Poetry in Motion: Robert Frost & Tennis

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 

Robert Frost

I have always held this poem close to my heart. In life, when times are tough and with weighty decisions to make, I think of these wonderful words and, yes, I usually choose the path less travelled. And, yes, it has made all the difference. Those of you who know me personally will understand.

Over the weekend, I reread this poem in regard to tennis and attempted to look objectively at how my tennis teaching may incorporate these four, simple, yet incredibly forward-thinking and life-observing stanzas.

Each point in tennis is a microcosm of life. When to move forward and be the aggressor. When to lay back and defend hoping for an opening. All these things are the same in life as they are in tennis. But on each ball, we have to make a decision. That decision is direction. Where do I hit this tiny yellow fuzzy thing?

In doubles, our direction is usually decided for us much more of the time in comparison to singles. In hitting crosscourt from the baseline in doubles, we tend to want to avoid the net player on the opposing side, unless we decide to hit a lob over that player's head. But at the net, it's a slightly different story. If the ball is lower than the level of the net at the time we make contact we have to take into account our opponent's position. If they have one player at the net and one player at the baseline, since we are having to hit up and over the net on our volley, we should volley to the player at the baseline. Otherwise, the opposing net player has the time to close in and volley our return back down at us since we are in a defensive position volleying initially from below the level of the net.

But what if all four players are at net? What dictates our decision? We can take the easier route perhaps and volley crosscourt over the lowest part of the net which improves our odds in making the shot. Or, we can volley straight, which at first is a tougher volley, over a higher part of the net. But, then we do not have to transition as a team and change positions to cover the other alley. Let me explain.


If all four players are at net on the court, then if you (the person hitting the ball in the diagram is 'C') decide to hit cross court at 'B', you and your partner are forced to move and transition to cover a wider angle down the alley adjacent to player 'D' which is option 2 in the diagram. A team in transition often makes errors as they are moving while the ball is struck by the opponents.

Option 2 on the diagram is to hit the ball back down the middle. Oftentimes one hears "Down the middle solves the riddle." This is quite often true in doubles and, in this case, it is a safe shot if hit low to your opponents.

The third option is to hit straight across the net at your opponent, which means that you and your partner do not have to transition at all and that you are already set for the opponent's return. You, as player 'C', already have your alley covered and your partner D is covering the middle of the court.

But, what is the final decision to be made? What else factors into the equation? Don't change the direction of the ball if not necessary. Anytime, you change the direction of the ball, your hitting zone is smaller and you are more apt to make an error. Therefore, I would argue, if the ball comes from 'B' hit back either option 1 or 2. If the ball comes from 'A' hit back with option 3. These options do not change the direction of the ball and make the volley easier for you.

The Road Not Taken... is usually option 3. But, in good doubles, option 3, if the ball comes at a straighter angle to you as a player, is a forward-looking good option. You and your partner do not have to move to cover the next ball from your opponents. Rather, you and your partner are poised and ready to move forward and take control of the point.