HARDEST sports to play

RoKr93
Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:45:18 +0000

One thing people are missing on this thread is creativity. In many sports, creativity is non-existent. How many ways are there to run into an endzone? How many ways can you hit a tennis ball? How many ways can you swim a certain stroke in swimming? Sports like soccer, basketball, and wrestling all require a special ability to make split second decisions under pressure. There are so many different ways to score in soccer and you see all of the different moves these guys do. Combine that with the endurance factor and the 20, 30, 40 yard sprints during the game. Basketball also requires creativity in that you have to figure out a way to get around the defender. Should I spin? Through the legs? Crossover? There are many different ways to score, but it takes sharp decision making to choose the right way. In wrestling, it takes a knack to counter certain moves that your opponent does. Then you have to go into your arsenal of moves to choose the right one. This all has to be done in a snap. I’m sure there are other sports that require this ability that I have not listed.

Wooooooaaahh.

What you’re talking about is perhaps more prevalent in tennis than in ANY other sport.

“How many ways can you hit a tennis ball?”

A lot. Tons. Forehand, backhand, slice, topspin, flat, lob, passing shot. How fast? How deep? What angle? And you have to decide in a split-second precisely what way you’re going to do it, and the tiniest slip-up is something your opponent will see and feast on (once you reach a certain level of play of course).

And not only that…once you start playing the GOOD players, you can’t just think about the current shot. You have to think at least one shot ahead, perhaps two. There are infinitely many ways to construct a point based on the strengths and weaknesses of yourself and your opponent, as well as the situation you’re in. In fact, I’d go so far as to say tennis requires the most creative thinking out of any sport.

Obviously though, if you’re just going out and grabbing a racquet and hitting with friends, it’s a side to the game you don’t see. But it’s certainly there:

[Nalbandian - Federer - This is not in the book ! - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8kkpDzlX7M&feature=related)

[Roger Federer Head Fake HD - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1If2VzmFc6E&feature=related)

Sorry for the mini-rant…I had to :P