TIMELESS TENNIS: 2021

Monday, December 6, 2021

Quantum Tennis: A Path to Tennis Mastery

*This Blog Article was inspired by the ideas in the book Quantum Golf and the other sources listed at the end of this article. I gratefully acknowledge these sources and their authors, and highly recommend them to the reader.

"Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow. . . Be water, my friend." -Bruce Lee, from A Warrior's Journey (DVD Documentary, 2000)

What is Quantum Tennis?
Bruce Lee's famous quotation is about the power of fluidity - and an admonition to harness it in the human body in order to reach a higher level of performance and power.

Quantum Tennis is a system intended to capture this fluidity in the game of tennis. It is both a mental philosophy and a practical method to help achieve the deepest levels of relaxation and rhythm, and thus develop a state of "super-fluidity".

Just as quantum physics reduces the universe to its irreducible component, Quantum Tennis reduces good tennis to its smallest indivisible part - its core essence. And seeks to master it.

What is the essence of tennis?
On a very basic level, it's simply bio-mechanical movement on a court with a ball and a racket by a human machine.

Why is Quantum Tennis important to consider?
Quantum Tennis is probably important to us all, whether we know it or not, simply because tennis is always being played on a quantum level.

Indeed, just as the physical world cannot "be" - that is, it cannot exist - without its smallest parts in full operation, Quantum Tennis likewise cannot help but exist.

Quantum Tennis draws upon concepts developed in three (3) fields of study: human bio-mechanics, laws of physics, and transcendental meditation.

***From the science of human bio-mechanics:
*Using the human body to channel and project bio-energy using the Kinetic Chain. Unleashing power from the ground up through the human anatomy. Martial arts students know that this bio-energy or power is often called: chi.

***From the laws of physics:
*The "law of gravity" (for example, in allowing your arms to swing down as you begin the service motion). The concept of "uniform circular motion" or rotational power (for example, the rotation of torso, shoulders and knees as part of the release of the Kinetic Chain). The "law of inertia" or where an object in motion stays in motion (for example, the "split-step-and-go" when responding to the oncoming ball). The law of the "center of gravity" (for example, when bending down low to achieve a low base).

***From the practice of transcendental meditation:
*The idea of the Universal Self or Essence that is always around you, and tapping into that limitless sense of fluidity and grace.

How might a player's game improve with Quantum Tennis?
Quantum Tennis promotes a relaxed and free racket swing. It calls for an "effortless effort". It encourages all parts of the body to move together and in proper order without hesitation. It focuses on process, not outcome.

It asks for a looser and looser grip, and less and less tension in the hands and face. It wants the human form on the court, and the tennis racket in the air, to simply "glide" without any friction. It compels the player to play the game deliberately and smoothly, and without pressing or feeling hurried.

So how does it work?

The Five (5) Fundamentals of Quantum Tennis

1. Frame of mind
Each player must choose whether they play Quantum Tennis or Classical Tennis. It is a "frame of mind." However, it is not a choice of one or the other. Quantum Tennis does not replace or supplant Classical Tennis. Rather, it simply adds to or supplements it. Classical Tennis has a valid and vital role in teaching the traditional fundamentals of the game and its parts.

Quantum Tennis tries to add an important layer or level. It seeks to open the player's mind frame to the "quantum world" - a place where all body parts work in unison and flow together in an almost "frictionless" state. For example, in a quantum mechanical serve swing, you feel energized from the swing's rhythm and smoothness. In contrast, a classical serve swing often makes you a little more tired and strained.

PRACTICAL TIPS for Frame of Mind
*Observe the tennis swings of players. Recognize the difference between the standard classical swing vs. the quantum swing.

*Notice how the quantum swing displays effortless power and smooth rhythm. Appreciate how the quantum swing seems to allow the player to actually gain energy from each swing.

2. Flow - The Superfluid Swing
Quantum Tennis asks the player to imagine and execute a "flow" or superfluid swing to their game.

Think of a pendulum. It swings back and forth effortlessly and dynamically, and without any friction. Only the natural force of gravity is needed. On a forehand or backhand, the butt of the racket is pulled into the oncoming ball, freely out in front of you, with your body weight shifting forward, just as in the swinging arm of a pendulum.

The pendulum image is useful for even more instructive insights. The swinging arm illustrates the idea of "change and non-change" - both are happening together. There is dynamic movement, yet it is also a natural "state of being".

