Has anyone on the board learned to hit 130mph serves?

[big bang]

Originally Posted by tennis_balla

Don't worry about peoplespeace, he should be the last one to criticize anyones game. How are those ATP points working out for you anyways?

Touché!
Guess you saw the guys video? 3 of the first 5 forehands didnt clear the net LOL.
Either the dude is a master troll or in need of some serious medication.
Hes even taking bets on his futures adventure

[kiteboard]

Hey, it takes guts to post a vid. Thanks for the guys that did! I appreciate the honesty. Lots of naysayers/cut down artists on here, who don't post their own serves.

[DownTheLine]

I'll post one tomorrow.

[LeeD]

As a matter of fact, I've been trying to look at YOUR serves on vid.......
Basically, we should get together and post vids of us serving to each other!
But of course, it's gonna rain for the next 4 days, as usual.

[SlowButSure]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Seems there's a perception difference in a few of us.
When I mean my top service speed, it means the fastest SINGLE serve I can hit when I'm going all out for pure MPH flat serves.
Lots of you guys tend to say ...so and so only averages 91mph on his first serve attempts".... which is not anything like what the server can do if he wants to hit only his fastest serves....
You know the difference, so embrace it.
First serve AVERAGE speed is not first serve tops speeds!
Heck, I often throw in a 65 mph wide slice that barely bounces thigh high just for that guy who can return my normal higher bouncing, faster top/slices, and often, the returns get netted.

During the Federer/Wawrinka singles and later doubles match last Friday at IW, Federer hit several 75-80mph first serves kicking wide to the add court (one was 73mph). Good example of why it's funny when people debunk serve speed threads by posting average first serve speed from pro matches.

So far as I can remember, he won every one of those serve points also.

[Jonny S&V]

Originally Posted by LeeD

As a matter of fact, I've been trying to look at YOUR serves on vid.......
Basically, we should get together and post vids of us serving to each other!
But of course, it's gonna rain for the next 4 days, as usual.

I'm gonna try and get a new vid up tomorrow, shoulder willing. We'll see what you think of my (newish) Safin-esque motion sped-up to my optimal toss height.

[kiteboard]

Good point, but only a few people in the world can hit 130+, and most of those are making money doing it! Who else on here can do it?

[LeeD]

Candidates, not in any order...
GraniteChief
TennisBalla
TonLars is closing in
Any other candidates?

[onehandbh]

180mph serve using a wood jack kramer prostaff. Old school style. Keeping
left foot on the ground the entire time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhjrQOTmNc8

Send $99.99 to my paypal account to learn the secrets to a 180mph serve.

[LeeD]

That's more like 180 inches per hour.

[kiteboard]

Fake sped up vids are not cool! Shame comes down on liars.

[anontennis]

Originally Posted by kiteboard

Good point, but only a few people in the world can hit 130+, and most of those are making money doing it! Who else on here can do it?

I think that's an overstatement. 130 takes a lot, but it is not out of reach. I would guess a handful of players on this board could crank it up there on demand, and even more if given a short while to prepare.

[LeeD]

I gave you THREE examples of possibles. Can you think of anyone else?

[RoddickAce]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4VebhSZdlk
edit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xst-bOdLoMI (This was taken from the same day as the video in my older post, but I positioned my camera poorly, so it doesnt really show my service motion)

Ok, so I dug up another video of me serving and uploaded it to youtube. This time, it's from the back angle.

It does seem to hit the backwall at waist-chest level (of someone who is 5'10-6' or so), but there is some topspin-slice. (the ball in the second serve in the video rolled back to the net but seems so slow!)

Again, my estimate is that my first serve averages around 90-105 mph while my fastest serves, sacrificing consistency would be around 110mph.

It would be great if the faster servers can share any tips to up my serve speed, thanks (one thing I've changed since then is making my left arm more vertical).

