[Dani's Red Nose]

Have you noticed how many players are faster at the back of the court, running, from side to side. Than they are running forwards.

It was very noticeable during the Tatiana Golovin versus Anna Chakvedatze match this afternoon. When both players were covering the back of the match the could reach much shots but when they had to move in a forward direction, say, to a drop shot, both were less mobile.

One more thing about this match. Both players were sweating profusely and Anna looked quite flushed. I’m guessing that the temperature is way too high.

[Donny]

I think of it like this.

Strafing side to side is an unnatural activity- it's mostly learned. How well a player moves side to side has as much to do with training and practice as physical. Running forward, however, is a completely athletic talent.

The difference between how well two players can cover the baseline is always going to be much smaller than how well two players can sprint.

Also- the distance fro mbaseline to net is greater than from sideline to sideline. Of course you can cover the baseline better than you can reach a drop shot.

[GoDominique]

It's a women's thing.

No, I am serious.

[The Daviator]

Lindsay is someone who can move well side-to-side when she wants to, but forwards

[Dani's Red Nose]

Originally Posted by GoDominique

It's a women's thing.

No, I am serious.

You mean like, the way they throw the ball?

[Olórin]

Originally Posted by donnydarko

I think of it like this.

Strafing side to side is an unnatural activity- it's mostly learned. How well a player moves side to side has as much to do with training and practice as physical. Running forward, however, is a completely athletic talent.

The difference between how well two players can cover the baseline is always going to be much smaller than how well two players can sprint.

Also- the distance fro mbaseline to net is greater than from sideline to sideline. Of course you can cover the baseline better than you can reach a drop shot.

Yes, I agree. Serena is always better moving forward, as she is naturally athletic and can sprint if she needs to. But side to side, she is at the moment fairly vulnerable. Imo, this is due to sloppy footwork as much as anything, and lack of match practice and general practice probably.

[Dani's Red Nose]

I was very interested by this today, so much so, I got a friend to mine to time me running. Firstly in a straight line, secondly, side to side.

***WARNING*** To other posters at home who might be contemplating reinacting the same scenario. I am quite athletic, so running came naturally to me. Any person who is unfit come harm themselves physically without the correct supervision.

So, the results were interesting. Running in a straight line, I was 0.98 seconds slower than I was, running cross court.

[John.]

Originally Posted by The Daviator

Lindsay is someone who can move well side-to-side when she wants to, but forwards

Lindsay and Mary Pierce were the 2 players I thought of when I saw this thread title

[supergrunt]

Jusinte... it seems like whenever someone hits a drop shot or a drop volley she never gets it.

[@danieln1]

Lindsay and Monica run better from side to side!

[Tennisstar86]

think about it like this.... Side ways.... you have wing span....going forward to also lose a little bit of time pushing off from the back... Not to mention most players are expecting to rally, not run up to get a drop shot.. so your either already leaning int he right direction or leaning so you push off of that side to get cross court. Really it just makes since. Think about it like this.... If you play tennis chances are you breath much harder when your forced to come into the net than when you move side to side. Which is why most people this days are just baseliners... as it takes less energy...

[gaggleguy]

Originally Posted by donnydarko

I think of it like this.

Strafing side to side is an unnatural activity- it's mostly learned. How well a player moves side to side has as much to do with training and practice as physical. Running forward, however, is a completely athletic talent.

The difference between how well two players can cover the baseline is always going to be much smaller than how well two players can sprint.

Also- the distance fro mbaseline to net is greater than from sideline to sideline. Of course you can cover the baseline better than you can reach a drop shot.

its not totally correct

running forward to the net in tennis is also quite technical skill because you must also use proper footwork to prepare to hit the ball. But I agree its more about athletic ability than side to side.

Henin, Mauresmo, and Serena are all particlarly skilled in moving forward. Not a coincidence, that they are some of the top players. Chakvetadze and Janko are great movers side to side, but they have 1 dimenstional game because they dont move forward very well.

[spencercarlos]

Originally Posted by supergrunt

Jusinte... it seems like whenever someone hits a drop shot or a drop volley she never gets it.

Yes Jusinte sucks

[Donny]

Originally Posted by spencercarlos

Yes Jusinte sucks

http://www.utexas.edu/nursing/nancy/...subjabcul.html

Jusinte Chitsena, a 4-year-old from Laos, has an atrial septal defect which her doctors feels hould be repaired by surgery. Her mother is considering the operation but her grandmother is opposed.

What a horrible thing to say.

[AcesHigh]

Two different skills. Moving forward also takes shot recognition, proper footwork and good technique when striking the ball.

For example, Venus is probably the best on tour running side-to-side and she can also get to net quickly. HOWEVER, she is not very good when it's time to prepare for a stroke or when she meets the ball. Watch her try to come in to take a ball out of the air for a volley.. she could use some work on this as she usually continues to move forward rather than stopping, often causing the ball to go long.