The title of the book alone, “Are you still playing real tennis or are you already winning something?” made me more than curious . When I then read the subtitle of Heinz Schwarz's first work, "A Theory of Relativity to the Infamy of Real Tennis," there was only one thing left to do: open the book and start reading. I did that on the beach during my summer vacation, without taking a break. Because the 132 pages that the tennis coach, who was born in Austria and now lives in Bavaria, wrote about the sense or nonsense of “real tennis” are really very entertaining. The author quite rebelliously questions the teaching style of many coaching colleagues who train the average tennis player. Why and how “normal tennis players” should be trained in order to ultimately get the maximum tennis out of them or get closer to it is discussed in the book. And in a way that often made me smile in the Corsican sun!
In the first part of the book, the author explains what he means by “real tennis” and why, in his view, teaching “real tennis” through tennis coaches is simply wrong. Does a recreational player necessarily need a semi-grip when serving? Or does he have to stand sideways in order to play “real” tennis? The author criticizes many of his fellow trainers quite harshly. Because they all too often try to bring the “correct teaching” to the man or woman without paying attention to progress and success. In his opinion, the focus should be on results and not on the complicated transfer of knowledge, which is a complete overwhelm for many recreational players. Unrealistic perfectionism must give way to pragmatic and individual approaches. A sometimes quite “heretical” approach that is examined from many facets. To all tennis coaches: there is great potential for discussion here!
In the second book it becomes more concrete: the author provides many training tips and recommendations for the match. From a technical perspective, what is important about the different basic strokes, especially in a match? Because the author knows all too many “beautiful players” who hit everything in training but are then unsuccessful in the match. What is important from a tactical point of view in a match, especially for recreational players, and how can the whole thing be practiced in training and transferred to a competitive situation? But the mental area is also not neglected in this part of the book. An area that is also so important for recreational players, as it often decides between victory and defeat. And here too, the author provides really good and, above all, easy-to-practice recommendations and tips.
In the third and final part of the book, the "small release theory", the author describes his top ten offers of help for learning or improving tennis. No matter whether it's advice for the "I'm too sexy for this game" trap or his tips for a holistic view of your own tennis game. Here you will find a lot of important, concise advice that is practical and goal-oriented when implemented. In the direction of tennis, where you can win something and have fun doing it.
The author Heinz Schwarz actually has a doctorate in law, but discovered his love and passion for being a tennis teacher during his studies, which has never let go of him to this day. Coaching stations included the Niki Pilic Academy, which he headed as managing director and where none other than the young Novak Djokovic trained at the time. Heinz worked for the tennis travel provider Hannes Zischka for many years. Hannes Zischka, who is a follower of Heinz's training theory for recreational players, also wrote the foreword to the book.
Today Heinz runs a tennis school in Dachau, Bavaria, and is a very active and successful senior tournament player.
As I said at the beginning, I read the book in one sitting. Often with a smile on his face, but often also with a few “buts…” in his head. Many fellow tennis coaches would be more than controversial about the theses put forward by Heinz. In my opinion, Heinz manages to break down the two "worlds" of "real" tennis and his own view of tennis in such a way that the two worlds don't differ as much as you might first think.
What I would have liked had been a few illustrative or photographic elements that would certainly have visually lightened up the whole book. In addition, there would have been more concrete training recommendations and exercises, as I found these to be particularly informative for all “tennis normal people”.
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