Don Budge video: Fundamentals of Tennis

[gzhpcu]

Don Budge teaches tennis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_jT-pqRIDI

Here is another early tennis teaching video from a teaching pro (1960):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr_a3zY5smE

The strokes sure have changed....

[stotty]

Great find

Thanks, Phil. More great finds.

Like Lendl's instructional video, it looks contrived. Like Lendl, Budge is saying one thing and doing another in real life. But then both Lendl and Budge are dumbing things down...discussing only the basics, which are sound as a bell for the Joe Public they are intended for.

What interested me was that the concept of taking the ball early to "steal time" was clearly in force back then. I found the narrow service stance surprising (12 inch gap)...though weight transfer was a key component (something that isn't taught as widely as it should be these days).

The only shot of Don Budge's I dislike is his overhead. I don't like the wind-up. It must have been effective, though, as he came to the net a lot.

I found the side steps in the video interesting...a skill Borg came to perfect many years later. Side steps are still useful for club players to learn...still very relevant.

On another topic:

In a newspaper interview with McEnroe, it was put to him that Nadal was quicker than Borg, Mac disagreed. Borg was quicker. He said the trouble is "people forget".

Very true..."people forget"...remember that...because people will forget the attributes of the players today too. So watch carefully, and store the information you see more carefully still.

[GeoffWilliams]

No one remembers Lew Hoad, who beat Laver 8 times in a row either. Sad, but true. No one will remember SAm Querrey, or Donald Young, or Isner, or the number three us player right now either. The greats will be remembered.

[stotty]

Hoad

No one remembers Lew Hoad, who beat Laver 8 times in a row either. Sad, but true. No one will remember SAm Querrey, or Donald Young, or Isner, or the number three us player right now either. The greats will be remembered.

Everyone will remember Lew...but not the others you mention. Lew was great. Pancho Gonzales and Kramer greatly elevated Lew's status on account that he could play so well. Lew Hoad was the only player who could beat Gonzales when Gonzales was at the top of his game. Lew was the only player Gonzales acknowledged and truly respected.

One mystery I am trying to unravel at the moment, is at what point on Hoad/Gonzales tour did Hoad damage his back. I know it was during a match in Kentucky. Hoad was 18-9 up in the series at one point, but what I want to know whether it was at that point when Hoad became permanently hampered with his back? I know from 18-9 he then lost a string of matches.

This is where I need a guy like Ed Weiss to step in and maybe shed some light.

[gzhpcu]

One mystery I am trying to unravel at the moment, is at what point on Hoad/Gonzales tour did Hoad damage his back. I know it was during a match in Kentucky. Hoad was 18-9 up in the series at one point, but what I want to know whether it was at that point when Hoad became permanently hampered with his back? I know from 18-9 he then lost a string of matches.

According to the book "Golden Boy: the life and times of Lew Hoad, a tennis legend" by Larry Hodgson and Dudley Jones, on page 173:

Then one fateful night, playing in Louisville, Lew went for an arching,mighty overhead - and felt a terrific pain tear across his back like a whip. In that single, fleeting second, Lew Hoad's career was effectively over. Kramer flew in a specialist how diagnosed right sciatic neuritis. That didn't mean anything to Lew, but the words, "Your back will never be cured," did. "It was the worst moment of my life", he told friends....He played on, taking some cortisone tablets to ease the pain. Sometimes he played in such agony that he couldn't stand upright. He blasted the ball he could get to, and left the rest. The pain moved to his right hip, then his right knee.

[stotty]

Hoad's injury

According to the book "Golden Boy: the life and times of Lew Hoad, a tennis legend" by Larry Hodgson and Dudley Jones, on page 173:

Hmm...but when in the series did it occur? At 18-9 up or later?

I am trying to objectively connect the dots of their rivalry. My inkling is that Hoad had a game that could either undo or overwhelm Gonzales if Hoad was on top of his game. This is contrasted by another suspicion I have that it often took Gonzales a certain amount of time to build up his fitness and form at the start of a head-to-head series, having often spent months without playing to any great degree.

