MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Put that second ball in their pocket when they serve? Surely, they are acknowledging on some subconscious level that they are gonna mess the first serve up. And it's got to be a bit less comfortable.
Yeah. And why when there is someone only feet away who will give you a ball would you run around with one in your pocket anyway?
Always thought the same, it'd be like a world cup downhill racer carrying a backpack with some tools in it.
I never ever ever pocketed a second ball - it felt unnatural and 'made me' unbalanced. Used to be a coach a few years back.
you think he'd have learnt from the STW gurus by now 🙂
I'm sure they know what they are doing.
Well, that's twice the spare ball has fell out of Murray's pocket, distracting him to sufficiently to lose the point... So perhaps they just do it because everyone else does.
Well he just lost a point because of it...
....because a mars bar would melt....
So to keep them focussed between 1st and 2nd if required. Far better, generally, than stopping and requesting another.
Aaaahhh, that makes sense lister. Never thought of it like that. Cheers.
Is that Lendl in the blue? As coach, he looks like a tired old man and hardly raving at Andys successes... barely slapping his hand on the rail... and who are the other two guys next to him?
Well he just lost a point because of it...
Which spurred him on to break serve and win the set.
Told you they know what they are doing 😉
I'm sure they know what they are doing.
Indeed, but it would be interesting to know why they think it's necessary.
It doesn't look comfortable apart from anything else.
I'd bet it's just habit, think of all the years of training they do before they get to the stage of somebody being there to throw them a ball. They probably feel uncomfortable without it!
lister11 - Member
So to keep them focussed between 1st and 2nd if required. Far better, generally, than stopping and requesting another.
Ah, but normally they go to the ball boy/girl for another ball before the second serve anyway...
I stuff them down my shorts. Where there is barely enough room of course.
I always thought it was like cricket players, who always polish the ball before they bowl in their upper trouser area. Tennis players put a ball in their pocket so they have an excuse to rake about in there when they are nervous, must soothe them in some way.
Do the ladies do it ??
they seem to have wee pocket things inside their slips.
so they have an excuse to rake about in there when they are nervous, must soothe them in some way.
"rake about in there": A lovely turn of phrase, thank you Hels! a good 45 seconds of chucking from that!
While we're at it: why do tennis players insist on total silence? Given the amount they earn, why can't they put up with a bit of cheering and jeering like every other sport?
every other sport?
maybe it depends on the amount of concentration needed - golfers for example don't like noise.
While we're at it: why do tennis players insist on total silence? Given the amount they earn, why can't they put up with a bit of cheering and jeering like every other sport?
Most of the time I'm fine with music playing, but sometimes, if I really need to concentrate on getting something done properly, I find it a distraction, and turn it off. Same thing for them, at a guess.
It was the shorts apparently.
And note this..
[url= http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/oh-i-say-andy-murray-gets-change-of-shorts-after-fall-out-at-wimbledon-1-2387148 ]
[/url]..that leads me to the conclusion that it's one of the rules, perhaps aimed at speeding up play?he asked permission to serve without an extra ball in his pocket, because of the difficulties he was having keeping it in place.
silk pockets, eh? No wonder the ball came out.
...and why are they not a bit nicer to the towel girl? I mean, at least a nod or a smile of acknowledgement as she takes away your manky, sweat-riddled wipe rag...
That would wear a bit thin by the third set I reckon.
Why do tennis players, especially the bints, grunt and shriek as if it was the first night of their honeymoon?
A mix of a Physiological need for centering body/mind and habit and years of training on courts with no ball boys/girls around and being bored of constantly bending down to pick the darn pesky rolling things up..
I suspect….
grunting is a means of ensuring that your breathing is correctly timed.
It is also something to focus on to stop you thinking too much - as in the "inner game of tennis" book where you try to keep the 'doubting' thoughts out of your head by employing a ritual that doesn't give enough time to let the critical side of your brain suggest that you might screw up the next shot...
and why are they not a bit nicer to the towel girl? I mean, at least a nod or a smile of acknowledgement...
Bacause they're closet roadies? 8)
Why do tennis players, especially the bints, grunt and shriek as if it was the first night of their honeymoon?
Don't you ever scream blue murder in that effort to get over the top of a b'stard hill, amazing how it gets you that bit further 😳
grunting is a means of ensuring that your breathing is correctly timed.
What a load of bollocks. Grunting is something seles popularised and annoyingly has caught on in the womens game.
Making a bit of noise at the end of a long rally, because you are exhausted is something different. You never hear a peep out of Federer and the majority of the all time greats do not grunt.
I look forward to the day they ban loud grunting.
why do tennis players insist on total silence?
probably also something to do with the umpire being able to hear the line judges
the amount they earn, why can't they put up with a bit of cheering
Interesting concept : noise levels on a sliding scale related to how much the players have earnt that tax year
Although perhaps england's footballists would perform better if the [s]racists[/s] fans were asked to sit down and be quiet in between stoppages.
What a load of bollocks. Grunting is something seles popularised and annoyingly has caught on in the womens game.
I assume that you've never had any contact with Karate. Vocalising at the end of (in this case) a racket stroke, is a valuable technique.
I assume that you've never had any contact with Karate. Vocalising at the end of (in this case) a racket stroke, is a valuable technique.
I've trained in martial arts and have played tennis for 25 years. Grunting like you are being attacked is not required for performance in either.
have played tennis for 25 years. Grunting like you are being attacked is not required for performance
How many Majors did you win in your 25 years using the "grunt free" technique ?
TurnerGuy is correct, that is where it started but has increasingly become an affectation/weapon/annoyance. No surprise that Sharapova's and V William's volume goes up when they are in trouble. And then there was Schiavone with her F88k Me shreik last week?!!?
I heard this week, that it will be banned for new players. Sharapova was commenting on this.
I don't understand why players get penalised for crying our in pain at French Open and yet the absurd screeching is overlooked.
How many Majors did you win in your 25 years using the "grunt free" technique ?
Federer won 16. Didn't do him any harm.
Schiavone is using "FM" to full effect today (now on BBC2)!! Cracks me up!
Just watched a bit of Schiavone. Every serve its Faaaaccckkk ooooff!!
Taking grunting to new heights.
"Of" or "me" can't decide. Very funny though.
Rather than shrieking like a woman being attacked, she spouts filth on every serve. Classic.
Think the way they treat the ballboys/girls is disgraceful I mean the kids carefully throw balls to the players and they just drop the ones they don't want so the kids have to pick them up again! And the towels! WTF is all that about it's just slavery.
If I was a ballboy I'd think f*ck it they can get the balls/towels themselves 🙂
How many Majors did you win in your 25 years using the "grunt free" technique ?
Federer won 16. Didn't do him any harm.
Nobody said it was Essential.
But for some people it obviously works.
It's certainly not holding them back anyway. So there isn't an issue.
Perhaps it's also to do with their training - unless they're fortunate enough to have personal ball-boys (Oo-er!) on hand all the time...
Familiarity with the environment is key, so a ball in the pocket makes them feel 'at home' (relaxed?)
Going by that BBC article, it appears to be a rule that the player must have a second ball available.xiphon - Member
Perhaps it's also to do with their training - unless they're fortunate enough to have personal ball-boys (Oo-er!) on hand all the time...Familiarity with the environment is key, so a ball in the pocket makes them feel 'at home' (relaxed?)
Ahhhh
Going by that BBC article, it appears to be a rule that the player must have a second ball available.
Sampras never used to take a second ball. Always requested a new one after the first serve if needed. Lots of women do this as well in the absence of a pocket or tight skirt 8O.
Must be a fairly easy rule to get an exemption to.