Feet positioning on serve

[chrisab508]

okay,
So when I watch the pros serve, at first they start with their feet kinda wide out (some, not all) and in the middle of the ball toss they bring their right foot (if right handed) in closer to their left and then jump. I don't do this, how vital is it to the serve?

Thanks.

Chris.

[Stitch626]

I dont think it matters at all. Roddick keeps his feet in place and Sampras did this too. Anyone else wanna add to this? In my opinion it is just a preference.

[cantaloupe]

ive tried both stances, each for a year or so. The platform stance(where you don't bring the feet together)requires A LOT of strength in the legs, to be able to do it for an entire 3 set match, its basically doing vertical jumps for 3 sets!!!! It was better for my back because the spine was more in line rather than the twisting motion that is the pinpoint stance. It's also simpler to do, less movement.

the pinpoint stance(one where you bring the feet together) feels better for me. It feels more natural, and i feel like i have better control wheni reach up to the ball. Whereas the platform stance i have to squat before coming up, the pinpoint i basically toss, lower my left leg, step over and push up with my right foot and hit the serve. It doesnt allow as much trunk rotation but im not that coordinated to be able to do that anyway. The main reason why i use the pin point stance is because i can toss the ball more consistantly using this technique, i dunno why maybe because i dont start the serve with my feet alrealy set in place so there's less restrictions to my arm motion (not sure if that makes sense),


i'd be interested in other's opinions tho......

[brijoel]

i personally bring my feet together, but it is only to continue my body weight transfer into the court and i do not stop the motion at any point. it allows me to lean waaaay into the ball and hit a heavier shot as well as better angle. also the more im able to lean in the further i shorten the time my opponent has to react to the ball getting from my racquet to theirs(hopefully just not at all, lol). i used to do the whole fixed foot stance for the longest time because bringing my feet together felt odd. that is till i realized i was essentially bringing my feet together eventually anways once i began to transfer my weight forward. for many players, bringing the feet together while moving through the service motion is difficult to coordinate and is not a good idea for beginers really because most players stop the movement forward instead of understanding it should be a fluid motion with your body weight constantly moving into the ball with a sharp acceleration up to the ball as you are about to hit.

anyways, all my ranting simply means is........if you have trouble coordinating a fluid movement bringing your feet together throughout the serve.....stay with the fixed feet stance, but if you can retain the fluid movement, go for bringing the feet together with a nice kneebend and leaning in as far as comfortably possible. :D


as far as the pros go, their stances were what they generally had drilled into their heads for years and very rarely change their form since it would mean they would have to relearn the stroke. there is something to learn in this actually......if you are comfortable with your stance, and it isnt holding you back..................DONT FIX IT!!! lol. simply hone what you have.

[AndyC]

I've used both myself and it was something I experimented with as a teenager. At that time I decided on the fixed stance and then stopped tennis for some 10 years (uni/work). When I came back to it and had some lessons to get the rust of the game, one of the few things my coach changed was the service stance. Didn't take much to change as I had used it before but I've found it helps me get my weight going forward through the serve and jumping into the court.

I wouldn't say the serve was any faster. The two main benefits to me are I'm serving and volleying better (get to the net faster) and I'm using a lot more legs in the service action leading to a much better second serves (especially kick serves) as well.