Jim, My thoughts triggered by your June 26, 2019 comments on Federer’s serve. Yes, yes and yes. I have a comment on how the serve’s “throwing motion” is commonly taught. The serve is commonly likened to a baseball pitcher’s throw toward the strike zone.
In my opinion, not enough emphasis has been placed on throwing the baseball UP instead of forward. You are the only coach who ever mentioned it in your comment on “. . . throw the dart at the ceiling . . .”. Instead, I would say to throw the ball straight up into the air as if it were a pop fly.
I’ve finally decided on a service motion after being a re-entry tennis player for the past 4 years. I try to use a low toss, a compact swing, and a lag in the ball toss like Kevin Curren. My swing is compact like a shortstop or second baseman’s throw. I cock my swinging arm by my right ear and swing the racquet UPWARD like a shortstop throwing a ball for pop fly practice. I use a smaller knee bend and try to abruptly, sharply launch upward off the back leg like Federer and try to time it to load my shoulder like Andy Roddick.
Like everyone else, I have gone to a lighter racquet. I use a Babolat Pure Drive lead-taped to 13.5 oz., and balanced at the midpoint. Zero points headlight, strung with 17 ga. VS natural gut at 50 lbs. I call it The Trampoline.
Northern California teaching pro John Yandell had a thread on his message board discussing The Roscoe Tanner Serve. The general opinion was that a low ball toss was not a good idea. I’m of the opinion that a perfect, to the sweet spot ball toss makes for a better (not necessarily perfect) serve. Someone should sponsor a ball toss contest, like they have serving contests. You could have it in your living room.
Sincerely, Steve k
Steve – 25 years ago most of the pros used the “lowish” toss – and unfortunately I registered a doubles exhibition loss to Roscoe in Florida years ago – but somehow we are seeing things similarly
best
Jim
Hi Jim – good video and spot on analysis, I think. I also have a struggle with the turning and tossing at the same time. It seems to be so easy with Fed, but in reality ( in matches with some tension) its not so easy. How ever, I work on the platform stand and the correct turn, because I think its the most stabil/reliable way to serve ???. Best Karsten
Karsten – I continue to work on elements of the serve – how the pros have some elements in common but truly how effortless and rhythmic Federer makes everything look – I hope to create a template of sorts for chidden (or adults) to adopt that creates his look and feel – best Jim
Hi Jim
I look forward to your notes as I still lose power in the throwing/ pronation/ wrist flick to see watch face action
Your insights are still the best
Allan
Allen – it might be that the height or placement of your toss interrupts your rhythm and robs you of power – sometimes without a ball make the racquet swish on the serve, and then toss to that spot with an actual ball – every now and then this works – Jim
1 Holds ball with the racket down by his thigh
2 Has the ball between the second and third finger
3 Realeases the toss with a straight arm and head looking into the sky
4 puts the weight onto the back foot
5 bend his knees so it gets him into the net
queries
1 If you put the ball in the palm of your hand the toss will go all over the place
2 Pros use Cone
3 bewteen 2nd and third finger
4 whiskey pose (arch your thumb and first finger )
Bernard – I am not sure about your queries – but think those are elements of his stye rather than mechanics – and it may be the the height and location of the toss matters most – certainly at our club errant tosses appear more often with rushed tossing motions – best Jim
I must have missed this video. I always have trouble with weight tranfer.
I hope this video will help.You Are a GREAT TEACHER. Thanks for the advice.
Second thought, I know this will solve the problem- Dave the next “GREAT
Federer” in Marquette MI. I need to take another one of your courses.Which
one should I take on the plate form serve like Federer?
14 Comments
Steve k
August 11, 2019Jim, My thoughts triggered by your June 26, 2019 comments on Federer’s serve. Yes, yes and yes. I have a comment on how the serve’s “throwing motion” is commonly taught. The serve is commonly likened to a baseball pitcher’s throw toward the strike zone.
In my opinion, not enough emphasis has been placed on throwing the baseball UP instead of forward. You are the only coach who ever mentioned it in your comment on “. . . throw the dart at the ceiling . . .”. Instead, I would say to throw the ball straight up into the air as if it were a pop fly.
