Serena Williams smashing a tennis ball into a guy’s butt taught me to love Dude Perfect videos again
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
I have a confession to make: I’m was over “Dude Perfect.” Don’t get me wrong, I find myself watching every single video the trick shot team put out -- but I haven’t really been moved by any of their recent work. Serena Williams smashing a tennis ball into a dude’s butt taught me how to love again.
It’s not just a tennis ball hitting a butt (though, part of it is). This trick shot video encapsulates what made Dude Perfect videos so great in the first place: It’s pure joy. Instead of simply racking up increasingly more difficult shots, they took the time to sit down with Serena, joke about toaster strudels and the names of planets. It was human and honest in a way some of their videos tend not to be.
Also, giant tennis racket hitting a basketball-sized tennis ball into a hoop.
It’s been a long time since I smiled all the way through a trick shot video. It was nice to revisit that feeling. Let this be a lesson to Dude Perfect: You guys are amazing. Your skills are unparalleled -- but never forget that sports aren’t just a machine, they can be fun as hell, too.
