Before I begin I have dislocated my dominant shoulder twice from soccer / snowboarding. Its fine now but I start developing pain unless I really stretch well and after about 50-60 serves. It really bothers me on kick serves where you really need to twist and throw all your inertia into your shoulder / arm. Im a solid 4.0 or low 4.5 player.
Anyway . . . I was messing around the other day and I did a few pancake grip serves. Meaning pretty much serving with a full western. Like holding a pan. Like you see the beginners "tapping" the ball on their serves. Ive clocked my normal flat cont grip serve at 100-110mph on average. Ive always had a pretty powerful first serve but its not that consistant. Probaly get it in 40% of the time. I was suprised with the results. I was serving a little bit slower. I haven't had them clocked but I estimate not much slower at all. Maybe 95-100. Still hitting the back fence relatively high on one bounce. The difference was I felt no strain at all in my shoulder and I had pinpoint accuracy. I was getting them in right where I wanted about 80% of the time.
I know this is always looked down upon because you don't get that wrist range of motion you do with a traditional continental grip but other than that are their any cons? Im still getting good power and taking it much easier on my shoulder. This is just for flat serves of course. For slice / kick I would switch back to continental.
Anyway . . . I was messing around the other day and I did a few pancake grip serves. Meaning pretty much serving with a full western. Like holding a pan. Like you see the beginners "tapping" the ball on their serves. Ive clocked my normal flat cont grip serve at 100-110mph on average. Ive always had a pretty powerful first serve but its not that consistant. Probaly get it in 40% of the time. I was suprised with the results. I was serving a little bit slower. I haven't had them clocked but I estimate not much slower at all. Maybe 95-100. Still hitting the back fence relatively high on one bounce. The difference was I felt no strain at all in my shoulder and I had pinpoint accuracy. I was getting them in right where I wanted about 80% of the time.
I know this is always looked down upon because you don't get that wrist range of motion you do with a traditional continental grip but other than that are their any cons? Im still getting good power and taking it much easier on my shoulder. This is just for flat serves of course. For slice / kick I would switch back to continental.