Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Handbook

Nick Bollettieri was one of the most influential people in the world of tennis, renowned for his passion for excellence and the game. His training program is recognized as one of the best systems for developing top players. It was this proven method that Bollettieri used to coach 10 top-ranked players in the world (Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Jim Courier, Martina Hingis, Jelena Janković, Marcelo RÍos, Monica Seles, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams) plus a multitude of other world-class players, including Petra KvitovÁ, Sabine Lisicki, Kei Nishikori, Nicole VaidiŠovÁ, Tommy Haas, Radek Stepanek, Ivo Karlovic, Mary Pierce, Jimmy Arias, and Anna Kournikova.Bollettieri founded the world-renowned Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in 1978 to educate students in a dual environment of intense tennis training and academics. Within 10 years, Bollettieri expanded his vision, joining forces with IMG to turn the tennis academy into a multisport training facility now known as IMG Academy. He wrote numerous books on tennis, contributed to many television and video programs, and was recognized for his promotion of the sport.The Bollettieri name is synonymous with tennis excellence. The coach achieved numerous honors and awards, including induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2014. He was also inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame (2004), honored with the prestigious Sports and Service Award by the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health (2003), inducted into the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (2002), and ranked as one of Tennis Magazine’s 50 Most Influential People in Tennis (2000) and as one of Sporting Life’s 25 People Who Have Influenced Tennis in the Past Century (2000). He was named National Coach of the Year for Tennis by the United States Olympic Committee and awarded the Tennis Educational Merit Award by the International Tennis Hall of Fame.Bollettieri passed away in 2022.

"Nick, I've spent time with Vince Lombardi, Bob Knight, Tommy Lasorda, Joe Torre, Larry Brown, Casey Stengel, and Cus D'Am­ato—just to name a few—and they're all successful and they're all different. The key thing for a coach and for a human being is to be yourself, and Nick, this is the characteristic you share with all those Hall of Fame coaches. You are yourself. You're the con­summate coach. You care about the game, about the way it is played, and about the person who is playing it. You don't quite demand perfection, but you damn well want it. Larry Brown's ultimate term of respect is to call someone Coach—as in Coach Holzman or Coach Smith. You are Coach Bollettieri."—Dick Schaap-- Late American sportswriter, broadcaster, and author "Nick Bollettieri has always been a man with great vision and a charismatic personality who energizes everyone in his presence. I have watched Nick coach athletes of all abilities, from beginners to professionals. His positive teachings, with his energetic approach, lead to the development of successful tennis players."—Dick Vitale-- ABC and ESPN basketball analyst "When I moved in with Nick at the age of 13, he became a sur­rogate father to me. Nick stressed discipline and self-control, but most of all he believed in me. Nick has the uncanny ability to know what each player needs to be motivated. For me, it was praise. The most lasting impression that I have about Nick is simply the feeling that came over me whenever he was on the court with me. Even to this day, if I'm playing tennis and Nick is there, the adrenaline starts to flow, and I leave the court sure that I can conquer the world."—Jimmy Arias"Not only has Nick has been a great help to our tennis game, but he has also been a close friend of the family for years. His friendship and instruction have been invaluable to us."—Venus Williams"I really think that Nick is not just a coach, but also a friend and someone that you can talk to. As a coach, he really knows what to tell the player so the player will be able to take the next step to be on the top. He has personally helped me to realize that I need the small things more than the large things. In the end, Nick is a great person and my friend."—Serena Williams"Not only is Nick a terrific coach but also a great motivator. He makes you feel good on the court no matter what. Also, know­ing him for the past few years, he's not only a coach to me but a great friend with a big heart. He'll always be special."—Tommy Haas

• Chapter 1 Teaching Philosophy Chapter 2 Fundamentals of Athletic Development Chapter 3 Forehands Chapter 4 Backhands Chapter 5 Serves Chapter 6 Returns Chapter 7 Net Play Chapter 8 Specialty Shots Chapter 9 Doubles Technique Chapter 10 Practice With a Purpose Chapter 11 Physical Conditioning Chapter 12 Mental Conditioning Chapter 13 Game Plans and Match Strategy Chapter 14 Rackets, Strings, and Grips Chapter 15 Tennis Clubs and Resorts Chapter 16 Future of American Tennis