Book Reviews: Visual Training for Tennis by Bill Patton

Good evening, readers and writers! The book I’m reading today is more for the athletic writers among us. While this work has been written specifically for tennis players, athletes from all sports involving balls can benefit from it. Moreover, anyone interested in how human sight works and what makes certain athletes so good at what they do will find some entertainment value as well. In this post, I’m reviewing Visual Training for Tennis: Going Beyond “Watch the Ball” by Bill Patton.

We all know the saying: Keep your eye on the ball. But just how well does that serve tennis players? According to Patton, not as well as we think. Using a combination of scientific study, professional advice, and personal anecdotes, this teacher/tennis coach gives other tennis coaches and players advice on how best to utilize visual training for tennis. Patton covers everything from tracking a tennis ball and the bounce-hit training technique to the pros and cons of protective eye wear and the need to rest your eyes between shots. The result is a comprehensive guide which not only tells coaches and players what to do but why it works.

Admittedly, I’m not a tennis player. I’m not an athlete of any sort. My oldest brother is really into golf and even works at a golf course, but I’ve never been one for sports. While Patton makes it seem that anyone can be taught under visual training for tennis when given time, I’m pretty certain that my general lack of hand-eye coordination will keep me from playing the sport. Regardless, this book seems like it would be very helpful for anyone wishing to pursue tennis as well as those who want to teach it.

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of research Patton put into his book. Still, the book is rarely dull. He uses a conversational tone even when discussing the scientific principles, which made the concepts much more readable. His passion for the topic clearly shows, and he explains his reasoning behind each technique, tip, and assertion thoroughly. I think that his points would be better made if he could incorporate some illustrations or photos which demonstrate what he is describing, but that’s more of a personal preference; I’m a visual learner, and images would have just made it easier for me to follow Patton’s train-of-thought.

I most appreciate his acknowledgement of the different kinds of learners when it comes to tennis. He discusses verbal learners versus visual learners, even illustrating the differences using examples from his own classroom. In order for a coach to best teach his/her pupil, he/she must first understand that each student learns in his/her own way, and so the coach must learn to see through the student’s eyes (to borrow Patton’s words). As someone whose mind doesn’t work quite like everyone else’s, I am very grateful that Patton emphasizes this point, and not just because it’s a clever play on words that goes with his topic.

Another unique aspect of Patton’s book is that it is continuously growing. Right off the bat, Patton invites readers to let him know about their experiences with the topics of his guide—what worked for them, what didn’t worked for them, adjustments that should be made, etc. Now, this concept is not new to literature or even how-to guides. After all, how many different editions of For Dummies books are there for any given subject? However, very few—I can’t even think of any—ask readers for contributions within the book itself. I think that this concept makes Visual Training for Tennis more open and inviting to the reader, something which is key in making people comfortable enough to try new ways of learning.

Of course, the book isn’t perfect. I had some minor issues with the organization of the guide. Namely, I would have preferred if some of the final remarks had been included in the introduction instead. For example, Patton talks about his own experience with being forced to “watch the ball” as a child and, thus, not do so well in sports for a while. I think that this example both proves his arguments and gives it a personal touch which would draw readers in immediately.

Overall, Visual Training for Tennis by Bill Patton is a wonderful book for tennis coaches and players. You probably shouldn’t approach it as a novice as some of the concepts won’t make sense. You can read it just for the information on eyesight and how it affects tennis players, if you like, but if you are serious about using the information while playing tennis, you’ll want to wait until you understand the game overall better. However, coaches can use it to improve their teaching techniques and players can discuss it with their coaches to see if Patton’s exercises could improve their game.

You can buy Visual Training for Tennis by Bill Patton as an eBook and in print on Amazon.

Do you know of a book I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!