I’ve finally decided on a service motion after being a re-entry tennis player for the past 4 years. I try to use a low toss, a compact swing, and a lag in the ball toss like Kevin Curren. My swing is compact like a shortstop or second baseman’s throw. I cock my swinging arm by my right ear and swing the racquet UPWARD like a shortstop throwing a ball for pop fly practice. I use a smaller knee bend and try to abruptly, sharply launch upward off the back leg like Federer and try to time it to load my shoulder like Andy Roddick.
Like everyone else, I have gone to a lighter racquet. I use a Babolat Pure Drive lead-taped to 13.5 oz., and balanced at the midpoint. Zero points headlight, strung with 17 ga. VS natural gut at 50 lbs. I call it The Trampoline.
Northern California teaching pro John Yandell had a thread on his message board discussing The Roscoe Tanner Serve. The general opinion was that a low ball toss was not a good idea. I’m of the opinion that a perfect, to the sweet spot ball toss makes for a better (not necessarily perfect) serve. Someone should sponsor a ball toss contest, like they have serving contests. You could have it in your living room.
Sincerely, Steve k
Jim McLennan
August 12, 2019Steve – 25 years ago most of the pros used the “lowish” toss – and unfortunately I registered a doubles exhibition loss to Roscoe in Florida years ago – but somehow we are seeing things similarly
best
Jim
Karsten
June 26, 2019Hi Jim – good video and spot on analysis, I think. I also have a struggle with the turning and tossing at the same time. It seems to be so easy with Fed, but in reality ( in matches with some tension) its not so easy. How ever, I work on the platform stand and the correct turn, because I think its the most stabil/reliable way to serve ???. Best Karsten
Jim McLennan
June 26, 2019Karsten – I continue to work on elements of the serve – how the pros have some elements in common but truly how effortless and rhythmic Federer makes everything look – I hope to create a template of sorts for chidden (or adults) to adopt that creates his look and feel – best Jim
Allan Haines
June 26, 2019Hi Jim
I look forward to your notes as I still lose power in the throwing/ pronation/ wrist flick to see watch face action
Your insights are still the best
Allan
Jim McLennan
June 26, 2019Allen – it might be that the height or placement of your toss interrupts your rhythm and robs you of power – sometimes without a ball make the racquet swish on the serve, and then toss to that spot with an actual ball – every now and then this works – Jim
Bernard McKey
June 25, 2019Excellent video so simplistic
1 Holds ball with the racket down by his thigh
2 Has the ball between the second and third finger
3 Realeases the toss with a straight arm and head looking into the sky
4 puts the weight onto the back foot
5 bend his knees so it gets him into the net
queries
1 If you put the ball in the palm of your hand the toss will go all over the place
2 Pros use Cone
3 bewteen 2nd and third finger
4 whiskey pose (arch your thumb and first finger )
Jim McLennan
June 26, 2019Bernard – I am not sure about your queries – but think those are elements of his stye rather than mechanics – and it may be the the height and location of the toss matters most – certainly at our club errant tosses appear more often with rushed tossing motions – best Jim
Eugenio ovalle
June 25, 2019Jim
The toss is with the palm of the hand facing the sky.
Not the cone which some pros have said
Eugene
Ken Greene
June 25, 2019Nothing wrong with the cone technique, there is less wrist flex
Dave Giddens
June 25, 2019Jim,
I must have missed this video. I always have trouble with weight tranfer.
I hope this video will help.You Are a GREAT TEACHER. Thanks for the advice.
Second thought, I know this will solve the problem- Dave the next “GREAT
Federer” in Marquette MI. I need to take another one of your courses.Which
one should I take on the plate form serve like Federer?
Dave Giddens
Marq. Mi.
Jim McLennan
June 26, 2019Dave – before another “course” send me an email with a video of your serve – let me look
best – Jim
Stephen Davenport
June 25, 2019Very helpful
Will see what i can do with it
Jim McLennan
June 26, 2019Stephen – why not let me see either your before or after with this stuff
best
Jim
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