catch the ball on serve

[mark rodgers]

I've been trying to keep up with advancements in stroke technique and one of the sites I go to is hi-techtennis. When he talks about the serve motion, he says of Federer's slow motion video:

"Federer is going to actually stop on the ball. Hold it for a second. Then pronate and provide torque to the ball. The key here is, just like the forehand, you can't just "swing through" this kick serve. You have to stop on the ball. Hold it or grab it for a second. Then prontate and torque it out to the right. "

Is this right? For me, from full supination to contact, I feel like my racquet head speed is accelerating "through" the ball and then decelerating from impact to pronation, not "stopping" then "torquing" How does anyone "catch" the ball when you're very close to full extension already? If it is true, I would appreciate any feedback on that issue.

 

[fuzz nation]

Yes it's right. Roger keeps a very small time machine under his headband which he uses for this serve and for running down especially nasty drop shots. Can't say for sure whether the patent belongs to Nike and if it does, it's sure to be a major issue to negotiate on those occasional weekends when Rafa will want to borrow it. So far, only one working prototype...

Until one of those is available for the rest of us, choose the proper swingpath and let it fly... you're NOT crazy!

 

[The Gorilla]

I've been trying to keep up with advancements in stroke technique and one of the sites I go to is hi-techtennis. When he talks about the serve motion, he says of Federer's slow motion video:

"Federer is going to actually stop on the ball. Hold it for a second. Then pronate and provide torque to the ball. The key here is, just like the forehand, you can't just "swing through" this kick serve. You have to stop on the ball. Hold it or grab it for a second. Then prontate and torque it out to the right. "

Is this right? For me, from full supination to contact, I feel like my racquet head speed is accelerating "through" the ball and then decelerating from impact to pronation, not "stopping" then "torquing" How does anyone "catch" the ball when you're very close to full extension already? If it is true, I would appreciate any feedback on that issue.

it's wrong, he doesn't catch the ball.It's one continous effort.

 

[drakulie]

It's not meant to be taken literally. I think what he is talking about is pronating at the exact moment of impact, rather than beginning to pronate before impact.

I would suggest you contact the author of that piece, so he could clarify for you exactly what he meant, as we all may be specualting. The guy from hi-tech is really cool, and am sure he won't mind elaborating.

Good luck.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

I have a feeling Drakulie is right. People say all kings of things to get a student to grasp a mental picture they are trying to project of what is basically an internal physical experience.

Having said that, I believe that this "explaination" is likely to confuse and misguide more people than it could ever help.

The other responses, are, basically, correct. The serve shoould be thought of as a continuous, flowing action. There is a point where the foreward momentum of the forearm slows (a bit) which allows the minute, almost imperseptable, wrist action to follow, but basically, the serve should be thought of as one continuous, smooth, arc. Practice, a sense of timing and some experimentation will help you find the point of impact where all these actions come together for the most efficient transfer of power from racket head to ball.