greatest motion on the serve

[fgbowen33]

w/out a doubt Roscoe Tanner

[ericsson]

Well, my vote goes to pete and boris but one thing is for sure, federer is not the winner here...

[galain]

Noah.
Yannick Noah.
Yannick Noah.
Should I say it again...?
Noah. Best ever serve motion. Ever. Made Stich look like Stephen Hawking.

[andreh]

I think Edberg had the most gracious and beautiful motion, but perhaps not the most effective.

[lilxjohnyy]

i like any serve that looks like that stance at the top of a trophy for tennis

[chess9]

For the pre-foot release era, Pancho Gonzales.

Sampras after.

-R

[alkibiades]

Originally Posted by galain

Noah.
Yannick Noah.
Yannick Noah.
Should I say it again...?
Noah. Best ever serve motion. Ever. Made Stich look like Stephen Hawking.

You are correct -- it's perfect. I think Noah's service motion is overlooked because while he had an excellent serve, it never was quite the weapon of Becker's, Sampras', Rusedski's, etc. But Noah had PERFECT form, and he also had flawless tempo and rhythm, devoid of hitches or pauses. And when he was hot it was effective too. I remember he served Lendl off the court on clay at Forest Hills in 1986 or 1987 in the semis of a now-defunct tournament, the name of which escapes me at the moment.

Johnny Mac's serve in 1983 and especially 1984, while unorthodox, had the best rhythm I have ever seen -- no hitch at all, just a smooth building of speed to impact. His tempo altered over the years; I think if he had continued to serve the same way his serve could have remained more of a weapon later in his career. If you can get past his unorthodox stance, in 1984 his was also just about perfect. But Noah wins the prize.

[Rabbit]

Originally Posted by galain

Noah.
Yannick Noah.
Yannick Noah.
Should I say it again...?
Noah. Best ever serve motion. Ever. Made Stich look like Stephen Hawking.

Dude, way harsh.

Stich gets my vote. Noah's was good, but Stich's was better IMO.

[chaognosis]

Yes, Gonzales had one of the best motions. Everything was so fluid and consistent - I have always admired his low ball toss. If I had a time machine, the serve I would really want to see is that of Ellsworth Vines. I have only seen video clips (there's one online at histoiredutennis.com), but it is easy to appreciate the smoothness and power of his swing.

[stormholloway]

Originally Posted by ericsson

Well, my vote goes to pete and boris but one thing is for sure, federer is not the winner here...

Why not? I think he has a beautiful motion. Great disguise and superb accuracy.

I like Henman's a lot, though I can't pick just one.

[Andres]

I'd like to say Krajicek and Ivanisevic. Not easy to mimic, but great rhytm, great timing, fluid, efortless, and absolute bombs

[007]

Sampras, Kraijcek, Stich

[The Gorilla]

I think safin also has a great motion

[stormholloway]

Originally Posted by ericsson

Well, my vote goes to pete and boris but one thing is for sure, federer is not the winner here...

In fact, Federer has THE perfect trophy position for his serve. I think there's a stronge case for him.

[superstition]

Bill Tilden

[theace21]

Stan Smith, smooth and effortless...

[galain]

Originally Posted by Rabbit

Dude, way harsh.

Stich gets my vote. Noah's was good, but Stich's was better IMO.

Ha! Okay - perhaps I'll allow you that Stich was a little smoother than that, but c'mon mate - Noah vs Stich? Meh....

[Nastase]

stich IMO had the sweetest motion, effortless power...

[Rabbit]

Originally Posted by galain

Ha! Okay - perhaps I'll allow you that Stich was a little smoother than that, but c'mon mate - Noah vs Stich? Meh....

Well, Noah had a certain French flair in his service motion and was generally artistic

But, Stich had the German precision and smooth acceleration through the whole motion producing pace, spin, and placment with a seemingly effortless motion

It was like a Renault versus a Porsche...

By the way, I haven't forgotten that I still owe you some grits...

[Solat]

stich it to me