View Full Version : Andy Rodick serve= left foot small step backward, not right foot step forward
Andy Rodick's slow motion video showed his left foot step backward, not the usual right foot step forward behind front foot on serve motion.
End result is the same pin point base for push up.
Any comment on this small backward step?
Who else step backward?
http://www.tennisplayer.net/public/strokearchive/strokearchive_sample_archive.html?AR1stSAdFront1.m ov
Notice the small left foot backward on slow motion.
Bungalo Bill
06-02-2008, 07:54 AM
http://www.tennisplayer.net/public/strokearchive/strokearchive_sample_archive.html?AR1stSAdFront1.m ov
Notice the small left foot backward on slow motion.
Backward? I didnt see backward. I saw forward or a step in front of his body.
I need to ask this before we dive into the obscurities of a serve that doesn't really matter.
Why are we concerned with this? This is the least important part of Roddicks entire serve motion. Is it just curiosity? Do you think it is going to add another 20mph to your serve? I am not flaming you, so put away the fire extinguisher. Just asking the question.
The area of the stance that you should be looking at is how Roddick uses is his tremendous pushoff that sends energy up his body and into the ball. YOu can see it start from his knee bend and the bend in his toes along with a spring off the ground from the balls of his feet. This is what is lacking in a lot of serves posted here. I see the knee bend, but the energy from it disappears.
The rest of Roddick's motion accelerates into contact.
Look at his front foot carefully.
Some people (most people) get into pin point stance by moving back foot forward.
Few people get into pin point stance by moving front foot backward ( I for one).
Just for my own sake of peace of mind to say it is all right to move front foot back a little bit to get into pin point stance.
Bungalo Bill
06-02-2008, 11:39 AM
Look at his front foot carefully.
Some people (most people) get into pin point stance by moving back foot forward.
Few people get into pin point stance by moving front foot backward ( I for one).
Just for my own sake of peace of mind to say it is all right to move front foot back a little bit to get into pin point stance.
Okay, I see what you mean. He is actually moving his foot slightly forward when comparing the toe line. He is also bringing it back if you are comparing the position of the insole of the left foot.
Is that what you mean?
Yes, moving the front foot on an angle back to the back foot is definetly in the minority. I find that people who used to play baseball (like pitchers) often will move their frot foot instead of their back foot.
As far as it being wrong or right? I dont like the foot coming forward (not like Roddicks) in that I believe it robs you of power and it increases the chance of foot faults. That is my opinion however and not scientifically proven.
However, the way Roddick is moving his foot (although it is the front foot) places him in a "pinpoint" stance, which he obviously generates a lot of ground pressure just by looking at the flexibility in his toes.
I dont see a problem with it. Again, both the platform and the pinpoint are preferences.
It is a very good point you made that baseball pitcher turn tennis player will have a tendency to pivot front hip, draw front foot back a little bit into the pin point stance for push off.
That is how I move. Definitely in the minority.
Bungalo Bill
06-02-2008, 01:42 PM
It is a very good point you made that baseball pitcher turn tennis player will have a tendency to pivot front hip, draw front foot back a little bit into the pin point stance for push off.
That is how I move. Definitely in the minority.
Yes, several friends of mine (x-baseball pitchers) who learned the serve have a step forward with the front foot serve motion often leading to foot faults. I for some reason find doing that more awkward then bringing the back foot forward to the pinpoint stance.
It might just be me though.
BullDogTennis
06-02-2008, 03:08 PM
dude, bill...you've seen my serve videos...do you think this is why I move my front foot, bc I played baseball before tennis ( I played baseball for like 9 years)
Bungalo Bill
06-02-2008, 03:21 PM
dude, bill...you've seen my serve videos...do you think this is why I move my front foot, bc I played baseball before tennis ( I played baseball for like 9 years)
Could be. I really dont know if the correlation of baseball playing and moving the forward foot is actually positive. It was just my experience with the few people I have met that played baseball.
BullDogTennis
06-02-2008, 04:52 PM
It sounds like its very possible because all those years catching and stepping into the throw
rhaber
06-03-2008, 05:23 PM
If you watch Federer's serve from the side in the USTA player development video section he also slightly shuffles the front foot back from the service line.
Quasar
06-03-2008, 08:18 PM
Could be. I really dont know if the correlation of baseball playing and moving the forward foot is actually positive. It was just my experience with the few people I have met that played baseball.
People playing baseball step forward with the front foot and this guy is talking Roddick stepping backward with the front foot. They are unrelated.
m1stuhxsp4rk5
06-03-2008, 08:20 PM
maybe he steps back to make sure he doesnt foot fault
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