Did you watch the final men’s match at Wimbledon this year? What amazingly well-played tennis. Powerful serves, masterful returns, electric net play, and, by golly, lots of prolonged baseline volleys.

See, once the big servers became so prevalent, kids started practicing returns – really good, offensive returns, not just defensive prayers. Suddenly, the 120-mph serve wasn’t as much of an advantage because (a) every one could hit them and (b) lots of guys learned how to return them.

Perhaps young golfers today will learn that, thanks to the equipment, the playing field has leveled in terms of length. It seems every kid these days is long, so what advantage is that? Maybe the scales will tip and in order to get the edge, kids will learn how to do amazing things with their clubs, move the ball in heretofore unseen ways, develop shots no one’s dreamed of yet...

I'm not sure I agree with all of this, but it's nice to hear an optimist about technology and sports for a change.

Men's tennis offers a cautionary tale for other sports. An absence of racket regulations has allowed the game to be transformed by technology. At this point, turning back the clock will be exceedingly difficult. Any fundamental changes to the game would lead to carping about the loss of tradition and resistance from players who've crafted a style of play for the game as it was presented to them.

Let me know your thoughts.