[Jonny S&V]

Originally Posted by RoddickAce

It would be great if the faster servers can share any tips to up my serve speed, thanks (one thing I've changed since then is making my left arm more vertical).

I'm 5'10" ish as well, and the main thing that I focus when really going for the flat serve (typically into the body) is getting as much of my weight as possible moving up and into the court. I have a pretty live arm, and my balance is good, so I don't have to worry much about anything but the toss, and when I toss the ball further into the court, it forces me to really put my weight into the serve.

I suppose I should put a (older) vid up before I post my new video tomorrow (gonna be windy tho...):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIB-cYkjGQQ

[LeeD]

Right off the bat, you can add some 10 by using high elbow high hand finish just after the ball strike. It's the whip effect that gives you the final mph. Also, like SuperDuy, you guys have a tendency to add some top/slice spin on even your "flat" serves, which would add another 5 or so.
That high elbow, high hand finish is NOT natural, but is something you have to consciously add after you get the basic motion and swingspeed....which you and SuperDuy has.

[RoddickAce]

Originally Posted by Jonny S&V

I'm 5'10" ish as well, and the main thing that I focus when really going for the flat serve (typically into the body) is getting as much of my weight as possible moving up and into the court. I have a pretty live arm, and my balance is good, so I don't have to worry much about anything but the toss, and when I toss the ball further into the court, it forces me to really put my weight into the serve.

I suppose I should put a (older) vid up before I post my new video tomorrow (gonna be windy tho...):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIB-cYkjGQQ

Yeah the biggest difference does seem to be the weight transfer. I think I'm not timing my "leg-launch" and swing together correctly.

Originally Posted by LeeD

Right off the bat, you can add some 10 by using high elbow high hand finish just after the ball strike. It's the whip effect that gives you the final mph. Also, like SuperDuy, you guys have a tendency to add some top/slice spin on even your "flat" serves, which would add another 5 or so.
That high elbow, high hand finish is NOT natural, but is something you have to consciously add after you get the basic motion and swingspeed....which you and SuperDuy has.

That's interesting, definitely going to try this out. Is this a way to subconsciously promote better pronation on serve?

edit: One other thing, I try to stay loose when serving, but it seems that most big servers have a very stable, strong body position & arm but somehow still serve loosely? Anyone have insight on this?

[LeeD]

I think of pronation as the twisting by the shoulder of the forearm to change the angle of the racketface to square into the ball.
This high elbow finish thing is more in line with what I preach as the "whip" motion.....the hand NOT too fast, but allowing the rackethead to come thru and accelerate past the arm and hand to unheard of speeds, with little effort on the part of the server, instead, tis all technique.
Of course, the hand has to reach a certain MPH, like maybe 80 or so, which starts the racket on it's way, then the hand slows down to allow the whip effect to happen.
You see the pics of Sampras, Roddick, all the fast servers, a millisecond after impact, their elbow and hand above their head, their racket has already accelerated to pointing straight down at the ground.

[RoddickAce]

Originally Posted by LeeD

I think of pronation as the twisting by the shoulder of the forearm to change the angle of the racketface to square into the ball.
This high elbow finish thing is more in line with what I preach as the "whip" motion.....the hand NOT too fast, but allowing the rackethead to come thru and accelerate past the arm and hand to unheard of speeds, with little effort on the part of the server, instead, tis all technique.
Of course, the hand has to reach a certain MPH, like maybe 80 or so, which starts the racket on it's way, then the hand slows down to allow the whip effect to happen.
You see the pics of Sampras, Roddick, all the fast servers, a millisecond after impact, their elbow and hand above their head, their racket has already accelerated to pointing straight down at the ground.

Thanks LeeD, I think you hit a nail on the head about this. I'm practicing some swings at home and this high elbow finish does seem to allow for more power with less effort.

[kiteboard]

I'd say, let's get together and film our serves and you tube it, LeeD. Berk. rose gardens. I have a sanyo hd camera.