One part of my puzzle gets solved if I know when Hoad's career ending injury actually happened.

[gzhpcu]

Same book, Kramer is quoted saying Hoad was 18-9 up at that point. Gonzales won the series 51-36.

He says that at times afterwards, his pain disappeared for a brief period. At one point he won 5 matches in a row. At Wembley he took the first set 6-0 in thirteen minutes.

In 1967, Wimbledon hosted a 3 day tournament for professionals. Gonzales was 39, Hoad was 32. Hoad won their only Wimbledon match 3-6-11-9, 8-6!

Five years earlier, Hoad beat Laver in a short head-to-head series, prompting a newspaper to comment on the difference between a man who was clearly one of the greatest amateurs against a seasoned pro.

[stotty]

Great information

Same book, Kramer is quoted saying Hoad was 18-9 up at that point. Gonzales won the series 51-36.

He says that at times afterwards, his pain disappeared for a brief period. At one point he won 5 matches in a row. At Wembley he took the first set 6-0 in thirteen minutes.

In 1967, Wimbledon hosted a 3 day tournament for professionals. Gonzales was 39, Hoad was 32. Hoad won their only Wimbledon match 3-6-11-9, 8-6!

Five years earlier, Hoad beat Laver in a short head-to-head series, prompting a newspaper to comment on the difference between a man who was clearly one of the greatest amateurs against a seasoned pro.

Sounds like that book has good information.

Now I need to find out what Gonzales's physical preparation was like for their series.

I knew about the Hoad/Laver series. Most seem to concede Laver became a better player later in his career. Gonzales always maintained Hoad was a better player Laver.

Gonzales placed McEnroe just behind Hoad as a player: "He's right up there behind Hoad, except that he didn't hit the ball quite as hard."

On Don Budge himself, Gonzales said the following: "Even now, I think he had the best backhand ever developed. His ball off the backhand was the heaviest ball I can remember."

As I have said before, no one should take lightly the observations of Kramer and Gonzales. They are central characters in the movie...and lived the life. We are mere spectators.

[bottle]

Wow. All this new information on Donald Budge, the way he spoke as a young man, the way he looked, his shot-put toss, his mastery of low key, the slightly beveled contact he demonstrates at contact of his backhand drive. For starters. I'll be coming back to this one. Thanks so much, Phil, for providing it.

[bottle]

Have Maximum Number of Service Returns Available

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr_a3zY5smE

Instead of saying how quaint, the longhorns I mean longarms among us should incorporate the groundies in here as brilliant free grip SR alternatives.

[don_budge]

Don Budge speaks...to us. The Transcript Part 1.

Don Budge teaches tennis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_jT-pqRIDI


The strokes sure have changed....

The more things change...the more they stay the same. - don_budge

The Fundamental Forehand...Don Budge

You know the spectator at a tennis match seldom receives the credit he deserves...because watching a tennis game is a task of considerable effort. To follow the flight of the ball is usually pretty strenuous on the neck muscles if you know what I mean. At any rate it is almost impossible to observe and examine the fundamentals of the game while watching a match such as the one that Fred Perry and I have just completed here at the Forest Hills Stadium.

So without further ado, let’s step into our office and we will show you a few camera close-ups of the many basic points which if properly coordinated will result in winning form.

The first important step is to develop the three basic strokes...the forehand drive, the backhand drive and the service. As in every sport...timing is a prime requisite of good tennis. Accordingly once timing has been mastered strength is not essential to good form. Here we see a young lady demonstrating that coordination is more important than force.

A ball approaching on the player’s right calls for a forehand return...this ball approaches to the player’s left and is returned with a backhand stroke. Simple...simple. Unless of course you happen to be left handed. In which case you merely reverse the procedure...hey, what’s going on here. Well anyways...you see what we mean.

Problem one is to select the proper grip. The eastern grip is most widely used because it permits a natural, easy stroke. Here’s a simple way to demonstrate the position of the hand in relation to the racquet in the eastern grip. The racquet face is perpendicular to the court surface, the palm is flat on the racquet face and is drawn straight back along the handle to the butt.

