Tennis Science for Tennis Players »

Howard Brody is Professor of Physics at the University of Pennsylvania and science adviser to the United States Professional Tennis Registry.

How does your opponent put that tricky spin on the ball? Why are some serves easier to return than others? The mysteries behind the winning strokes, equipment, and surfaces of the game of tennis are accessibly explained by Howard Brody through the laws of physics. And he gives practical pointers to ways players can use this understanding to advantage in the game.

Through extensive laboratory testing and computer modeling, Brody has investigated the physics behind the shape of the tennis racket, the string pattern, the bounce of the tennis ball, the ways a particular court surface can determine the speed of the game, and the many other physical factors involved in tennis.

Library Journal

A physics professor explains how the laws of physics work in the game of tennis. Included are studies of string tension, the size, shape, and weight of a racket, ball trajectories, court surfaces, and reflex time. Numerous tables, graphs, and formulas accompany the text. The author suggests such knowledge may enable the player ``to gain a point here, a point there.'' The reader need not be a degree-bearing engineer to profit from the material, but this work is definitely aimed at dedicated students of the game, those who wish to play ``with the head as well as the arm.'' For comprehensive collections only. William H. Hoffman, Ft. Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., Fla.