Similarly, the pendulum example also illustrates the concept of "rest and activity." The arm at its highest upswing shows rest or potential activity, and its motion on the downswing shows powerful activity and energy. The cycle of rest and activity is a basic rhythm of life, underling all of existence.

In quantum flow, the player is asked to capture this basic rhythm and develop an effortless swing - an orderly fluid flow - which actually expands and not expends energy - just like the pendulum. Quantum Tennis challenges the student to reach an absolutely "frictionless" state.

In physics, the fourth state of matter is known as the "superfluid state." It happens when you take liquid helium and cool it to extremely low temperatures in a laboratory - close to absolute zero. Helium takes on unique and dynamic properties of the quantum world of physics. Its fluidity actually seems to defy gravity.

PRACTICAL TIPS for Flow
*Practice the superfluid swing - When you swing a racket, imagine a swinging pendulum. Think of liquid helium operating in the superfluid state. Do less, accomplish more. Gain energy from your swing. Try swinging the racket without any ball or without any break in the swing path in order to develop a feel for the superfluid swing.

*Literally, say the words to yourself: "super" (while you inhale) and "fluid" (while you exhale). There should be a gap between the word "super" and "fluid". The word "super" coincides with the takeback of the racket, which is a point of rest or potential activity. Then there is a slight pause. Then there is the swing forward, which accelerates into the word "fluid".

*Try practicing the superfluid swing with the Quantum Grip. The Quantum Grip is extremely loose and light- as loose and light as you can make possible. In this grip, you literally slide your hand down the racket handle as far as possible, allowing part of the meat of your palm to be "off" the handle altogether. It will almost seem that the racket will fly off your hand when striking the ball.

*Keep a Quantum Scorecard for yourself in a set. At the end of each game, ask yourself and mark down on paper, how many swings you made in that game that you consider "quantum swings"? How many were standard or classical swings? Work on increasing the number of quantum swings in future games.

3. Focus - the Q point
Focus is the next fundamental in Quantum Tennis. Focus means zeroing in on the final finish or ultimate posture of a perfect quantum swing that you have made in the past. It is called the Q point.

What was your final finish? What was the final position of your body, torso, hips, arms, hands and racket when you last made that perfect quantum swing? What was the position of your feet? What was your balance? What was your breathing? Now move to that exact final position now and simply hold it. Develop a clear feel and image of it. Memorize it. Program it.

Next, slowly move your swing backwards from this Q point to the starting point of your swing - literally, a "reverse swing." Think of a Hi-Def video in reverse slow motion of your quantum swing. You are wiring your body and mind to think "quantum swing".

PRACTICAL TIP for Q Point
*Practice this Q point position and "reverse swing" as part of your practices and warm-ups.

4. Feeling - Quantum Vision
Tennis is a game not only of "seeing" and "hearing", but of "feel."

The next fundamental of Quantum Tennis is better developing a player's feel for tennis by "Quantum Vision." It is yet another way to build the superfluid swing.

Quantum Vision means having a concrete intention to use the swing to hit the ball to a target. Once you have that target intention in mind, you allow that intention to become fainter and fainter - leaving only a feeling for it to remain.

Quantum vision asks you to "see"and "hear" the ball in your mind's eye going to that target. Your quantum swing then simply executes the program in your mind's eye. The attention is then focused on the process of your swing, not the outcome. The ball simply moves into the path of the swing, not the other way around.

PRACTICAL TIPS for Quantum Vision
*Try target practice in a new way. Try your quantum swing first at close targets on the court, say the service line. See, hear and sense the target. Try to develop a "feel" for the target. Then, try your quantum swing at farther targets such as the baseline.

*Focus on the process of the quantum swing, allowing the target to be just be a "feeling". Many top coaches including Robert Landsdorp have said that tennis is a game of developing a natural feel for the lines of the court as you play.

*Make an Advanced Quantum Scorecard for yourself in a set. In each set, make a count of your Quantum Swings just as you did in the earlier Quantum Scorecard. But this time, rate each Quantum Swing with a "1", "2" or "3", with "3" being a near-perfect superfluid swing. Work on increasing the number of your Rating "3" Quantum swings.

5. Finding your "true self": The Cosmic Computer
The final fundamental of Quantum Tennis is finding your "true self", sometimes called the Universal Self, drawn from the practice of Transcendental Meditation.

