Woods' book has four sections: (1) "Take it to the Court" has a number of general ideas to keep in mind; (2) "Turning to Doubles" and (3) "Staying Single" will tell you a great deal about doubles and singles; (4) "Beyond the Court" talks about equipment, exercises and stretching you should do, dealing with injuries, eating, and psychological/social concepts. Excellent.
Zaro, Susan: Founder, Sports Health Counseling, San Francisco Bay Area. The missteps of cheating in
junior tennis. June 10, 2015.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/missteps-cheating-junior-tennis-susan-zaro
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