Most efficient service motions

[jamauss]

In your opinion, which players have/had the most efficient service motions? Here's some I've come up with:

1. Federer
2. Ljubicic
3. Ivanisevic
4. Roddick?

[Polaris]

Among those four, I like Federer's and Ivanisevic's.

But I also like Safin's. He can deliver a bomb in a rather casual way.

[dmastous]

Originally Posted by Polaris

Among those four, I like Federer's and Ivanisevic's.

But I also like Safin's. He can deliver a bomb in a rather casual way.

If you like Ivanisevic's than you must like Lubicic's as well since they are very simialar motions.
I always liked Mark Woodford's motion. If you are talking about easy motions I would say he and Mecir's were the most casual, easy motions I've seen.
Federer's is as casual as you can get while still putting effort into the serve.

[Polaris]

Originally Posted by dmastous

If you like Ivanisevic's than you must like Lubicic's as well since they are very simialar motions.

If I recall correctly, Ivanisevic didn't have as much ceremony in the beginning as Ljubicic does. Besides, Goran is left-handed and that just adds a dollop of beauty for a reason I haven't been able to figure out. I mean, a left-handed cricketer with a decent style looks rather graceful without even trying to be. Something similar holds for Goran, and also for Mark Woodforde. It is hard for a left-hander to appear ugly (to my biased asthetic sense, even though I am right-handed), but Nadal sometimes manages that with his extreme grips, grunts and curious attire. .

But yes, Ljub's serve is awesome as well and so is Stich's, as Tym pointed out. No comments about Bruguera though.

[dmastous]

Originally Posted by Polaris

If I recall correctly, Ivanisevic didn't have as much ceremony in the beginning as Ljubicic does. Besides, Goran is left-handed and that just adds a dollop of beauty for a reason I haven't been able to figure out. I mean, a left-handed cricketer with a decent style looks rather graceful without even trying to be. Something similar holds for Goran, and indeed for Woodforde. It is hard for a left-hander to appear ugly (to my biased asthetic sense, even though I am right-handed), but Nadal sometimes manages that with his extreme grips, grunts and curious attire.

Lubicic is an acknowleged fan of Ivanisovic. He uses essentially the same set-up and rocks back the same way. He doesn't quick serve like Ivo. His is more classical, but he does hit it earlier than many.
Maybe Nadal grunts because he's not a natural lefty. He was convinced to play left-handed to get a spin advantage.

[Andres]

Originally Posted by dmastous

Lubicic is an acknowleged fan of Ivanisovic. He uses essentially the same set-up and rocks back the same way. He doesn't quick serve like Ivo. His is more classical, but he does hit it earlier than many.
Maybe Nadal grunts because he's not a natural lefty. He was convinced to play left-handed to get a spin advantage.

No, if you see closely, the set up, and the weight transfer is totally different. And Goran's motion was quicker, as someone said, without that ceremony. He bounced, stayed in a "crouch" position, looked at the opponent, toss, and BOOM!! quick release and thunderous delivery

One of the most beautiful serves I've ever seen.

[unjugon]

I always thought Hewitt´s serve was pretty fast, while he didn´t seem to put much effort into it. Particularly his first serve.

[Bottle Rocket]

Roddick's is obviously very efficient... As far as I know, nobody else has consistantly hit serves as hard as Roddick and definitely not for as long as him. He has something figured out that nobody else has gotten yet. Efficiency has nothing to do with placement. That is not to say that Roddick has bad placement, but he doesn't seem to always need it. He get's a ton of points off his serve because nobody it's hard to get a decent return, it works for him.

[superman1]

1. Sampras
2. Roddick

Roddick's serve is not efficient for most people, takes a lot of effort, but him it's easy and comes naturally.

Federer's serve is above average but nowhere near great. I remember him having a much better serve, he could hit aces whenever he pleased, but it's died down a bit.

[Galactus]

Efficiency-wise: Federer.
Look at the variation he gets: anything from 115-128mph out-wide/down-the-T aces or heavy kick-serves...all with minimum effort.

Other than that, I'd say Safin is there for pace and variation with an efficient action.

[Serve_n_volley]

I think technically, Federer has the most effiecient serve motion because he is so relaxed and really just lets his racquet drop, but i like roddick's mation a lot more, and I think it's simple, yet explosive.

[Andres]

Ivanisevic. Total weight transfer into the shot, and yet, so relaxed and smooth. Such a skinny guy, and he can blew a bomb whenever he wanted.

Simply marvelous

[Dan007]

*Roddick's-explosive, super fast
*Federer's very good placement
*Safin's he can bomb some serves also

[jamauss]

I agree - Safin has a pretty good serve - but it seems like he really has to arch his back.

[!Tym]

NO ONE comes close to Bruguera in this category...too bad his serve was at best average.

He basically just tossed the ball up, took almost no backswing or knee bend, kind of just put his racket up and basically snapped his wrist.

If you're talking about an efficient serve that required very little effort, but that was actually effective, look no further than Michael Stich.

There is NO comparison to anyone else who also had an effective serve. Among devastating serves, Stich basically expended NO energy whatsoever on it, was like silk, VERY relaxed, almost as if he had no tension in his body whatsoever and his entire body was a single, loose, gummy, pliable, and flexible limb all moving in perfect sync and harmony...of course, give this same motion to a short guy like Chang and it'd suck. Stich's height and shoulder flexibility definitely allowed this service motion to be much more effective than it normally would for most more normally sized players.

[Lindros13]

Fed is so relaxed in his serve.

[LordRaceR]

Roddick, Federer, Safin, Scud

[WayneCM]

Roddick, karlovic(Mr ace), Safin and Coria

[HellBunni]

Originally Posted by WayneCM

Roddick, karlovic(Mr ace), Safin and Coria

Coria????

[slice bh compliment]

Originally Posted by !Tym

NO ONE comes close to ...
...
...
...
Michael Stich.

...There is NO comparison....

Done.

Effortless. Graceful. Powerful. Well-placed. Efficient as can be.

Honorable mention: Borg, Johnny Mac and Nasty.

Current version: Roger Federer on a good day after a bottle of wine. Maybe.

Oh, and Evonne Goolagong gets the nod on the women's side. Honorable mention: Mandlikova and Navratilova.