Dynamic Visual Acuity:  Eye Biomechanics Did you know that there is only one human activity which taxes dynamic vision skills more than tennis? The answer will amaze you and should play a role in your choice of eye protection/sunglass products for tennis.  Understandably, few sunglass manufacturers produce product which has the necessary visual accuracy that tennis demands.  The task of watching a small ball go from optical infinity to reading distance on such a continuous basis is enormously difficult for the visual/motor system.  Pictured below is the miraculously complex visual system with only a couple of its nearby muscles.

As background, "static vision skills" are those tested by a typical Optometrist. They are used to read efficiently
or see objects clearly at a variety of distances. For example, though this page does not move, your eyes have still
learned to recognize the letters, comprehend their meaning, and move smoothly from line to line.  A set of skills
that can be improved if desired.  The movement in these "static" movement skills are related to those required for
tennis.

"Dynamic Visual Accuity" is a more complex set of occular muscle skills needed to track moving objects efficiently.
Only a handful of eye care professionals are trained in evaluating these skills in the United States.  Even fewer have the
experience to impove these skills predictably.

A member of Sports Medicine & Ergonomics Associates is one of those research optometrists.  The field of Visual
Therapy or Sports Vision Therapy has only recently recieved full recognition by the Harvard Medical School, Mayo
Clinic, and UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute.  That team member has also been endorsed by these clinicians as one of
the revered pioneers in this amazing new field which only began in the 1980's!  He has worked with hundreds of
athletes as well as children/adults to improve their sports or reading skills.

Amazingly, even the most skilled athletes can improve their visual skills with highly specialized and supervised computer
exercises.  Dr. Polan even guarantees improvement in batting percentage for baseball players! For more information on his
incredible work, go to:  http://www.DrGaryPolan.com

Here is the key to understanding this new science: ALL VISUAL SKILLS ARE LEARNED, NOT INHERITED!

So, what is the most challenging human activity to the "Dynamic Visual Accuity" skills for the eyes?  Jet Fighter Pilot.

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Take Home Tennis (THT)
[a condensed version of this column can also be found on YouTube under TennisDr]
"Take Home Tennis" and "THT" are copyrighted expressions of Jonathan (c) Bailin, Ph.D., USPTA 2007
and may not be used without his expressed written consent.

Some mannerisms of the pros you should take home, others NOT!
What does a leading Ph.D. in tennis biomechanics think? 
How do they apply to my game?

"THT" will put the "TNT" into your game!


Eastern and western medicine now agree that the body can effect the mind and the mind can effect the body. 
For tennis players, learning to focus the mind and prepare the body for the type of intense physical demands
of a competitive point require practice, even before the point begins! 

Click on the YouTube link below to watch the following sequence which protrays the rituals used by Maria Sharapova
before her serve.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4hnxzmARxM

Psychologists might call them ritualized behaviors and tennis coaches know that they can make a huge difference in how an athlete responds moments later under competitive stress.   Of all the top players, Maria Sharapova's rituals are probably the most pronounced and predictable. Each of her ritualized mannerisms can be associated with a useful subtext.  Her body "tells" her mind to apply itself to the task and stress of tennis in a sequence of ways.  After some repetition, her body and mind learn to respond to these behavioral messages to optimally prepare for a point. The "serve and rituals" video portrays the following messages her body sends to her mind:  “Forget about the last point, keep your mind here, get your feet ready to react, secure your hair, get in tempo for the serve”.  She set the standard.  Look for them with Hantuchova and many other players and find the parts of their rituals that are right for you. Take these home!