Tennis Technology Tuesday
Video is an essential tool in tennis development. The first time I ever saw video of myself playing tennis was at Newk’s Tennis Ranch when I was a young junior. The video camera was the size of an airline carry-on bag and was mounted on a heavy tripod. The playback equipment was also the size of a small suitcase. The image played on the TV was jittery and grainy.
The process of reviewing the video tapes back in the day was tedious. Several players were recorded on court in a single session. Later we all went into the lodge to review it collectively. It wasn’t an iterative process at all. We received feedback on the what was recorded. There was rarely any follow up video to see if the issues were effectively addressed at any point in the future.
Since practically everybody has an iPhone, there is really no excuse for not using video on a regular basis. I carry a mini-tripod and phone clip in my racquet bag at all times. Thus, it is always available when needed.
The Touch Volley Catch Drill and the Touch Volley Double Tap Drill videos shared in the previous “Tennis Technology Tuesday” posts were shot using the clip and tripod for the bag. We didn’t set out to take video that day, but we seized the opportunity to take those shots while we waited for the court to dry. In fact you can see the shadow of the phone, tripod, and clip in both videos.
I have found that a mini-tripod with flexible legs offers the greatest versatility of positioning on the court. It easily attaches to the net post. It is also good for mounting on the fence. Sometimes I use it free-standing on the surface of the tennis court.
There is no tool more powerful for improvement in tennis than reviewing video of stroke mechanics and play. The tool to take that video is likely already in everybody’s pocket in the form of their smart phone. The phone clamp and mini-tripod makes it easy to take that video in a variety of venues and court conditions.
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