There are many ways to play this game, many ways to hit the ball, and truly many ways to use your legs when serving.
The USTA has an 8 stage model of the serve – which finishes with a pronounced back leg kick (featuring Andy Roddick, the previous model was Maria Sharapova)
But what of Serena’s serve, the acknowledged best ever single stroke in the history of women’s tennis
To my eye the difference is whether one’s energy is going up toward the ball, or moving forward into the court. And the more you move up the less the leg kick and the more you move (or perhaps lurch) forward the higher the resulting leg kick. The question, “Can you put your body weight into the serve, and if so in which direction?”
I think you have it right with the concept of serving in a box. Saw Roscoe Tanner serve on a scale once. His weight doubled even though he did not elevate at all. The weight fires down so the hand and shoulders can go up. There is a recoil off the ground after contact.
Don – thank you, I want to try and do a comparison between say Pancho and Roscoe compared with Pete and Roger and the “growth” of the serve if that is in fact apt. best Jim
Didn’t Gonzales and Tanner both serve faster than Sampras and Federer? Would still be an interesting comparison anyway. And, of course, faster is not necessarily better.
Don
I am working on just this – maybe even an article or seminar
somehow then the serve was about the arm action – rhythm and range of motion
now it is about how to use the ground – sometimes even the arm is an afterthought
no clear answer
but will be fun to prospect
I played against Roscoe in an exo and was in a tournament with Pancho in Florida
Lots of water under this bridge
Jim
6 Comments
Donald McDonald
February 4, 2019I think you have it right with the concept of serving in a box. Saw Roscoe Tanner serve on a scale once. His weight doubled even though he did not elevate at all. The weight fires down so the hand and shoulders can go up. There is a recoil off the ground after contact.
Jim McLennan
February 7, 2019Don – thank you, I want to try and do a comparison between say Pancho and Roscoe compared with Pete and Roger and the “growth” of the serve if that is in fact apt. best Jim
Donald McDonald
February 14, 2019Didn’t Gonzales and Tanner both serve faster than Sampras and Federer? Would still be an interesting comparison anyway. And, of course, faster is not necessarily better.
Jim McLennan
February 14, 2019Don
I am working on just this – maybe even an article or seminar
somehow then the serve was about the arm action – rhythm and range of motion
now it is about how to use the ground – sometimes even the arm is an afterthought
no clear answer
but will be fun to prospect
I played against Roscoe in an exo and was in a tournament with Pancho in Florida
Lots of water under this bridge
Jim
Larry Weeks
February 4, 2019At my age – mid 50s – with a weaker left knee – jumping can be tough. Even “going up” push wise is a challenge sometimes so I fall to the left.
Jim McLennan
February 4, 2019Larry
shoot me a short video of your serve – this is not about jumping but more about centered balance – at any age and with any kind of knees
Jin
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