The Basics of the Serve:
1) a) The Ready Position for the Serve: It is important to be consistent in the positioning of your feet at the baseline prior to serving. Right handers usually point their left foot toward the right net post while a left hander would point their right foot toward the left net post.
b) Learning to throw a ball correctly will help you learn the correct service motion. The palm of your hand first points outward then inward (toward his ear) and then the palm points up and outward again (like giving a "high five"). Learn to throw the ball up and outward the way an outfielder would throw. Let your elbow come up while you tuck your non-throwing arm into your chest.
c) A pitcher throwing a baseball. First the palm of his hand (and the baseball) points outward and then moves inward and finally outward again when the ball is released. This motion results in his pitching elbow leading in front of his arm. The tennis serve also has the elbow leading the arm as shown in the next video.
d) This video shows a tennis serve as seen from above. In the beginning his palm faces outward and then moves inward (like combing his hair) and finishes up and outward (like a "high five"). It is important to note that his racket drops behind his head and then his elbow leads up and outward followed by the butt of the racket. Getting the butt of the racket pointing up to the sky will allow the racket head to drop behind his back. Note how he tucked his racket arm into his chest which brought his front shoulder downward bringing his back shoulder upward. This shoulder-over-shoulder rotation (or cartwheel effect) adds power to his serve. As a professional he practices 50,000 serves each year!
e) A great way to practice the serve is to practice throwing a ball. This video is very much like video 1b) except he refers to the knuckles rather then the direction of the palm. What is important starts at the 2 minute mark of the video. Notice how his left arm (the tossing arm) is tucked into his chest. This keeps his shoulders from rotating too soon...you want to stay sideways as long as possible when you serve.
Before continuing, go back and watch a few Ball Toss videos.
You must develop a consistent ball toss before you can develop a good serve. The Ball Toss videos will teach you how to hold the ball, when to release the ball and where to toss the ball.
2) This is a very important ball toss video because it points out common mistakes and how to correct them.
i) The ball must be tossed so that it would land inside the baseline.
He uses the continental grip (hammer grip). He starts the racket in the "double L position" above his head. The racket elbow and shoulders are in the same line. Toss the ball so the ball toss arm is fully extended to the vertical. Let the racket drop behind your head as you quickly tuck the tossing arm into your chest. Swing the racket upward and trap the ball with a fully extended racket arm. Repeat using a slight knee bend and pointing your chin upwards on the toss.
b) This video is for beginning players. The 3-step technique is:
i) Toss the ball ball up and out into the court. It is helpful if you bend your knees as you toss the ball.
ii) Let the racket drop behind your head (like combing your hair)
Your racket arm must be very loose so practice this step often.
iii) Swing your racket up to contact (like a "high five"). Make sure you toss the ball high enough to do the "high five"
c) It is important to develop a good service rhythm. This can be done by a good shoulder turn with both the tossing arm and the racket arm. Slowly turn your back away from the net. It is also important to practice the right to left motion of the racket behind your head (like combing your hair).
e) A great way to practice the serve is to practice throwing a ball. This video is very much like video 1b) except he refers to the knuckles rather then the direction of the palm. What is important starts at the 2 minute mark of the video. Notice how his left arm (the tossing arm) is tucked into his chest. This keeps his shoulders from rotating too soon...you want to stay sideways as long as possible when you serve.
Before continuing, go back and watch a few Ball Toss videos.
You must develop a consistent ball toss before you can develop a good serve. The Ball Toss videos will teach you how to hold the ball, when to release the ball and where to toss the ball.
2) This is a very important ball toss video because it points out common mistakes and how to correct them.
i) The ball must be tossed so that it would land inside the baseline.
ii) Keep your ball toss arm straight from start to finish.
iii) Release the ball about eye level but continue the upwards motion of your ball toss arm to almost vertical. This will allow you to get into the Power Position where your front shoulder is higher than your back shoulder.
iv) Advanced players also learn to bend their knees and push their hips into the court.
3) a) Beginning players should try these drills to learn to serve.He uses the continental grip (hammer grip). He starts the racket in the "double L position" above his head. The racket elbow and shoulders are in the same line. Toss the ball so the ball toss arm is fully extended to the vertical. Let the racket drop behind your head as you quickly tuck the tossing arm into your chest. Swing the racket upward and trap the ball with a fully extended racket arm. Repeat using a slight knee bend and pointing your chin upwards on the toss.
b) This video is for beginning players. The 3-step technique is:
i) Toss the ball ball up and out into the court. It is helpful if you bend your knees as you toss the ball.
ii) Let the racket drop behind your head (like combing your hair)
Your racket arm must be very loose so practice this step often.
iii) Swing your racket up to contact (like a "high five"). Make sure you toss the ball high enough to do the "high five"
c) It is important to develop a good service rhythm. This can be done by a good shoulder turn with both the tossing arm and the racket arm. Slowly turn your back away from the net. It is also important to practice the right to left motion of the racket behind your head (like combing your hair).
e) Another way to progress from a beginners serve is to transform the waiters serve so you can get a better racket drop.
i) Weight starts on front foot then transfer to the back foot and then toss the ball AS YOU TRANSFER weight back to the front foot.
ii) Ball toss before the racket is lifted: use the baseline as a guide and extend tossing arm to the vertical.
iii) Up on the balls of your feet with slight knee bend.
