In all sports, participants compete with one another on technique, power, speed, control and stamina.
So when someone comes to me asking for the "lowest power string setup", I don't get it (link). Do they have a bionic arm installed? How do they get excess energy to burn?
A short conversation often reveals the true problem - imbalance.
Many recreational players only rally back and forth with about 60-70% of their strokes focused on their forehands. Their backhands remain weak and slow. (Forget about serves and return of serves, they are not interested.)
Among the many self-rated NTRP 3.5 to 5.0+ I played with, most have a huge variance between their strongest and weakest strokes.
One had serves closer to 5.5. He could hit them flat, with side spin or top spin, aim consistently down the "T" or pull out wide. Not different from what I saw on TV from the pros. But his backhands was around 3.0 at best. Lack of practice partners, he claimed.
Another could execute ANY shot and place it anywhere with his double-backhand, but all other aspects were lacking.
Even among top pros, like Federer, his forehand is superior to his backhand. And Santiago Giraldo most famous for his return of serves (link), although his form is inconsistent.
Just like the way most of us are right-handed, these imbalances are unavoidable.
But when modern rackets are becoming lighter, faster and more powerful, the "problem" arises. This discrepancy between their strong and weak strokes becomes enormous!
Their stronger wing becomes EVEN stronger! Their weaker wing could not tap fully into the power of the new racket as it still lacks control. So they turned to "taming" the power instead!
Broadly, the tennis game has four components:
- Serve
- Return of Serve
- Groundstrokes
- Net Play
We should train all aspects regularly.
My recommendation is always to use as heavy a racket as one can handle comfortably, and as powerful a setup as one can control the shots with. Be efficient!
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