Applied Physics

Applied physics is the application of the science of physics to helping human beings and solving their problems. Most instructors, including myself, focus on strokes and strategy in the education of their students.

But in order to effectively and successfully apply strokes and strategies to our game, we need to have a firm comprehension and understanding of the science which is occurring during this entire process. The theory of relativity was Einstein’s attempt to explain the force of gravity in the universe to mankind. While I’m not claiming to be an Einstein, in the sports of tennis and pickleball, there is a certain amount of physics involved in what we are attempting to accomplish with the ball. So, I would like to present to you Coach Wayne’s theory of flight of the ball, which is speed + height + spin = distance. Simply explained, the more speed I have on the ball, the less height I need to obtain my distance. For example, too much speed + height and the ball will sail long and land out. Not enough speed + height, and the ball will fall short and go into the net. If we add the value of spin to the first two values of speed + height, we can now blend them together, as needed, and accurately control the flight and placement of the ball on each individual shot we are hitting. With a dedicated commitment to practice, we can eventually master the ability to successfully accomplish our task of placing the ball into a specific location on the court.

A proper understanding and application of how physics applies to the flight of the ball allows us to better utilize our abilities to execute specific shots and place them  into a pre-determined, strategical location on our opponent's side of the court. In addition to that, a proper understanding of how physics applies to the flight of the ball allows us to have more insight on the shots coming from our opponents to our side of the court.

They say that knowledge is power, and with the power of knowledge, we can conquer the world. Professional athletes have the power of knowledge in relation to the sports they are competing in, and all sports have what we know as the great ones, the legends, the GOAT’s. Along with the power of knowledge, they are simply just better than everyone else in the game. As amateur competitors, while some of us are a bit more athletically inclined than others, none of us will ever qualify as GOAT’s. However, the power of knowledge can provide us with a great advantage over our opponents. So, improve your game by improving your knowledge. The more you know, the more you grow! It may not make you a legend of the sport, but it will make you a better player.