These videos are for Advanced Players:
Lean out into the court so your weight is on the front foot. Transfer your weight from your front foot to your back foot and as you bend your knees transfer your weight back to your front foot again. This "rocking motion" will allow you to establish a rhythm to your service motion.
Note: The chest and the chin are pointed upward.
The racket starts by pointing to the side fence. Release the ball first then start the left-to-right motion moving your hand over your bicep.
Keep the palm down and the wrist relaxed. Release the ball first and then start the left-to-right motion. Move the racket your head and then pronate.
d) The role of the elbow in the serve. Keep the wrist loose (limp) and bend at the elbow NOT the wrist. Note the elbow then leads to contact as you quickly pull your tossing arm into the body.
e) Drills to keep the shoulder-shoulder-elbow alignment and tucking in the tossing arm.
2) Medvedev slow motion serve: Ball toss first. Then weight/hip transfer into the court. High ball toss gives time to move back foot to the front into pinpoint stance. Note the body tilted into the court.
a) Your front foot points toward the net post and your back foot is parallel to the baseline.
b) Hold the ball in your fingers like a cup of water and use the hammer grip (continental grip) to hold your racket.
c) Hold your racket slightly open with the throat of the racket resting on your other hand. Extend the racket arm and ball over the baseline.
d) Slight knee bend to get you up on your toes. With palm down, slowly bring the ball and racket back as far as possible while tossing the ball outward toward the net post. (You should be looking over your right shoulder at the net post.)
e) Your tossing arm is fully extended to almost the vertical position (chin pointed up to the sky). Front shoulder should be higher than your back shoulder (the Power Position). Fully bend your knees and explode upward with the racket arm fully extended upon contact.
f) With the tossing arm fully extended, push your hips out into the court and bring your feet together (if you want a pinpoint stance). Your knees should be bent and your chest opened upward to the sky.
g) Your front shoulder should be higher than your back shoulder (the Power Position). Bring your tossing arm quickly downward (tucked into your chest) at the same time your racket arm comes up to make contact with the ball.
i) The weight transfer is actually from your front foot to your back foot to your front foot again.
ii) The serve follow through is actually more to the right side of your body. You then let the racket arm relax and so the racket finishes on your left side (for right handed players).
ii) The racket elbow is actually near shoulder level but you need to tilt your body so that your front shoulder is higher than your back shoulder.
iii) The "trophy position" is not with the racket positioned vertically. Actually the racket position at the start is diagonally closed like a salute (with a right angle at the elbow).
iv) The server actually makes contact with the ball at a 45 degree angle to the baseline not when they are facing the court.
v) The back is NOT arched but rather the knees are bent forward and the back is kept straight.
vi) Don't forget: Move the hips into the court under the ball toss.
Chin Up. Bend Knees to jump into the court.
Start with the hammer grip and racket slightly open: advance the video to the 6 min mark. Get the ball toss high and open the chest to the sky.
b) Follow up video with excellent footage of Federer in CHIN UP position that helps to knock off the "party hat". Note the knee bend is outward which opens the chest to the sky. Chin up!
i) Shoulder-shoulder-elbow alignment.
ii) Immediate OUTWARD knee bend as the ball is tossed.
iii) Front shoulder higher than back shoulder.
iv) Chest open to the sky and racket near "party hat" with chin UP.
v) Racket elbow explodes up and tossing up tucks into the chest.
vi) Shoulder-over-shoulder rotation.
d) Leading with the elbow to get more serve power. The racket is moved from right to left in back of the head (comb your hair). After the racket drop, get the elbow to the same level as your racket hand. Then move your elbow UP and OUTWARD towards the net.
Bring the elbow into the "salute position". As your elbow passes your head go into the knee bend and move your hips into the court under your ball toss. Quickly let your elbow explode up and outward. Practice this by throwing a ball.
i) Keep your body sideways at contact,
ii) Feel you chest and racket elbow explode up to the ball.
iii) Complete the shoulder-over-shoulder rotation.
8) a) This video is for more advanced beginners but the results are true for ALL tennis players. The key to a good serve is to get your racket to drop behind your head (the "back scratch" position). The racket path is a right-to-left motion as you let the racket drop behind your head. Practice daily using shadow strokes.
i) Shift your weight from the back foot to your front foot (get up on your toes).
ii) Get your ball toss arm fully extended and the ball located at 12 to one o'clock high.
iii) Get the racket into the vertical position as you bend the knees and push your hips inside the baseline.
iv) Open your chest to the sky as you move the racket edge toward your ear.
v) Bring the racket elbow up as you quickly tuck your tossing arm into your chest.
vi) "High five" the ball as you direct your racket up and outward with pronation.
10) Use a water bottle to overcome the palm up racket motion. The racket path must be a right-to-left motion and let the racket
drop behind their head (like combing your hair).
drop behind their head (like combing your hair).
11) a) Advance players get their racket into the Power Position. This means getting your front shoulder higher than your back shoulder.
(You can fast forward to the 2:40 mark.) This is accomplished by getting your ball toss arm to fully extend upwards close to the vertical position. From this power position, the tossing arm is quickly tucked into your chest while letting your racket elbow lead out and upwards. This quick motion adds power to the serve as you force your front shoulder downward bringing your back shoulder upward. This shoulder-over-shoulder rotation (or cartwheel effect) adds power to your serve.
b) i) Move your hips into the court but first knees bend (up on the balls of your feet). Coil the shoulders (rotation) past your hips as you push your hips out into the court.
ii) Excellent video showing hips being pushed into the court.