The eastern grip is also known as the shake hands grip...it is just like shaking hands with the racquet. The fingers are held slightly apart...showing a relaxed but firm grip. The wrist is behind the racquet for extra power. The most important advantage of the eastern grip over the western or continental grip is the complete range it affords. In other words...low, waist high and high shots can be returned with equal ease.

Comparing the western grip with the eastern grip, we find that the hand is moved one quarter of a turn to the bottom of the handle. So that the racquet inclines at an angle of 45 degrees towards the court surface. This grip is used most effectively on clay or hard surfaced courts. It is ideal for high shots, but it is awkward and inadequate for the low ones. The player using the western grip is at his best on high bounding balls.

To assume the continental grip from the eastern grip...the racquet is now turned one quarter turn in the opposite direction. The racquet face inclines upward at a 45 degree angle. This grip is excellent for low shots but when it comes to returning high ones. The player must rely mainly on a strong wrist.

It is for these reasons that most players have come to regard the eastern grip as the grip affording the widest range and as such it is recommended.

Anticipation and preparation for each return depends primarily on always keeping your eyes on the ball. The movement of your body is governed by what your eyes observe. Only by gaging and anticipating where the ball will land can you be in position to meet it. Concentration and carefully following the path of the ball is a prime requisite for good tennis. So whatever you do...don’t take your eyes off of the ball.

As you wait to receive the ball, face the net and lean forward slightly. To return a forehand, pivot on your right foot and step forward with your left foot. The left shoulder points in the direction that the ball is to be returned. To meet the ball move into position quickly with a side skipping movement. But when it comes apparent that you must cover a much greater distance...start sprinting. However side skipping enables you to change directions faster. The ball is hit with the center of the racquet face and the arm extended as far as is comfortable from the body.

Next...the backswing. At the end of the backswing the racquet head is dropped prescribing an arc...thus the racquet swings up and forward into the ball. Proper weight shifting and balance is essential for smooth flowing strokes. To start the forehand drive swing the racquet back shifting your weight to the right foot...on the forward swing the weight shifts to the left foot...the force of the entire body is behind the swing. The follow through is of great importance because the upward movement it imparts helps lift the ball over the net. Your position at the end of the shot shows whether the follow through is proper. If you face the net and the racquet head is wide and above your left shoulder the follow through is correct.

For better control it is advisable to impart what is known as topspin. This is accomplished by a slight forward tilt of the top edge of the racquet. The ball is hit at a point slightly ahead of the left hip.

[don_budge]

Don Budge speaks...to us. The Transcript Part 2.

Don Budge teaches tennis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_jT-pqRIDI

The strokes sure have changed....

The more things change...the more they stay the same. - don_budge

The Fundamental Backhand...Don Budge

While it is true that practice makes perfect...especially in tennis, I think it is about time that we went on to the next problem at hand...the backhand drive. Some players are somewhat meek about this stroke and prefer to build there games around their forehand. However the backhand is a valuable weapon which can be...and must be developed.

For backhand shots when using the eastern grip...it is necessary to turn the right hand a quarter of a turn towards your body...placing your knuckles on top of the racquet handle. Some players prefer to gain extra flexibility with the thumb around the handle, although this position steadies the hand and gives more force to the drive.

Next to the grip, footwork is the keynote for the successful backhand. Pivot on your left foot and step forward with your right foot. In the backhand drive...the weight shifts first to the left foot then as you swing forward put your weight behind the stroke...shift it to the right foot. The backhand drive can be compared with the swing of a left hand baseball batter.

When right shoulder and back face the net the proper backswing position has been reached. The wrist behind the racquet assures a firm swing as in the forehand drive. Bend the right knee to transfer your weight to your left foot as you swing into the ball. Shoulder and head are held back until the impact. As you turn your body for the backswing...keep your eyes glued to the ball by looking over the right shoulder. Meet the ball slightly ahead of your right hip with the arm fully extended.

