Has technology ruined Tennis?

As players generate spin that consistently leaves the ball above the opponents head has technology ruined the game?

Today it is rare to see a rally that goes beyond 15 shots but it wasn’t always that way.

Think back to the old days where precision and training to become the best tennis player you could be earned you the No1 spot in tennis.

Now fast forward a few years. Rafael Nadal hits a forehand that has 4,900 revolutions per minute which brings the tennis ball above a 6 foot 5 giant (which is common to see in modern day tennis).

Today power, speed and athleticism brings you to the summit of men’s tennis. Many would say this is a good thing. Today you have to be at your peak fitness to compete in a painfully long season which lasts for 11 out of the 12 months. Try and imagine a 37 year old Jimmy Connors winning an ATP World Tour event today.

The evolution of the tennis racket is the main reason to the development of the sport. In the past when the wooden tennis racket was the player’s weapon, the racket head size was a mere 65 sq. inches compared to todays 120 sq. inches. The larger the head size the more forgiving the shot also meaning the more power allowed hitting the ball.

Because of this change players now have to hit with more power or else they will be left behind and precision has taken a back seat. Also because of this change players have to be fitter or else they will not be able to maintain the same power as the fitter guys with more stamina.

This has also made it harder to compete if you are a bit older. For example peak fitness can start do decrease in your late twenties and if you’re not at peak fitness then it is difficult to compete at the top of the men’s game.

 

That is also why during the time of Jimmy Connors he could keep himself rite at the top because it was more about precision and accuracy more than fitness and strength and as long as you still had that “touch” you could be a force in Tennis.

So what’s next for tennis? Will it continue to evolve? Or will the tennis authorities say that enough is enough and that the game is becoming unfair? One thing that is certain is that if the game continues to evolve there will definitely be people that are willing to evolve with it.