You must get the ball toss high and into the court so that you have time to coil the shoulders and push your hips into the court.
iiii) At the 4 min mark of this video see the hip pushed out and the correct knee bend.
iv) The "Serve Doctor" spring loaded serve motion. First bring the the racket and ball toss arm back as you coil the shoulders. Then bring the back foot up to the baseline as you coil the body. Then toss the ball while bending the knees and pushing the hips into the court.
v) The advantage of a high ball toss. At the 5:30 mark watch the timing for the take-back when moving the back foot into the pin-point stance.
12) Excellent serve progression for learning to PRONATE. Start with a high ball toss and get the chin up.
13) Serving down the T from the DEUCE side
To serve down the T, get your ball toss to about 12:00 o'clock while bending your knees, pushing your butt outward and up on your toes. Practice the serve from the service line and then move back.
14) The Power Position means getting the racket elbow lined up with your shoulders. Your front shoulder must be higher than your back shoulder. As you toss the ball continue to lift your tossing arm straight up (almost vertical). Notice how his racket his racket path travels across his chest which will help reduce
shoulder injuries. Then quickly
tuck the ball toss arm into your chest and bring the racket
elbow up as you swing the racket into contact.
a) Once you are in the Power Position quickly tuck your tossing
arm into your chest. This keeps your shoulders from rotating
too soon...you want to stay sideways as long as possible. Try to
get your tossing arm fully extended (close to vertical). At this
point the tossing arm is QUICKLY tucked into your chest as
you jump into the court. This quick motion not only adds power
to the serve but also brings your front shoulder DOWN and
your back shoulder UP (along with the racket elbow)..this is
the shoulder-over-shoulder rotation that we want in our serve.
This video shows the tossing arm being tucked into the chest which prevents the body from over rotating.
b) A good service rhythm may involve bouncing the ball first
and then transferring your weight from your back foot to
your front foot.
c) Learning the serve in 5 steps: including the power position,
pronation and the finish.
15) a) Advance players develop a racket take back motion to gain
more rhythm and power in their serve.
b) Focus on the two minute mark of this video.
The player starts his racket in the "salute position". He then
moves the racket from right to left letting it drop behind his
head (like combing your hair with the racket). He quickly
brings his elbow upwards which increases the racket drop.
He then fully extends his racket arm upwards to hit the ball
("high-five the ball"). The rest of the video demonstrates
advanced service techniques.
c) Advance players develop a "lag" in their racket-take-back which
sets up the right-to-left racket motion for the racket drop.
16) Footwork for proper Weight Transfer and Balance.
Start with your weight on the front foot and transfer to the
backfoot and then toss the ball AS YOU TRANSFER your
weight back to your front foot. Bend your knees and get up
on your toes with your weight evenly distributed for balance.
a) Service rhythm starts off SLOW with the body rotating
as a UNIT away from the net. Your head also rotates away
from the net as your eyes turn UPWARD. As you release the
ball, bend the knees while keeping the front shoulder HIGHER
than the back shoulder. This is the Power Position.
17) What do ALL top tennis players do in their service motion?
a) Each gets up on their toes which allows them to jump into
the court. Notice that each player lands inside the baseline.
Video showing player up on his toes as he bends the knees.
b) Their hips move inside the baseline with knees bent with
their butt pushed forward and chest opens up to the sky.
c) Each gets into the Power Position by getting their front
shoulder higher than their back shoulder. They also turn
their shoulders and hips away from the net.
d) Their racket path is a right-to-left motion to let the racket
drop behind their head (like combing your hair).
e) From the power position a shoulder-over-shoulder rotation
takes place. The back shoulder (and racket arm) travels from
being lower than the front shoulder to being higher than the
front shoulder as the racket makes contact with the ball.
Video of Federer making a shoulder-over-shoulder rotation.
This shoulder-over-shoulder rotation actually begins with the
tossing arm. Watch Federer as he quickly tucks his tossing
arm into his chest which forces his back shoulder (and racket
arm) to travel from a lower position to a higher position as his
racket makes contact with the ball.
f) Their ball toss is high and inside the baseline. Their tossing
arm is fully extended vertically but then is quickly tucked
into their chest as the racket arm elbow explodes up and out.
g) They jump into the court and finish with their back foot and
leg kicking upwards so as to maintain balance on the landing.
h) Video of server with chest open to the sky. This results in the
racket path going across his chest which will help reduce
shoulder injuries. This video explains how:
Reducing shoulder injury on the serve by opening the chest.
i) This video shows the pronation that occurs during the serve.
Slow motion video is needed because it happens so quickly.
a) This video shows drills for pronation and leg drive.
b) This video explains how to pronate using the forearm rotation.
j) Racket drop for the serve. Note a the 7 minute mark the
discussion of the tucking of the ball toss arm and the
shoulder-over-shoulder rotation helps create the racket drop.
9) This drill exaggerates keeping the tossing arm UP. Then work
on getting your tossing arm quickly tucked into your chest
as your racket arm elbow explodes up and out into the court.
