It looks like a second serve. Ergo the hips somewhat closed. Plus, he finishes closer to the baseline than almost every other male pro! The illustration has him doin a Djok landing x5′ into the court 🙂
Be well, good stuff.
Joe – a good question – and the answer is just a hunch – Sampras had a bit more whip at the top of the hit and somehow the serve came off the court “heavier” – and often in videos I would see that Agassi would not even react to some of Pete’s serves, unless that meant Andre was leaning one way or the other – but as regards rhythm and balance Roger is close to Pete – best Jim
Thank you Jim and Jim! Been looking for something like this for a long time that illustrates the the progressive movement and mechanics of the modern serve. Videos are always great, but even at their slowest speed, it’s still difficult to clearly see the various parts and stages of the serve from start to finish. The photo along with the clear explanation of the serve’s progression using Rogers movements is going to help a LOT of folks in the tennis community who’ve been struggling with their serve, and especially those trying to migrate from the ‘old serve’ that goes back to the sixties that many are still using! Great work and thank you for posting!
The photos do not show what Federer does before he tosses the ball. There are many videos of Federer with his weight forward before he tosses the ball. He rocks back and then forward to toss.
12 Comments
ken brophy
August 21, 2020It looks like a second serve. Ergo the hips somewhat closed. Plus, he finishes closer to the baseline than almost every other male pro! The illustration has him doin a Djok landing x5′ into the court 🙂
Be well, good stuff.
Jim McLennan
September 22, 2020Thanks – a question is how sometimes Fed lands on the baseline and other times into the court, but not always on serve and volley – what do you think?
Giuseppe Tripodi
August 17, 2020Hi Jim hope you keeping well. Is the perfect serve one segment is wrong . Thanks
Jim McLennan
September 22, 2020I am not sure what you mean, but certainly there are variations in how players serve the ball
CARL VALENTINO
August 16, 2020Great sequence of photos
Noted toss with weight on back foot, never thought about that.
Now I know what to copy.
Jim McLennan
September 22, 2020Thank you!
Jlee
August 15, 2020Is there significant difference vs Sampras?
Jim McLennan
September 22, 2020Joe – a good question – and the answer is just a hunch – Sampras had a bit more whip at the top of the hit and somehow the serve came off the court “heavier” – and often in videos I would see that Agassi would not even react to some of Pete’s serves, unless that meant Andre was leaning one way or the other – but as regards rhythm and balance Roger is close to Pete – best Jim
Esdubya
August 15, 2020Thank you Jim and Jim! Been looking for something like this for a long time that illustrates the the progressive movement and mechanics of the modern serve. Videos are always great, but even at their slowest speed, it’s still difficult to clearly see the various parts and stages of the serve from start to finish. The photo along with the clear explanation of the serve’s progression using Rogers movements is going to help a LOT of folks in the tennis community who’ve been struggling with their serve, and especially those trying to migrate from the ‘old serve’ that goes back to the sixties that many are still using! Great work and thank you for posting!
Jim McLennan
September 22, 2020Thanks for this encouraging note – Jim
Francis
August 15, 2020Hi Jim,
The photos do not show what Federer does before he tosses the ball. There are many videos of Federer with his weight forward before he tosses the ball. He rocks back and then forward to toss.
Francis
Jim McLennan
September 22, 2020Yes – but sometimes the smallest elements may be about personal style – Jim
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