Flat serves, Kick serves VIDEO included!

[spacediver]

the one thing that really stands out to me is how loose and fluid your racquet arm is. How did you you develop that - did it come naturally to you or did you do some drills or something for it?

[sunof tennis]

Originally Posted by Failed

I can take risks with my first serve because I know that the second one will be going in and it will give most of my opponents hard time anyway. I like hitting my flat serve down the T more than I like hitting it out wide. I simply hit it out wide so that you can see where the ball goes. If I went down the T the ball would be behind me, which would make analyzing the bounce harder. I can place my kicker pretty much anywhere I want in the ad-box. Hitting it out wide in the deuce box would be shooting myself in the foot so I haven't used that serve much in tournaments(which has lead into me taking a beating from lefties with good forehand return of serve)

That's good. I didn't see any first serves down the T in your video and wanted to make sure you had that serve in your arsenal. Overall, good first and second serve. On your kick serve remember to get good racquet head acceleration. I think about acutally accelerating more on the second serve/kick serve than on the first serve.

[jdubbs]

Did you take vids of serves that actually went in?

[Torres]

Here's one I hit earlier. I'm the guy nearest the camera. Watch and learn!

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

[ZeroSkid]

Man you have such an unnatural service motion, but your serves are still very good

[LeeD]

I'd think, at 6'4" and long limbed, it'd be super easy to kick a serve over 6'6" high at the baseline almost every try.
Ever watch Santoro's matches? Everyone kicks it over his head, but he just leans in and returns it no problem. That's the opposite effect, as you know.
I play with (mostly doubles, I'm not nearly their level) a couple of 6' guys who can twist it well over my head, and I"m 5'11".
Just need a relatively warm day, some good 5.5+ players, and the need to show off.

[Failed]

Originally Posted by ZeroSkid

Man you have such an unnatural service motion, but your serves are still very good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFMpD0ZmLoI This is from year ago, I used to have a more of a "normal" serve before Things kinda progressed on their own.

[bertrevert]

Originally Posted by Failed

I can take risks with my first serve because I know that the second one will be going in and it will give most of my opponents hard time anyway. I like hitting my flat serve down the T more than I like hitting it out wide. I simply hit it out wide so that you can see where the ball goes. If I went down the T the ball would be behind me, which would make analyzing the bounce harder. I can place my kicker pretty much anywhere I want in the ad-box. Hitting it out wide in the deuce box would be shooting myself in the foot so I haven't used that serve much in tournaments(which has lead into me taking a beating from lefties with good forehand return of serve)

Yeah well we all do that, second serve has to be rock solid otherwise yeah I agree you cannot really let loose on the first otherwise.

Hey I found this for inspiration, see 2.01 onwards
http://www.youtube.com/user/offiical.../9/dd-Vfa7LmVQ
and
http://www.youtube.com/user/offiical...20/ISV-Y7AhFvM

I think I'd like to see you lean left hip more into court during the load up, and get some mass behind the ball... they look light, predictable and arrive in the wheelhouse.

ps. I did not mean kickers down the T, I meant you angle your body well for sliding serves but I want to see you also bang them down the middle so the ball still rising is slightly moving away from a RH player's backhand. Ensure your technique allows the 3 or 4 basic first serves. My opinion is that I'd want to see you stand more 45 degrees to the baseline, rather than so parallel, and closer left into the centre of the deuce. Your serve has improved from a year ago!

[HunterST]

You're getting good pace on the serve, but I think your energy is directed too much forward. Like Lee said, get your chest angled upwards and direct your energy up to the ball.

[Nellie]

Originally Posted by Failed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFMpD0ZmLoI This is from year ago, I used to have a more of a "normal" serve before Things kinda progressed on their own.

Hmm - I really liked those serves. What happened to that motion?!

[LeeD]

OP appeared to have served some time in the service, and like I did, LOST tons of flexibility while gaining endurance and strength.
Just the archer's bow would have him hitting upwards at the ball, low hitting shoulder.

[Sleepstream]

Finland, hmm.

Which courts are those?

[Magic of tennis]

That was very solid serve. I hope I can do that soon

[Failed]

Originally Posted by Sleepstream

Finland, hmm.

Which courts are those?

You mean what type of court or what courts actually? :P

[Sleepstream]

Originally Posted by Failed

You mean what type of court or what courts actually? :P

Which courts, but that is kind of creepy to ask.

How are the indoor courts there (besides expensive)?

[Failed]

Originally Posted by Sleepstream

Which courts, but that is kind of creepy to ask.

How are the indoor courts there (besides expensive)?

Hukka courts in Oulu, I like the courts, there could be more courts though.

[Sleepstream]

Ah, you live in the middle of the country.

But I agree about not enough courts. I don't think Helsinki has enough, but tennis players always want more courts.

[spacediver]

Failed, not sure if you saw my post on page 1:

Originally Posted by spacediver

the one thing that really stands out to me is how loose and fluid your racquet arm is. How did you you develop that - did it come naturally to you or did you do some drills or something for it?

[Failed]

Originally Posted by spacediver

Failed, not sure if you saw my post on page 1:

Sorry for not answering that, it has come to me somewhat naturally. It is all about not squeezing the handle not too tight and keeping your arm relaxed during the motion. I think that my hand is the loose part of my part during the serve and the lower body gets the hand moving.

[spacediver]

aye, this is exactly what ppl should strive for, but it's notoriously rare to see it in the recreational scene, which points to the fact that most people don't find it natural.

Feels so wonderful when you get it down though - like you're slinging a catapult.