A similar drill is to serve the ball from a spot closer to the back
fence. To get the ball over the net you must have a high ball
toss with a fully extended ball toss arm and then hit up and out.
10) a) Using your front foot and back foot to jump into the court for
more power on your serve.
b) Use your legs to generate power in the serve. Top players toss
the ball into the court while bending their legs and getting up
on their toes. Transfer your weight to the front foot but the
back foot leaves the ground first.
11) Use a good shoulder turn to improve your service POWER.
As you bend your knees, turn your shoulders away from the
net and push your hips out into the court.
12) Knees bend first, then hips pushed into the court and then
shoulders rotate away from the net. Get your front shoulder
higher than your back shoulder to complete the POWER
POSITION. The service motion starts when the extended
tossing arm is quickly tucked into the chest.
13) a) How to move your hips into the court as you raise your
tossing arm to the vertical to get into the power position.
b) The importance of leading with your racket elbow to get
more power into the serve. The racket is moved from right
to left in back of the head (comb your hair). After the racket
drop, get the elbow to the same level as your racket hand.
Then move your elbow UP and OUTWARD towards the net.
c) This video shows the importance of the power position and
leading with your racket elbow upwards and outward.
d) At the 4:30 mark of this video, note how the racket shoulder
is the last part of the body to come down after pronation.
14) Teaching how to push the hips over the baseline by first
bending the knees parallel to the baseline. This instructor
should have used shadow strokes and slowed the motion down.
15) Get your serve into the Power Position (Trophy Position):
Ball toss INTO the court with tossing arm vertical.
PUSH your hips into the court with the knee bend.
Get the front shoulder HIGHER than the back shoulder.
Weight is transferred to the front foot as chest opens up.
16) To get more service power, get into the Power Position:
With your front shoulder higher than your back shoulder,
quickly lead your elbow (of your racket arm) up and out
into the court while quickly pulling your tossing arm down
and tucking it into your chest.
17) a) Progression for learning the Kick Serve
(You can fast forward to the 2:40 mark.) This is accomplished by getting your ball toss arm to fully extend upwards close to the vertical position. From this power position, the tossing arm is quickly tucked into your chest while letting your racket elbow lead out and upwards. This quick motion adds power to the serve as you force your front shoulder downward bringing your back shoulder upward. This shoulder-over-shoulder rotation (or cartwheel effect) adds power to your serve.
b) i) Move your hips into the court but first knees bend (up on the balls of your feet). Coil the shoulders (rotation) past your hips as you push your hips out into the court.
ii) Excellent video showing hips being pushed into the court.
You must get the ball toss high and into the court so that you have time to coil the shoulders and push your hips into the court.
iiii) At the 4 min mark of this video see the hip pushed out and the correct knee bend.
iv) The "Serve Doctor" spring loaded serve motion. First bring the the racket and ball toss arm back as you coil the shoulders. Then bring the back foot up to the baseline as you coil the body. Then toss the ball while bending the knees and pushing the hips into the court.
v) The advantage of a high ball toss. At the 5:30 mark watch the timing for the take-back when moving the back foot into the pin-point stance.
13) Serving down the T from the DEUCE side
To serve down the T, get your ball toss to about 12:00 o'clock while bending your knees, pushing your butt outward and up on your toes. Practice the serve from the service line and then move back.
14) The Power Position means getting the racket elbow lined up with your shoulders. Your front shoulder must be higher than your back shoulder. As you toss the ball continue to lift your tossing arm straight up (almost vertical). Notice how his racket his racket path travels across his chest which will help reduce
shoulder injuries. Then quickly
tuck the ball toss arm into your chest and bring the racket
elbow up as you swing the racket into contact.
a) Once you are in the Power Position quickly tuck your tossing
arm into your chest. This keeps your shoulders from rotating
too soon...you want to stay sideways as long as possible. Try to
get your tossing arm fully extended (close to vertical). At this
point the tossing arm is QUICKLY tucked into your chest as
you jump into the court. This quick motion not only adds power
to the serve but also brings your front shoulder DOWN and
your back shoulder UP (along with the racket elbow)..this is
the shoulder-over-shoulder rotation that we want in our serve.
This video shows the tossing arm being tucked into the chest which prevents the body from over rotating.
b) A good service rhythm may involve bouncing the ball first
and then transferring your weight from your back foot to
your front foot.
c) Learning the serve in 5 steps: including the power position,
pronation and the finish.
15) a) Advance players develop a racket take back motion to gain
more rhythm and power in their serve.
b) Focus on the two minute mark of this video.
The player starts his racket in the "salute position". He then
moves the racket from right to left letting it drop behind his
head (like combing your hair with the racket). He quickly
brings his elbow upwards which increases the racket drop.
He then fully extends his racket arm upwards to hit the ball
("high-five the ball"). The rest of the video demonstrates
advanced service techniques.
c) Advance players develop a "lag" in their racket-take-back which
sets up the right-to-left racket motion for the racket drop.
16) Footwork for proper Weight Transfer and Balance.
Start with your weight on the front foot and transfer to the
backfoot and then toss the ball AS YOU TRANSFER your
weight back to your front foot. Bend your knees and get up
on your toes with your weight evenly distributed for balance.
a) Service rhythm starts off SLOW with the body rotating
as a UNIT away from the net. Your head also rotates away
from the net as your eyes turn UPWARD. As you release the
ball, bend the knees while keeping the front shoulder HIGHER
than the back shoulder. This is the Power Position.
