physics/science behind pronation

Chenx15 · 03-02-2011, 08:10 AM

I would like to understand the physics behind pronation. i am not sure how it makes the ball stay up and makes it spin to go down. i am doing it on my serves but for the life of me i can't understand the physics behind it. unlike ground strokes the science is pretty much straigh forward. if someone can please show me the physics behind the pronation on a serve it will be greatly appreciated. thank you.

dominikk1985 · 03-02-2011, 08:43 AM

pronation does this:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Only works with a BH grip or conti grip though because it moves the rackethead around the hand and accelerates it. just try at home.

Chenx15 · 03-02-2011, 08:51 AM

how does it make it spin up then down. when i am just observing is slowly and just rolling the ball on the racket i can't seem to understand it.

is there an illustration of the biomechanical movement of the forearm pronation with the racket and a tennis ball?

larry10s · 03-02-2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chenx15

how does it make it spin up then down. when i am just observing is slowly and just rolling the ball on the racket i can't seem to understand it.

is there an illustration of the biomechanical movement of the forearm pronation with the racket and a tennis ball?

brian gordon has a tremendous series of articles on the biomechanics of the serve which discusses this and more
www.tennisplayer.net
you will need to join for a month
when you log in you will see biomechanic on the left click on that and you will get to his articles

dominikk1985 · 03-02-2011, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chenx15

how does it make it spin up then down. when i am just observing is slowly and just rolling the ball on the racket i can't seem to understand it.

is there an illustration of the biomechanical movement of the forearm pronation with the racket and a tennis ball?

It's quite easy:

with a FH grip pronation moves the edge of the racket up this creating topspin on a WW forehand.

with a BH or conti grip on a serve it moves the face forward thus creating ball speed.

larry10s · 03-02-2011, 08:52 AM

what make the ball go up and spin down has to do with bernulli principle and magnus effect and gravity
pronation has to do with the anatomical movement of your forearm
as you approach contact.
if you serve with a continental grip or eastern bh grip you have to pronate some to hit the ball with the strings of the racquet
pronation also adds to racquet head speed which causes the ball to spin faster and allow the physics of ball spin to take over.
hope my abbreviated somewhat simplistic answer helped

toly · 03-02-2011, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chenx15

I would like to understand the physics behind pronation. i am not sure how it makes the ball stay up and makes it spin to go down. i am doing it on my serves but for the life of me i can't understand the physics behind it. unlike ground strokes the science is pretty much straigh forward. if someone can please show me the physics behind the pronation on a serve it will be greatly appreciated. thank you.

About physics behind pronation on a serve you can read thread http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=361610

sureshs · 03-02-2011, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chenx15

I would like to understand the physics behind pronation. i am not sure how it makes the ball stay up and makes it spin to go down. i am doing it on my serves but for the life of me i can't understand the physics behind it. unlike ground strokes the science is pretty much straigh forward. if someone can please show me the physics behind the pronation on a serve it will be greatly appreciated. thank you.

If you try to hit a ball with a conti grip and swing the racquet on edge, what should theoretically happen? You would hammer the ball with the frame. The fact that you don't is because of pronation.

Chenx15 · 03-02-2011, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sureshs

If you try to hit a ball with a conti grip and swing the racquet on edge, what should theoretically happen? You would hammer the ball with the frame. The fact that you don't is because of pronation.

I understand that, the ball should be moving sideways instead of up and down. because pronation is a horizontal brush instead of vertical

sureshs · 03-02-2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chenx15

I understand that, the ball should be moving sideways instead of up and down. because pronation is a horizontal brush instead of vertical

Now imagine how you would hit a flat serve with a conti grip.

toly · 03-02-2011, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chenx15

I understand that, the ball should be moving sideways instead of up and down. because pronation is a horizontal brush instead of vertical

If you use continental grip and keep the wrist in neutral position during impact, pronation cannot produce brushing motion at all. But, wrist ulnar deviation can create topspin, sidespin etc.

Manus Domini · 03-02-2011, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toly

If you use continental grip and keep the wrist in neutral position during impact, pronation cannot produce brushing motion at all. But, wrist ulnar deviation can create topspin, sidespin est.

aaaah no, that will hurt your wrist, trust me.

pronation will produce a nice brushing motion, you are clueless. If you don't play the sport, please don't just bring physics in because you are overthinking it...

sennoc · 03-02-2011, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manus Domini

aaaah no, that will hurt your wrist, trust me.

pronation will produce a nice brushing motion, you are clueless. If you don't play the sport, please don't just bring physics in because you are overthinking it...

You are wrong, toly is right.

larry10s · 03-02-2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chenx15

I understand that, the ball should be moving sideways instead of up and down. because pronation is a horizontal brush instead of vertical

no
pronation is happening
while the arm is moving in an arc
the brush is not (rarely)horizontal or vertical its a blend of the 2
if you have heard the serving "tip"
hit up and out
thats whats happening

sureshs · 03-02-2011, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chenx15

I understand that, the ball should be moving sideways instead of up and down. because pronation is a horizontal brush instead of vertical

It is a horizontal brush, followed by a downward and away motion. You can hit a slice serve without pronation, as some of the women do from the deuce court (righties)- they seem to come from the side on their arm, and supinate.

LeeD · 03-02-2011, 10:32 AM

Pronation has nothing to do with spin. It only adds rackethead speed, which you could spin or hit flat.
Hold racket close to an L. Now pronate. See how much muscleLESS effort adds to rackethead speed?

sennoc · 03-02-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeD

Pronation (...) only adds rackethead speed

At serves? Urban legend.

sennoc · 03-02-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeD

Pronation has nothing to do with spin. It only adds rackethead speed

Oh. So you say I have problems with my English. Great, I know it's not my native language.

The real problem is that YOU have problems with - your English or your tennis knowledge.

In my opinion - your tennis knowledge is huge, but totally wrong in many important places. So hide your hammers, learn humility. The last thing we need here is an old 3.0 player as an Oracle.

LeeD · 03-02-2011, 05:07 PM

Pronation.... you can pronate onto a flat serve, or you can pronate onto a spin serve.
If you DON'T pronate, you will have NO rackethead speed.
So is pronation important? Think about it.

sennoc · 03-02-2011, 05:22 PM

You make serious mistakes and you are unable to say: "yes, I was wrong".

As I said: in my opinion you are an internet nerd with very flat tennis knowledge. Flat. With and without pronation.

03-02-2011, 08:10 AM	#1
Chenx15 Banned Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 276	physics/science behind pronation I would like to understand the physics behind pronation. i am not sure how it makes the ball stay up and makes it spin to go down. i am doing it on my serves but for the life of me i can't understand the physics behind it. unlike ground strokes the science is pretty much straigh forward. if someone can please show me the physics behind the pronation on a serve it will be greatly appreciated. thank you.

03-02-2011, 08:43 AM	#2
dominikk1985 Hall Of Fame Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 2,808	pronation does this: Uploaded with ImageShack.us Only works with a BH grip or conti grip though because it moves the rackethead around the hand and accelerates it. just try at home. Last edited by dominikk1985 : 03-02-2011 at 08:46 AM.

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