Recently I was asked why tennis umpires are such sticklers for keeping the fans quiet during points. This concerned fan brought up the point that no other sport with the exception of golf requires quiet. His main point was that baseball batters can hit a 100mph pitch with 35,000 screaming fans.
Why cant tennis players do the same?
The reason is that tennis players must be able to hear their opponent’s contact and can garner much information based on sounds alone.
You can hear when contact is made. So you can get your timing. You can hear how loud or soft your opponent’s contact is. Or how much spin is coming. So you can play instinctively no matter the quality of your opponent.
The thud of a well hit flat hard shot or the ‘wisp’ of a spinning forehand give us the information necessary to prepare early, effectively, and properly for the varieties of shots that come at us. You must have silence to be able to do that.
Also, when you are making contact you can and should watch the sound being created. I like to think of what sound my shot will sound like as the ball comes towards me. Then i impart that sound on the ball at contact. You must have silence to be able to do that.
so next time you hear, ‘quiet please’ now you’ll know why.