17) What do ALL top tennis players do in their service motion?
a) Each gets up on their toes which allows them to jump into
the court. Notice that each player lands inside the baseline.
Video showing player up on his toes as he bends the knees.
b) Their hips move inside the baseline with knees bent with
their butt pushed forward and chest opens up to the sky.
c) Each gets into the Power Position by getting their front
shoulder higher than their back shoulder. They also turn
their shoulders and hips away from the net.
d) Their racket path is a right-to-left motion to let the racket
drop behind their head (like combing your hair).
e) From the power position a shoulder-over-shoulder rotation
takes place. The back shoulder (and racket arm) travels from
being lower than the front shoulder to being higher than the
front shoulder as the racket makes contact with the ball.
Video of Federer making a shoulder-over-shoulder rotation.
This shoulder-over-shoulder rotation actually begins with the
tossing arm. Watch Federer as he quickly tucks his tossing
arm into his chest which forces his back shoulder (and racket
arm) to travel from a lower position to a higher position as his
racket makes contact with the ball.
f) Their ball toss is high and inside the baseline. Their tossing
arm is fully extended vertically but then is quickly tucked
into their chest as the racket arm elbow explodes up and out.
g) They jump into the court and finish with their back foot and
leg kicking upwards so as to maintain balance on the landing.
h) Video of server with chest open to the sky. This results in the
racket path going across his chest which will help reduce
shoulder injuries. This video explains how:
Reducing shoulder injury on the serve by opening the chest.
i) This video shows the pronation that occurs during the serve.
Slow motion video is needed because it happens so quickly.
a) This video shows drills for pronation and leg drive.
b) This video explains how to pronate using the forearm rotation.
j) Racket drop for the serve. Note a the 7 minute mark the
discussion of the tucking of the ball toss arm and the
shoulder-over-shoulder rotation helps create the racket drop.
9) This drill exaggerates keeping the tossing arm UP. Then work
on getting your tossing arm quickly tucked into your chest
as your racket arm elbow explodes up and out into the court.
A similar drill is to serve the ball from a spot closer to the back
fence. To get the ball over the net you must have a high ball
toss with a fully extended ball toss arm and then hit up and out.
10) a) Using your front foot and back foot to jump into the court for
more power on your serve.
b) Use your legs to generate power in the serve. Top players toss
the ball into the court while bending their legs and getting up
on their toes. Transfer your weight to the front foot but the
back foot leaves the ground first.
11) Use a good shoulder turn to improve your service POWER.
As you bend your knees, turn your shoulders away from the
net and push your hips out into the court.
12) Knees bend first, then hips pushed into the court and then
shoulders rotate away from the net. Get your front shoulder
higher than your back shoulder to complete the POWER
POSITION. The service motion starts when the extended
tossing arm is quickly tucked into the chest.
13) a) How to move your hips into the court as you raise your
tossing arm to the vertical to get into the power position.
b) The importance of leading with your racket elbow to get
more power into the serve. The racket is moved from right
to left in back of the head (comb your hair). After the racket
drop, get the elbow to the same level as your racket hand.
Then move your elbow UP and OUTWARD towards the net.
c) This video shows the importance of the power position and
leading with your racket elbow upwards and outward.
d) At the 4:30 mark of this video, note how the racket shoulder
is the last part of the body to come down after pronation.
14) Teaching how to push the hips over the baseline by first
bending the knees parallel to the baseline. This instructor
should have used shadow strokes and slowed the motion down.
15) Get your serve into the Power Position (Trophy Position):
Ball toss INTO the court with tossing arm vertical.
PUSH your hips into the court with the knee bend.
Get the front shoulder HIGHER than the back shoulder.
Weight is transferred to the front foot as chest opens up.
16) To get more service power, get into the Power Position:
With your front shoulder higher than your back shoulder,
quickly lead your elbow (of your racket arm) up and out
into the court while quickly pulling your tossing arm down
and tucking it into your chest.
17) a) Progression for learning the Kick Serve
c) Learning the KICK serve...step by step.
d) Learning how to get topspin on your KICK serve.
Make sure you have looked at the BALL TOSS videos before continuing.
B) Advanced service techniques:
1) The difference between a flat serve and a slice serve
2) Keeping the tossing arm UP allows time for the racket drop.
So allow your tossing arm to continue to the vertical position.
New players can start with the racket in the "selfie" or ''salute"
position. The racket drop occurs by letting the elbow of your
racket arm come UP.
3) Learning the correct technique can be done at home: Practice
"shadow strokes" for the serve, volley, forehand and backhand.
4a) Advanced players let their tossing arm continue to the vertical
as they transfer their weight to the front foot and their hips
move out into the court.
b) Swivel on the front foot as you step into the court.
5 a) The racket-arm path: the palm is down as you make a right-
to-left motion over your head into the racket drop position.
The ELBOW explodes up and out into contact with the ball.
b) Analysis of Roger Federer's serve in Detail.
c) Slow Motion analysis of Federer's serve
d) Federer serving without his racket...REALLY!
e) Mastering the Kick Serve
6) Now in Slow Motion: note the racket-arm path is palm down
followed by the right-to-left motion over the head into the
racket drop position. The hips slide into the court as the elbow
explodes UP and OUT into contact.
