Twist Serve Lesson

Cheetah · 09-22-2012, 10:26 PM

There has been a lot of twist serve talk here lately so I thought I'd post a nice video series I found on youtube that explains the serve in detail pretty well. The videos are of an instructor giving a student a lesson on the twist serve and was filmed by the student's father. The instructor breaks down the serve in detail and walks him through it step by step in 4 or 5 videos.

IMO the twist serve is not complicated. It's just hard to explain in text online. Once you know what to do and practice the movements it's like anything else. This series covers everything you need to know. I like how he explains how to to do the turn and toss.

They also have a couple of other vid series where they work on ground strokes and serve and volley which are good too. The instructor gives a lot of info on mechanics and strategy in certain situations so I'm sure a lot of you can benefit from watching these.

Enjoy the vids.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw6hYOyeQqo

Torres · 09-22-2012, 10:52 PM

If by the coach, you mean the guy in the blue, he is pretty eccentric in the way he teaches. Not my type of coach at all. Lower level coach at best with some pretty iffy ideas, and potentially injury inducing instruction.

Cheetah · 09-22-2012, 11:07 PM

No, by the coach I meant the little girl in yellow 2 courts down off camera.

Which idea did you consider 'iffy'? I just posted the link and it's like 45 mins long so you couldn't have even watched the 1st part yet.

Bergboy123 · 09-22-2012, 11:41 PM

Only watched the first but I'm quite interested.

Is it true that pinpoint serve stance is bad for a twist? I'd never thought about that but I suppose it sort of makes sense, though I find it hard to believe that it's impossible.

boramiNYC · 09-23-2012, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bergboy123

Is it true that pinpoint serve stance is bad for a twist? I'd never thought about that but I suppose it sort of makes sense, though I find it hard to believe that it's impossible.

Not true at all. The coach knows some stuff but there are too much misinformations to be a serious coach. Don't wanna get into details however since I'm sure he can be helpful to some people.

TennisCJC · 09-23-2012, 04:55 AM

My main objection is he is stressing bending in the "small of the back". I have seen other instruction where you can get in the same position by bending at the knees and the angle of the torso from the knee to the shoulder is pretty straight. I think tossing to 11 o'c above and bending at the knees is better for you long term health.

Watch Marin Cilic at 5 seconds into this video. The toss could be pulled back more over his head for more kick. But you will see a fairly straight line from his knees to shoulder - no severe bend at the back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy2ABEJAFGQ

TennisCJC · 09-23-2012, 04:58 AM

Sam Stousur also has a great kick serve and she pulls up into a pin point stance.

PhrygianDominant · 09-23-2012, 08:03 AM

From what I have read there are two competing schools of thought on whether an arch in the small of the back is necessary on a kick serve. One author on Yandell's site insists that: it is beneficial, does not lead to injury with proper training, and is more common in less litigious societies. The reason beingthat many American coaches are afraid of teaching a back arch, for fear of being sued if the student develops problems. In other countries, such as Spain, it is more common.

PhrygianDominant · 09-23-2012, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TennisCJC

Sam Stousur also has a great kick serve and she pulls up into a pin point stance.

That's true but she leaves her right foot pretty far back. It's almost like she's transitioning into a narrow platform á la Roddick.

Cheetah · 09-23-2012, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TennisCJC

My main objection is he is stressing bending in the "small of the back". I have seen other instruction where you can get in the same position by bending at the knees and the angle of the torso from the knee to the shoulder is pretty straight. I think tossing to 11 o'c above and bending at the knees is better for you long term health.

Watch Marin Cilic at 5 seconds into this video. The toss could be pulled back more over his head for more kick. But you will see a fairly straight line from his knees to shoulder - no severe bend at the back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy2ABEJAFGQ

Yea I hear you about the back bend but most players w/ a twist serve still bend their back. My personally I bend my knees instead of arching my back. The cilic clip you showed is not a kick serve.

austen5566 · 09-23-2012, 07:48 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl9Tt...eature=related
no one can hit a better twist serve than this , skip to 0:20

austen5566 · 09-23-2012, 07:50 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWtG2...eature=related

Bergboy123 · 09-23-2012, 08:53 PM

Omg I can't get the Snake down

It keeps spinning the wrong direction

beernutz · 09-24-2012, 01:18 PM

FWIW the instructor, John M. Shaw, died earlier this year at the age of 54.

Cheetah · 09-24-2012, 03:36 PM

Yes I saw that a couple of days ago when I googled him. I thought he was 52 though.

Too bad.

nyc · 09-24-2012, 03:56 PM

Any recreational player that doesn't have an extremely fit core should not attempt this.
(unless you want to ruin your back, of course)

LeeD · 09-24-2012, 05:53 PM

Yes, twist serves are hard on the lower back. That said, you live once.

09-22-2012, 10:26 PM	#1
Cheetah Hall Of Fame Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,258	Twist Serve Lesson There has been a lot of twist serve talk here lately so I thought I'd post a nice video series I found on youtube that explains the serve in detail pretty well. The videos are of an instructor giving a student a lesson on the twist serve and was filmed by the student's father. The instructor breaks down the serve in detail and walks him through it step by step in 4 or 5 videos. IMO the twist serve is not complicated. It's just hard to explain in text online. Once you know what to do and practice the movements it's like anything else. This series covers everything you need to know. I like how he explains how to to do the turn and toss. They also have a couple of other vid series where they work on ground strokes and serve and volley which are good too. The instructor gives a lot of info on mechanics and strategy in certain situations so I'm sure a lot of you can benefit from watching these. Enjoy the vids. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw6hYOyeQqo

09-22-2012, 10:52 PM	#2
Torres Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 3,821	If by the coach, you mean the guy in the blue, he is pretty eccentric in the way he teaches. Not my type of coach at all. Lower level coach at best with some pretty iffy ideas, and potentially injury inducing instruction. Last edited by Torres : 09-23-2012 at 06:53 AM.

09-23-2012, 08:03 AM	#8
PhrygianDominant Semi-Pro Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 662	From what I have read there are two competing schools of thought on whether an arch in the small of the back is necessary on a kick serve. One author on Yandell's site insists that: it is beneficial, does not lead to injury with proper training, and is more common in less litigious societies. The reason beingthat many American coaches are afraid of teaching a back arch, for fear of being sued if the student develops problems. In other countries, such as Spain, it is more common. __________________ I change my signature too much

09-24-2012, 01:18 PM	#14
beernutz Hall Of Fame Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: expanding my Ignore List Posts: 3,379	FWIW the instructor, John M. Shaw, died earlier this year at the age of 54. __________________ A Head Microgel Radical, a Neos 1k, and a Silent Partner Star. Life is good.

09-24-2012, 03:56 PM	#16
nyc Professional Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,496	Any recreational player that doesn't have an extremely fit core should not attempt this. (unless you want to ruin your back, of course) __________________ Head IG Prestige Pro

09-23-2012, 07:50 PM	#12
austen5566 New User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Brooklyn,NY Posts: 16	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWtG2...eature=related