The Complete Handbook of Tennis

This handbook is exactly what it promises—no fluff, all substance. I'm a club manager and I use Chapter 1 to orient new staff on why we maintain courts the way we do, and the equipment section has already saved us money on string selection. My only gripe is the FAQ could have included more on liability and insurance, which is a real part of running a facility. Still, highly useful.

I've been coaching for twelve years and I wish I'd had this when I started. The explanation of how equipment specifications actually affect play—not just what they are, but why they matter—is brilliant. Chapter 3 on choosing equipment for different skill levels is exactly the framework I now use with new students. This is the reference I'll be recommending to everyone I work with.

Finally, a book about tennis that treats the reader like an adult. No 'unlock your potential' nonsense, just clear explanations of how the sport works, what the equipment does, and how to make decisions based on facts instead of marketing. The business chapter is especially valuable—I'm considering opening a court facility and this gave me exactly the kind of straightforward information I needed. Excellent work.

Good overview of the basics, and the maintenance chapter is solid. But I found some of the equipment specifications in Chapter 2 already outdated (modern rackets and strings have evolved since publication), and the chapter on business opportunities felt a bit thin—would have appreciated more detail on the economics of court operation. Useful reference, but not as comprehensive as I'd hoped.

Strong practical guide. Chapter 1 does a great job explaining the sport's mechanics and rules in a way that makes sense for someone picking up a racket for the first time or trying to understand why equipment standards exist. The troubleshooting section saved me money on string replacement. One minor issue: the glossary definitions are very dense and could use a few more examples. Overall, very solid.

This is the handbook I should have bought instead of three different 'beginner's guides.' The decision framework in Chapter 3 is practical and actually uses real playing levels and goals instead of generic 'beginner/intermediate/advanced.' I appreciate that the authors don't try to sell you on anything—they just explain what matters and why. Highly recommend for anyone serious about the sport.

Solid reference. The equipment chapters are thorough and well-organized, and the FAQ section answers questions I didn't even know I had. The business section is especially useful for anyone thinking about moving from recreational play to coaching or court management. A few chapters could use more visual aids (court diagrams, equipment comparisons), but the writing is clear enough to follow without them.

Decent handbook, though I found myself wishing there was more on the actual playing mechanics and technique. It's clearly written for people managing courts or selling equipment rather than players trying to improve their game. The Chapter 1 explanation of rules and scoring is helpful, but the book overall is more business-focused than I expected. Still useful, but not what I was looking for.