7) Advanced players develop a consistent service motion.
Note that each server starts with the weight on the front foot
which is then transferred to the back foot. The ball is tossed
into the court as the weight is returned to the front foot while
the knees bend and the hips are tilted into the court.
8) To get a good racket drop, move your racket from right to
left in back of your head (comb your hair). After the racket
drop, get the elbow to the same level as your racket hand and
then move your elbow UP and OUTWARD toward the net.
9) The Power Position: move your hips into the court and make
sure your front shoulder is HIGHER than the back shoulder.
10) Get your serve into the Power Postion (Trophy Position):
a) Ball toss INTO the court with tossing arm vertical.
b) Bend the knees as you PUSH your hips into the court.
c) Get the front shoulder HIGHER than the back shoulder.
d) Weight is transferred to the front foot as chest opens up.
3) The POWER POSITION in stop motion: Ball toss into the
court, hips move into the court, front shoulder higher than the
back shoulder. Elbow leads UPWARDS to get the racket drop.
4) The continuous serve drill to improve racket drop and service
rhythm.
5) Serve procession drills with NO words.
6) Eliminate the "patty cake" serve by keeping the palm DOWN.
7) Eliminate the "waiters serve" by keeping the palm DOWN
and let the racket drop behind your head.
8) The UPWARD pitch of the racket arm to FULL extension.
9) Open the chest UPWARDS as you BEND the knees.
This helps to get the racket drop. Explode upwards leading
with the ELBOW to FULL extension at contact with the ball.
10a) As the racket drops then lead with the elbow UPWARDS
and FORWARD.
10b) Pronation: Rotating both the forearm and the SHOULDER.
11) Crack the Whip: The racket arm and grip must be super
loose: like Spaghetti
Note: Tossing arm goes from vertical to TUCKED position.
12) Look at the previous video again. Notice the "abbreviated
motion" of the racket. This may help to simplify your serve.
Click here to see the details of this "Abbreviated Motion"
13) The "Cylinder Drill": Simplify the service motion
14) Swing path and body orientation for the SECOND serve
D) Tips and Drills for Improving Your Serve:
1) Aways watch your racket MAKE CONTACT with the BALL.
2) Practice throwing a ball to develop the service motion
3) Important DRILLS for improving the serve
4) Rotate shoulders to align with your front foot and then
position the front shoulder higher than the back shoulder.
5) The TIMING for each part of the serve progession
6) Increase Power by pushing FRONT HIP into the court and
feel the stretch in your side
7) ROLL the HIPS into the court and underneath contact point
8) Excellent Slow-Motion of the key parts to the serve
9) The Sonic Serve by Nick Bollettieri
10) Tennis Channel: Best of Serve Instruction Videos
11) Practice getting the "FEEL" of the stretch as the front
shoulder moves HIGHER than the back shoulder.
12) The "Serve Doctor": Lead with an upward moving elbow and
pronate by ROTATING the forearm/elbow.
13) Tips for improving your serve
14) Preventing injury when pronating
E) PRONATION: Advanced Serve Technique
1) Lead with the "EDGE" of the racket.
2) Serve Progression: Pronation (Ryan of Colorado Tennis)
For beginners start in the Salute position and then comb the
hair.
3) Jeff S. Serve Progression
5) Ryan of Colorado Tennis: Pronation
6) Pronation Simplied: Elbow Up and out in Front (Ryan)
7) Pronation Practice
8) Wrist Snap Versus Pronation
9) Seven Pronation Drills
10) Pronation Progression
11) Changing Serve Direction using Pronation (Roddick)
12) Pronation in Slow Motion
13) Nick Bollatteri teaches Pronation
F) 1) How to avoid hitting the ball into the net
2) How to avoid hitting the ball long (beyond the service line)
3) Getting in and out of the "back scratch" position.
4) As the hips move outward the CHEST OPENS UP
5) Excellent Serve Progression
6) Serve lesson by Steve Smith
7) The platform stance and the pin point stance.
8) Service Motion from Ryan of Colorado Tennis)
G) 1) Classic Service Motion
3) Practicing the Service Motion
4) Practicing the pin point stance
5) UP on your toes as your KNEES BEND
6) When do you BEND the KNEES on your serve
7) 7 Step Serve Progression (by Feel Tennis Instruction)
H) 1) Service elbow explodes UP and OUT
2) Rotate the shoulders and open the palm at the ball release.
3) The Cobra Serve
4) Moving the service hand further down on the racket
5) Decrease shoulder STRESS: Rotate the head up and away
from the net.
6) Ryan of Colorado Tennis: Short Serve Progression
I)
I) Getting the racket arm ready to serve: The Trophy Position.
J) Lifting the forearm/elbow allows the racket to drop.
K) Advanced Serve Technique: Bend the Knees, Up On Your
Toes, Jump into the Court.
L) Overview of all the Serve Steps: The Kinetic Chain
N) Note: KNEE BEND and full extension of the ball-toss-arm as
the eyes look STRAIGHT UP at the ball.
