Serving Landing Foot

[LeeD]

Seriously, forget Rosewall. He's like 5'7" tall and coming from the old school.
Modern servers don't just charge into net position on every serve. Most stay back after serving, especially second serves. If you choose to stay back, AND use Rosewall's idea of toss well inside your baseline, you will be caught in NML almost every time.
Now if you plan to attack the net behind every serve, his idea is correct, but old school.
Some people seem to think, with the modern equipement and practice ideas, that the returner can take a full swing at the ball on every service return, which means you can't always charge the net on every serve, every time.
And remember, it doesn't matter which foot you land on, what matters is how hard your serve is, how well it's placed, and how effective it is to win points. The point thing is most important. McEnroe and Edberg never served hard, but won lots of points.

[DE19702]

Boris Becker lands on his right foot. He probably taught himself as a kid and couldn't switch back. It's hard to change you service motion.

[charliefedererer]

I see you agree with Systemic Anomoly's analysis in post 15.

Have you watched the videos I posted in post 9?



It sounds like you are quite athletic, and have learned a serve technique which up until now has served you well.
But you will never reach your potential with your current serve.
And I'll bet with your athleticism that you can learn it quicker than most - just that it is painful to seem to have to suffer through more double faults for now to make that progress.

Your coaches are trying to teach you to throw the entire left side of your body up and at the ball.
This slow motion video of Soderling shows specifically the leg drive and cartwheel action you need.
Robin Söderling serve slowmotion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a56pvP1i6x8
If you learn to do this it will be a powerful leg drive and cartwheel of the upper body to power your serve.
You then can't help but land on your left leg.

Please keep an open mind to your coaches and let them help you make the necessary changes in your body motion, ending up with your landing on your left leg.

Your landing on your right leg is just a symptom that your current serve is not correct.

Again, I would urge you to watch those two videos and see that the new serve motion will lead to a better serve.

[LeeD]

I don't know...
What is correct?
Pure power? Control?
As said, several top ATP pros landed on their service side foot, the right. They pivoted off their left to get the power.
Some guys, like Roddick, tend to stomach crunch to get some of their power.
We are NOT all the same!
Post vid. If your serve is strong enough for your size, it's good enough. If it's weak or inconsistent, time for a change.

[y11971alex]

Originally Posted by charliefedererer

I see you agree with Systemic Anomoly's analysis in post 15.

Have you watched the videos I posted in post 9?



It sounds like you are quite athletic, and have learned a serve technique which up until now has served you well.
But you will never reach your potential with your current serve.
And I'll bet with your athleticism that you can learn it quicker than most - just that it is painful to seem to have to suffer through more double faults for now to make that progress.

Your coaches are trying to teach you to throw the entire left side of your body up and at the ball.
This slow motion video of Soderling shows specifically the leg drive and cartwheel action you need.
Robin Söderling serve slowmotion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a56pvP1i6x8
If you learn to do this it will be a powerful leg drive and cartwheel of the upper body to power your serve.
You then can't help but land on your left leg.

Please keep an open mind to your coaches and let them help you make the necessary changes in your body motion, ending up with your landing on your left leg.

Your landing on your right leg is just a symptom that your current serve is not correct.

Again, I would urge you to watch those two videos and see that the new serve motion will lead to a better serve.

Thanks for the adivce. Though I don't know whether your comment is directed towards me, I'll take it as though it were. On the contrary, I am not a very atheletic person, and I don't play at perhaps your indicated level becuase of current academic committments. I'd say that my serve is 85 mph at the very best and not there consistently. People in my class regularly serve quite a bit faster than I do, and I'd say that I return better than I serve. Does Soderling's legs drive help with accuracy?

[LeeD]

The pros are athletes, trained, conditioned, hungry, and work for a reward.
You appear not athletic, not strong, not gifted, given your returns being better than your serves.
Pros win by their athletic big hitting.
You need to learn to win with your mind and determinations. Different methods, both can win.
Try to serve harder, even a 100 lbs girl can serve 100 mph.
Forget the notion of 135 mph first serves.
Use the technique that is consistent and replicable for YOU, not someone else.
Placement and surprise is your friend. How you serve is much less important than where and when you serve.

[boramiNYC]

don't think 100lb girl can serve 100mph. most wta pros barely crack 100.

[NLBwell]

Some do .

[y11971alex]

Originally Posted by LeeD

The pros are athletes, trained, conditioned, hungry, and work for a reward.
You appear not athletic, not strong, not gifted, given your returns being better than your serves.
Pros win by their athletic big hitting.
You need to learn to win with your mind and determinations. Different methods, both can win.
Try to serve harder, even a 100 lbs girl can serve 100 mph.
Forget the notion of 135 mph first serves.
Use the technique that is consistent and replicable for YOU, not someone else.
Placement and surprise is your friend. How you serve is much less important than where and when you serve.

That's because my opponents are poor servers

I don't try to sound haughty, but I really don't try to serve at 135mph. That brings the fun in tennis right out, doesn't it?

Sometimes I don't even try to serve hard to get a volley or two.

[10sLifer]

Originally Posted by y11971alex

Hi:

I'm 17 years old and I've been playing tennis for about five years now. I've enrolled in a juniors' programme in Vancouver Canada, and the coaches are set about improving my serve. I've been described as the most aggressive player in class, and I usually do S&V. The dominant style there is aggressive baseline, which makes me a slight oddity there.