The racquet head continues up and across the body in the backhand follow through finishing wide and above the right shoulder. The body is automatically turned into position facing the ball...as you make the backswing the head drops prescribing an arc thus you swing up and forward into the ball. The racquet head is tilted forward slightly to impart the necessary topspin for contact. It is advisable for you to master the timing in order to enable you to return the ball on the rise.

That is, as it ascends from the first bounce...this is preferable to swinging at a descending ball. Valuable time is lost if the ball is hit after it has passed the top of its bounce. By taking it on the rise the speed of the return is increased because the impact is greater. A strategic advantage of returning balls on the rise is that your opponent has less time to prepare for his next shot.

[don_budge]

Don Budge speaks...to us. The Transcript Part 3.

Don Budge teaches tennis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_jT-pqRIDI

The strokes sure have changed....

The more things change...the more they stay the same. - don_budge

The Fundamental Serve, Smash and Volleys...Don Budge

Now let’s go on to the third basic stroke...the service. Combined either with a strong forehand or backhand it is also the deciding factor in championship play. The secret to a successful service is proper timing. The service grip is the same as the backhand grip, however the thumb is always around the handle. The server stands close to the center mark with the left foot a few inches behind the baseline and the right foot back about twelve inches at an angle of seventy-five degrees. The balls are held firmly. The backswing and the toss of the ball are simultaneous.

The rhythm of this pendulum movement coordinating backswing and toss should be practiced until it becomes a habit. By keeping the left hand straight the ball will be tossed vertically and properly...do not toss it by a flip of the wrist. At the beginning of the serve that weight is back on the right foot and it remains there as you swing back. On the forward swing transfer your weight to the left foot and again the force of the entire body is behind the swing.

This force properly transmitted through the racquet is the power needed for correct service. For more and fluent power keep the arm completely extended through the backswing. The elbow is bent to form a loop behind the head, the arm uncoils to hit the ball. After the impact the racquet continues straight ahead, finishing up across the body on the left side.

The face of the racquet is inclined forward slightly at the impact. The toss and swing should be so timed that the center of the racquet face meets the ball with the arm fully extended. If the ball is tossed to low the smoothness of the stroke is broken. When it is tossed to high it will strike the top edge of the racquet or break the stroke. The service alternates between the two service courts.

Having examined the three basic strokes we are ready to advance into the final stages of the game. The kill...or if you want to be technical...the smash and the volley. Let us begin with the overhead smash because it is so much like the service but most of these service fundamentals can be applied.

An overhead smash should be an outright winner. It’s only major departure from the service is the slight crouch and bending of the knees. If the lob is very high...let it bounce first. This gives more time to prepare and an easier ball to hit. Volleying greatly increases your potency of your attacking game.

In order to achieve a certain degree of safety it is necessary to employ a bit of strategy...that is, your opponent must be driven into a defensive position before you advance to the net. The eastern grip is used for the forehand volley. Facing the net turn you body sideways and transfer your weight from right to left foot. Make the backswing as the ball approaches. Because of the speed of the approaching ball there is no need for a long backswing...it is shorter than that used for the drive.

It is especially important to remember to keep your eyes on the ball because there is less time to make the stroke. The ball is met at a point that is parallel with the front hip. The racquet head must always remain above the wrist. On low shots it may be necessary to bend down in order to maintain the proper wrist position. Notice that in some cases there isn’t time to turn the body sideways forcing the volleyer to face the net. The service grip is employed for the backhand volley which is essentially the same as the forehand volley.

Contrary to its name the half-volley has nothing in common with the volley...but is a groundstroke that is taken immediately after the ball strikes the court. As such it involves the fundamentals of the basic drive. However backswing and follow-through are somewhat shorter than in the drive. The racquet face meets the ball almost flat at a point directly behind the bouncing spot. If the racquet face is open the shot will be deflected upwards...therefore to deflect the ball properly the racquet face must be slightly closed.

And now before we adjourn...Charlie Wood who is one of the outstanding professionals and I would like to demonstrate a few of the fundamentals we have discussed by playing a few serious points.