O) 1) Advanced Serve Technique: Pronation
2) Service Motion from Ryan of Colorado Tennis)
3) Serve Progression: Pronation (Ryan of Colorado Tennis)
4) Jeff S. Serve Progression
5) Ryan of Colorado Tennis: Pronation
6) Pronation Simplied: Elbow Up and out in Front (Ryan)
7) Pronation Practice
8) Wrist Snap Versus Pronation
9) Seven Pronation Drills
10) Pronation Progression
11) Changing Serve Direction using Pronation (Roddick)
12) Pronation in Slow Motion
13) Nick Bollatteri teaches Pronation
P) Pronation is used on ALL TYPES of serves.
Q) The Three Serves: Flat, Kick and the Slice serve.
1) The (top spin) KICK serve: A second serve option.
a) The KICK serve in slow motion.
b) Coaching tips for the kick serve.
c) Kick Serve: Keep elbow back and the body sideways.
d) Drill to develop Kick Serve
2) The Three Serves: Tossing Motion
S) Overview of the Tennis Serve
T) Bending the legs and leading with the hips.
U) Warwrinka Serve (Note both arms come up together)
V) Pat Rafter Serve (Note the knee bend at the beginning and chest
opens up.)
x) Djokovic Serve: Front hip moves into the court during knee
bend and ELBOW moves upward to create racket drop.
Y) Roddick Serve:Weight transfers to front foot and up on the toes.
Z) Nadal Service Motion
2) Andy Murray Slow Motion Serve (Note the hip moving into the
court and underneath the ball)
3) Roger Federer forehand and serve in slow motion
4) Serving down the T from the AD side
5) Serving down the T from the DEUCE side
d) Learning how to get topspin on your KICK serve.
B) Advanced service techniques:
1) The difference between a flat serve and a slice serve
2) Keeping the tossing arm UP allows time for the racket drop.
So allow your tossing arm to continue to the vertical position.
New players can start with the racket in the "selfie" or ''salute"
position. The racket drop occurs by letting the elbow of your
racket arm come UP.
3) Learning the correct technique can be done at home: Practice
"shadow strokes" for the serve, volley, forehand and backhand.
4a) Advanced players let their tossing arm continue to the vertical
as they transfer their weight to the front foot and their hips
move out into the court.
b) Swivel on the front foot as you step into the court.
5 a) The racket-arm path: the palm is down as you make a right-
to-left motion over your head into the racket drop position.
The ELBOW explodes up and out into contact with the ball.
b) Analysis of Roger Federer's serve in Detail.
c) Slow Motion analysis of Federer's serve
d) Federer serving without his racket...REALLY!
e) Mastering the Kick Serve
6) Now in Slow Motion: note the racket-arm path is palm down
followed by the right-to-left motion over the head into the
racket drop position. The hips slide into the court as the elbow
explodes UP and OUT into contact.
7) Advanced players develop a consistent service motion.
Note that each server starts with the weight on the front foot
which is then transferred to the back foot. The ball is tossed
into the court as the weight is returned to the front foot while
the knees bend and the hips are tilted into the court.
8) To get a good racket drop, move your racket from right to
left in back of your head (comb your hair). After the racket
drop, get the elbow to the same level as your racket hand and
then move your elbow UP and OUTWARD toward the net.
9) The Power Position: move your hips into the court and make
sure your front shoulder is HIGHER than the back shoulder.
10) Get your serve into the Power Postion (Trophy Position):
a) Ball toss INTO the court with tossing arm vertical.
b) Bend the knees as you PUSH your hips into the court.
c) Get the front shoulder HIGHER than the back shoulder.
d) Weight is transferred to the front foot as chest opens up.
12) Serve Progression: Pronation (Ryan of Colorado Tennis)
For beginners start in the Salute position and then comb the
hair.
13) Review of the serve progression
14) Change the racket angle to direct your serve to a spot.
15) Best of "Tennis Channel" videos on the Serve.
C) Working to IMPROVE your serve:
1) Keep the ball-hand and racket-hand together as you rotate
the body AWAY from the net: Called the Unit Turn.
2) a) Stay sideways and finish sideways on the second serve.
b) Stay sideways as long as possible for the topspin serve.
c) Stay sideways and pronate on your second serve.
d) Ball toss location for the second serve
e) Keeping the body sideways on your second serve
f) More info on the second serve sideways motion
For beginners start in the Salute position and then comb the
hair.
13) Review of the serve progression
14) Change the racket angle to direct your serve to a spot.
15) Best of "Tennis Channel" videos on the Serve.
C) Working to IMPROVE your serve:
1) Keep the ball-hand and racket-hand together as you rotate
the body AWAY from the net: Called the Unit Turn.
2) a) Stay sideways and finish sideways on the second serve.
b) Stay sideways as long as possible for the topspin serve.
c) Stay sideways and pronate on your second serve.
d) Ball toss location for the second serve
e) Keeping the body sideways on your second serve
f) More info on the second serve sideways motion
3) The POWER POSITION in stop motion: Ball toss into the
court, hips move into the court, front shoulder higher than the
back shoulder. Elbow leads UPWARDS to get the racket drop.
4) The continuous serve drill to improve racket drop and service
rhythm.
5) Serve procession drills with NO words.
6) Eliminate the "patty cake" serve by keeping the palm DOWN.
7) Eliminate the "waiters serve" by keeping the palm DOWN
and let the racket drop behind your head.
8) The UPWARD pitch of the racket arm to FULL extension.
9) Open the chest UPWARDS as you BEND the knees.
