More Than Just the Strokes: Personal Best Tennis in Clubland and Beyond
A
comprehensive common sense guidebook designed to assist the reader in reaching the apex of his or her tennis game, previously ranked on AMAZON.com in the top 10 in the tennis instruction catagory.
Based on over thirty-five years of playing and coaching experience, this book is not simply another “system.”
Rather, it serves to direct the reader through stages of self-realization and confidence-boosting by elaborating not only on improving the physical characteristics of his/her game, but also on crucial and often-overlooked mental and emotional techniques.
In a sport where expectations and pressure are constantly mounting, it is difficult to stay focused and competitive.
More Than Just the Strokes features advice from not only the author, but also touring pros past and present, other professional athletes, and from accomplished individuals from all walks of life as well.
Beardsworth candidly relates both his successes and failures as a player - experiences to which any competitor will readily relate.
Having coached at many different levels - professional, college, junior, and club - Beardsworth’s experiences will be invaluable to novice and experienced players alike!
PROFESSIONAL PRAISE for 'More Than Just the Strokes'
“More Than Just the Strokes is the perfect book for club players who seek to improve their competitive skills. Jak distills more than 25 years of successful coaching into concrete, practical strategies for enhancing competitive success.”
“A treasury of wisdom and insight.Years of experience on the court in a bottle. A must read for all those who play the game. Fun, sometimes hilarious.”
“The most make sense, easy to apply on court tennis book I’ve ever read. Its many lessons actually did convert into achieving my most satisfying, personal best tennis to date. If tennis is in your blood, treat yourself and your game!”
“Jak Beardsworth explains what no other instructor or instruction book has ever attempted — how to really understand the tennis game.”
“A very engaging and insightful primer that has captivated my MIT varsity tennis players. This compilation of tennis articles is thoughtful, humorous, and enlightening. Beardsworth creates a unique blend of anecdote and tennis wisdom — a good match and enjoyable read for players of all levels.
“I have been coached by many individuals, but none as able to identify innate talent, develop physical skills and communicate the non-tangible aspects of a sport as Jak Beardsworth.
In the sessions we spent cross-training, I learned not only the game of tennis, but also what truly
makes an athlete a competitor. More Than Just the Strokes captures the
essence of what makes Jake a stellar coach and is the next best thing to
having him on the court beside you.”
CUSTOMER BOOK REVIEWS
Incredible!
I've been playing tennis my whole life and have read over 30 tennis books.
I can say with absolute confidence that this book is the most user-friendly, concise, readable tennis guide I have ever read.
Beardsworth makes the painfully abstract elements of stroke mechanics easy to visualize. [I should add that I own nearly every technique manual on the market and have never been inspired to write a review.]
The author does not stop at stroke production, he has a remarkable ability to unpack the mental elements of the game and he provides entertaining information about the current tennis culture (at the club and pro level).
What makes this book truly unique, however, is the author's voice. He has a charismatic, snappy prose that makes for effortless reading. One can tell that this guy has been in the tennis business forever (he has seen it all). His anecdotes and insights are priceless; his understanding of the game -- the whole game -- is remarkable.
A Must Read
We all pretty much know what we want to accomplish on the court. More Than Just The Strokes however, teaches you how really "seeing it" leads to "doing it". Whether you're battling a small technical glitch, self induced demons on your court, or an ineffective strategy, Jak's professional experience and insight teaches you how to strike the perfect merger between a technical mind set and mindful technique.
The result: winning play instead of playing to win. The content is easy to understand and a welcome alternative to the traditional just hitting yet another thousand balls to maybe get the same result. Your time on the court will never feel more satisfying. A delightful, inspiring "must read" for all levels of players.
Buy This Book!
More Than Just The Stokes is absolutely the best tennis instructional book I have ever read. It is not a fancy book in terms of glossy and impressive pictures, but the "meat and potatoes" of tennis instruction is there in SPADES!
I particularly enjoyed and my game has benefited from the areas of the book covering volleys, singles strategy, and watching the ball.
This book is an absolute must read for anyone trying to improve their game. I believe that tennis instructors would benefit from buying this book in bulk for their students.Give it a try. You won't be disappointed!
The Best!
I started playing tennis 10 years ago after a lifetime of playing "other" sports, including competing at the collegiate level in football and wrestling.
I am currently a 4.5 NTRP level player. I have become addicted to tennis, probably as a result of the marked need for contrasting physical and mental perspectives which I find so challenging and (potentially) rewarding.
This book addresses that contrast more vividly than any book on sports to which I have ever been exposed. The ongoing internal battle to control your emotions in tennis is, in my opinion, the most difficult struggle one encounters on the court.
Beardsworth is the Zen master of tennis, as he helps all us warriors become more focused and masterful on the courts. This book is worth every penny for those who are interested in improving the satisfaction they get from the sport (and it will generate a lot more wins as well!). It is chock full of specific tips that I have been using again and again on the road to improvement. I highly recommend it!
Direct and to the point
Being a former student of Jaks I was not surprised that the each section was clear and to the point. Jak has always had the ability to breakdown and communicate his instruction to various levels of play and this book displays that talent.
The familiar terms "groundies" "the pusher" etc. are communicated at every level of play. Upon reading this book I was flooded with memories of my instruction and communication with Jak. I would recommend this book to anyone who interested in becoming a better player.
This book is terrific!
For any player who wants to improve or enjoy the game more, Jak's book is a must. It offers many practical tips for singles and doubles. The sections on developing topspin, effective breathing during a match, club competition, doubles strategies and practice routines are alone worth the price.
I have played for more than 30 yrs, have had many lessons and gone to tennis camps from Vermont to Florida. Jak's book has given me more stuff to work on, and to look forward to using in a match, than a lot of these other instructions.