Brad Gilbert

Whether you’re playing on an overly sunny day, what to pack in your bag, how to handle gamesmanship, what to do when you come up against specific types of players, this book covers a lot of ground. It does feel a bit repetitive at times though if you are attempting to learn from the book repetition is probably helpful to get this stuff ingrained in your brain so you can put it in action without overthinking on the court.

If like me you’re reading this strictly as a tennis fan/fan of Brad show more Gilbert’s analysis on ESPN, not someone who actually plays, then you’ll already be familiar with much of the philosophy behind these tips and strategies and that, along with the repetition I mentioned does get a little tedious if you picked this book up as a pleasure read rather than as the tutorial it’s intended to be. But fortunately those of us who came to this book only for the entertainment value, you’re rewarded with quite a few anecdotes about Gilbert’s career and matches against legends like Connors, McEnroe, and Lendl, an era which I wasn’t lucky enough to see but it sure is riveting to read about.

This book would definitely be of most use to those who play, but for those of us who just watch tennis there’s still quite a bit to hold your interest, too, and if you’re new to watching the sport, it will likely give you a better understanding of it, too. show less

This book won't help your tennis strokes or any other technical aspect of your game, but it will address the strategy behind the game. The big focus is on knowing your opponents and your own game, knowing the strengths and weaknesses that become apparent during matches, and how to exploit what you observe. There is also emphasis on the mental game of tennis, which includes keeping your cool, dealing with gamemanship, and keeping focus.
The book is organized in quick, easy to read chapters, show more with Gilbert's real-life examples, followed up with a closer look on how to apply his principles to your own game.
Overall, a great, well-written book that will give the serious tennis player food for thought, and ideas to bring into your own game. show less

I read this years ago, when I was just starting to get serious about tennis and thought it was a great book. I decided to re-read it now, because I've been promoted into a division with some *really* good tennis players and I can use all the help I can get. I found the advice, this time, less helpful. Don't get me wrong, this is a fun and interesting book to read. But, basically, you can boil the advice down to "try this, and if it doesn't work, try something else". OK. That's pretty much show more what I try to do. I doesn't always result in "winning tennis", but-I admit--it can be ugly. show less

This is the second book I’ve read by Brad Gilbert, a previous tennis pro and coach. This book details his coaching career and offers up insight on how to deal with the mental side of tennis. He also talks about his time spent coaching Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick.

This book features more stories than actual tips. Tips are sprinkled in, but very lightly, and nothing overly new and innovative. Mainly, the book is for the tennis fan who is happy reading a light, easy-to-read book that gives a show more bit of insight into the lives of tennis pros and how they think.

Gilbert is nothing but positive in the book, so no stories of quarrels or major problems. There is a heavy emphasis on remaining positive, and Gilbert follows his own advice.

So, while this isn’t a great book, it is enjoyable enough and is a quick read. show less