The issue is that I never seem to be able to "jump off" during serve and I leave my left foot on the ground during the motion. At contact I am standing on the tip of my toes of my left foot. After that I land on my right. The serve is usually consistent and the weight balanced; I usually serve a wide slice on the deuce side and up the middle on ad side.

The coaches (along with another one on individual lessons) said that I should land on my left foot, but I couldn't seem to do this in balance and the return just wizzes past me. Also, if I land on my right, it would form my "first step" to the net. Any suggestions?

The multiple captain obvious' of the message board are simply describing letting yourself be pulled of the ground, then turning and "having" to land on the right foot versus not getting air born and stepping. It's one of the more stupid conversations in tennis. Watch any pro(righty) warm up their serve and the right foot steps first. If you serve and volley you should continue to do it. The lack of air time will help you get to the net. #JohnnyMaccouldofbeenbetter

[y11971alex]

Originally Posted by LeeD

I don't know...
What is correct?
Pure power? Control?
As said, several top ATP pros landed on their service side foot, the right. They pivoted off their left to get the power.
Some guys, like Roddick, tend to stomach crunch to get some of their power.
We are NOT all the same!
Post vid. If your serve is strong enough for your size, it's good enough. If it's weak or inconsistent, time for a change.

Video here, though it doesn't contain serving footage. This was recorded some time ago after taking the SAT!

http://youtu.be/mVwFen1VXbw

[LeeD]

Thanks for taking the time and posting the video.
OK, don't worry about which foot to land on. Worry about learning to swing a groundie stroke correctly, build up some rackethead speed, get in condition to move quicker and do it, which now takes 2 years, THEN learn to serve harder and post a vid.
Whichever foot you land on after you serve is your LEAST important consideration. Which by the way, the answer is EITHER foot you want.

[3fees]

which foot should come thru first ? either one is okay

Brian Gottfried brought the hind leg into the court first, called cross over step,,Roscoe Tanner brought the front foot on to the court first.

As to serving motions and foot work

Windmill -type serving motion(full backswing) front foot land first on the court.

The Half Swing serving motion(trophy pose) hind foot lands first(crossover step)

These are learned motions, your coach is pointing out one of them..

[charliefedererer]

Originally Posted by y11971alex

Hi:

I'm 17 years old and I've been playing tennis for about five years now. I've enrolled in a juniors' programme in Vancouver Canada, and the coaches are set about improving my serve. I've been described as the most aggressive player in class, and I usually do S&V. The dominant style there is aggressive baseline, which makes me a slight oddity there.

The issue is that I never seem to be able to "jump off" during serve and I leave my left foot on the ground during the motion. At contact I am standing on the tip of my toes of my left foot. After that I land on my right. The serve is usually consistent and the weight balanced; I usually serve a wide slice on the deuce side and up the middle on ad side.

The coaches (along with another one on individual lessons) said that I should land on my left foot, but I couldn't seem to do this in balance and the return just wizzes past me. Also, if I land on my right, it would form my "first step" to the net. Any suggestions?

I must admit from your initial post I thought you were a more advanced player than your video shows - someone with a really solid game, but an idiosyncratic serve that you were resisting letting your coaches tinker with.

Nevertheless, I would still advise listening to your coaches to make advancement.

Enjoy your tennis!
All the practice, all the doubt, all the small steps in improvement, the joy of victory and the agony of defeat.
Enjoy the journey.

[NLBwell]

Originally Posted by charliefedererer

I must admit from your initial post I thought you were a more advanced player than your video shows - someone with a really solid game, but an idiosyncratic serve that you were resisting letting your coaches tinker with.

.

Yes, I thought you had a well-developed serve that a coach was trying to change. At your level, do exactly what the coach says. Don't argue or question if he is correct. Do ask what is the basis for what he is telling you to do so that you get a deeper understanding.

Love your racket. Learning with a wood racket at that stage has some advantages.

[y11971alex]

Originally Posted by charliefedererer

I must admit from your initial post I thought you were a more advanced player than your video shows - someone with a really solid game, but an idiosyncratic serve that you were resisting letting your coaches tinker with.

Nevertheless, I would still advise listening to your coaches to make advancement.

Enjoy your tennis!
All the practice, all the doubt, all the small steps in improvement, the joy of victory and the agony of defeat.
Enjoy the journey.

I must say that you are profoundly misguided - I am not an advanced player.

[y11971alex]

Originally Posted by NLBwell

Yes, I thought you had a well-developed serve that a coach was trying to change. At your level, do exactly what the coach says. Don't argue or question if he is correct. Do ask what is the basis for what he is telling you to do so that you get a deeper understanding.

Love your racket. Learning with a wood racket at that stage has some advantages.

Thanks, I love the racquet. I periodically take it out to prevent it from warping. Do you think I was hitting well? I could say that I was striking the sweep spot with good accuracy.

[LeeD]

The less comment in that direction, the better.
Keep hitting, keep playing, don't worry about your serves.

[y11971alex]

But how do you people think I was hitting that day?

[charliefedererer]

Originally Posted by y11971alex

But how do you people think I was hitting that day?

It doesn't really matter what WE think.

As long as YOU felt you were hitting well for your level, were working hard and yet still enjoying it, what more can you ask?

[Way earlier in the post you mentioned you had "academic commitments". I will tell you about that - I think you are smart to keep your academic success as your primary commitment. It is likely you, like most of us here, will make your biggest mark in life outside of tennis. Yet tennis is a great sport to enjoy not only now, but for a whole lifetime. Enjoy!]