Transcendental Meditation employs a self-development technique called daily mindful meditation. And teaches students a way to find one's "true self" or Universal Self, and thus harness a dynamic yet peaceful state of being.

This Universal Self is a Cosmic Computer that governs the universe. It controls the changing of nature's seasons, the rotation of the Earth and stars, and keeps the human heart pumping. It is an infinitely dynamic world of limitless power, rhythm and fluidity. It is much the same as the sub-atomic quantum world of physics.

In tennis, finding your "true self" starts with finding your internal rhythm or clock. The real opponent is always your "small self" - your individual ego's eternal desire to win rather than lose. And its endless dialogue of worrying about how others see you.

In order to find your Quantum Tennis, you must first play your own game. In life as in tennis, it's all about playing your own game. Quantum Tennis admonishes us to say it to ourselves over and over. Play your own game. Play your own game.

Quantum Tennis, by adopting the self-development technique of daily mindful meditation, offers a way to submerge the "small self" and tap into that vast ocean of consciousness - the boundless reservoir of energy and creativity of the Universal Self.

Many great athletes in all sports have at times performed at the deepest levels of relaxation and at full power and fluidity. Some call it "The Zone". The Cosmic Computer takes over, and literally and automatically does everything powerfully and perfectly.

PRACTICAL TIP for True Self
*Consider daily mindful meditation for relaxation, stress-reduction and tapping into an inner consciousness and power.

Final thoughts
The principles of Quantum Tennis suggest a doorway to another world of play. It offers the possibility of deeper levels of relaxation, looseness and fluidity of movement.

Mindful mediation promises its students a more peaceful state of mind. And the chance to tap into the limitless power of the Universal Self.

There are those players who might say that they are only interested in improving their tennis game - not necessarily their whole life. The answer of Quantum Tennis, and those who study it, is simply this: ---

"My friends, tennis is life."

Sources:
1. Quantum Golf - The Path to Golf Mastery, by Kjell Enhager (Warner Books, Inc. NY, 1991)
2. Transcendental Mediation, by Robert Roth (Donald I. Fine, Inc., 1987)
3. Quantum Tennis/Golf - The Superfluid Swing, by Jim McLennan, USPTA Addvantage Magazine (May 2002)
Superfludity Animation HD

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Tennis Movie of the Year: “King Richard” (Warner Bros./HBO Max 2021) The Richard Williams Story and Serena & Venus

"King Richard", brilliantly played by Will Smith in the title role, tells the emotional story of Richard Williams, father-coach of the Williams sisters. It is not about re-living Serena's record-making 23 Grand Slam titles or Venus' 7 Grand Slam titles. Nor is it just about depicting the greatest sister act in tennis history. Rather, it is an inspirational and immortal story about love, sacrifice and a special family who together dared against all odds. (Soundtrack by Beyonce, "Be Alive")(Released to the general public November 19, 2021.)(Courtesy: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Anticipation in Tennis: Watch Your Opponent's Racket Face at Ball Contact

1. Racket Face Angle = Direction of ball
2. Racket Face Swing Path = Spin of ball
(topspin, slice or flat)
3. Racket Face Speed = Pace of ball

Friday, June 4, 2021

Tennis Quote of the Day: A Balanced Mind

"Tennis, like all sports and most of life, is about the game inside the head. The goal, in sports and life, is always the same: a balanced mind."
- Andreas Kluth, "Naomi Osaka is a Role Model", Washington Post (June 01, 2021)

Monday, March 15, 2021

Rafael Nadal on the Mental Battle of the Match

The Match: A permanent battle to contain your own weaknesses and vulnerabilities from yourself and your rival. A self-created protective armor silencing your doubts and fears, and exaggerating your hopes.

From: Rafa: My Story, by Rafael Nadal with John Carlin (Hyperion, 2011)

"During a match, you are in a permanent battle to fight back your everyday vulnerabilities, bottle up your human feelings. The more bottled up they are, the greater your chances of winning, so long as you’ve trained as hard as you play and the gap in talent is not too wide between you and your rival. The gap in talent with Federer existed, but it was not impossibly wide. It was narrow enough, even on his favorite surface in the tournament he played best, for me to know that if I silenced the doubts and fears, and exaggerated hopes, inside my head better than he did, I could beat him. You have to cage yourself in protective armor, turn yourself into a bloodless warrior. It’s a kind of self-hypnosis, a game you play, with deadly seriousness, to disguise your own weaknesses from yourself, as well as from your rival."