This helps to get the racket drop. Explode upwards leading
with the ELBOW to FULL extension at contact with the ball.
10a) As the racket drops then lead with the elbow UPWARDS
and FORWARD.
10b) Pronation: Rotating both the forearm and the SHOULDER.
11) Crack the Whip: The racket arm and grip must be super
loose: like Spaghetti
Note: Tossing arm goes from vertical to TUCKED position.
12) Look at the previous video again. Notice the "abbreviated
motion" of the racket. This may help to simplify your serve.
Click here to see the details of this "Abbreviated Motion"
13) The "Cylinder Drill": Simplify the service motion
14) Swing path and body orientation for the SECOND serve
D) Tips and Drills for Improving Your Serve:
1) Aways watch your racket MAKE CONTACT with the BALL.
2) Practice throwing a ball to develop the service motion
3) Important DRILLS for improving the serve
4) Rotate shoulders to align with your front foot and then
position the front shoulder higher than the back shoulder.
5) The TIMING for each part of the serve progession
6) Increase Power by pushing FRONT HIP into the court and
feel the stretch in your side
7) ROLL the HIPS into the court and underneath contact point
8) Excellent Slow-Motion of the key parts to the serve
9) The Sonic Serve by Nick Bollettieri
10) Tennis Channel: Best of Serve Instruction Videos
11) Practice getting the "FEEL" of the stretch as the front
shoulder moves HIGHER than the back shoulder.
12) The "Serve Doctor": Lead with an upward moving elbow and
pronate by ROTATING the forearm/elbow.
13) Tips for improving your serve
14) Preventing injury when pronating
E) PRONATION: Advanced Serve Technique
1) Lead with the "EDGE" of the racket.
2) Serve Progression: Pronation (Ryan of Colorado Tennis)
For beginners start in the Salute position and then comb the
hair.
3) Jeff S. Serve Progression
5) Ryan of Colorado Tennis: Pronation
6) Pronation Simplied: Elbow Up and out in Front (Ryan)
7) Pronation Practice
8) Wrist Snap Versus Pronation
9) Seven Pronation Drills
10) Pronation Progression
11) Changing Serve Direction using Pronation (Roddick)
12) Pronation in Slow Motion
13) Nick Bollatteri teaches Pronation
F) 1) How to avoid hitting the ball into the net
2) How to avoid hitting the ball long (beyond the service line)
3) Getting in and out of the "back scratch" position.
4) As the hips move outward the CHEST OPENS UP
5) Excellent Serve Progression
6) Serve lesson by Steve Smith
7) The platform stance and the pin point stance.
8) Service Motion from Ryan of Colorado Tennis)
G) 1) Classic Service Motion
3) Practicing the Service Motion
4) Practicing the pin point stance
5) UP on your toes as your KNEES BEND
6) When do you BEND the KNEES on your serve
7) 7 Step Serve Progression (by Feel Tennis Instruction)
H) 1) Service elbow explodes UP and OUT
2) Rotate the shoulders and open the palm at the ball release.
3) The Cobra Serve
4) Moving the service hand further down on the racket
5) Decrease shoulder STRESS: Rotate the head up and away
from the net.
6) Ryan of Colorado Tennis: Short Serve Progression
I)
I) Getting the racket arm ready to serve: The Trophy Position.
J) Lifting the forearm/elbow allows the racket to drop.
K) Advanced Serve Technique: Bend the Knees, Up On Your
Toes, Jump into the Court.
L) Overview of all the Serve Steps: The Kinetic Chain
N) Note: KNEE BEND and full extension of the ball-toss-arm as
the eyes look STRAIGHT UP at the ball.
O) 1) Advanced Serve Technique: Pronation
2) Service Motion from Ryan of Colorado Tennis)
3) Serve Progression: Pronation (Ryan of Colorado Tennis)
4) Jeff S. Serve Progression
5) Ryan of Colorado Tennis: Pronation
6) Pronation Simplied: Elbow Up and out in Front (Ryan)
7) Pronation Practice
8) Wrist Snap Versus Pronation
9) Seven Pronation Drills
10) Pronation Progression
11) Changing Serve Direction using Pronation (Roddick)
12) Pronation in Slow Motion
13) Nick Bollatteri teaches Pronation
P) Pronation is used on ALL TYPES of serves.
Q) The Three Serves: Flat, Kick and the Slice serve.
1) The (top spin) KICK serve: A second serve option.
a) The KICK serve in slow motion.
b) Coaching tips for the kick serve.
c) Kick Serve: Keep elbow back and the body sideways.
d) Drill to develop Kick Serve
2) The Three Serves: Tossing Motion
S) Overview of the Tennis Serve
T) Bending the legs and leading with the hips.
U) Warwrinka Serve (Note both arms come up together)
V) Pat Rafter Serve (Note the knee bend at the beginning and chest
opens up.)
x) Djokovic Serve: Front hip moves into the court during knee
bend and ELBOW moves upward to create racket drop.
Y) Roddick Serve:Weight transfers to front foot and up on the toes.
Z) Nadal Service Motion
2) Andy Murray Slow Motion Serve (Note the hip moving into the
court and underneath the ball)
3) Roger Federer forehand and serve in slow motion
4) Serving down the T from the AD side
5) Serving down the T from the DEUCE side
No comments:
Post a Comment