Topspin Shot
Legend
Just a few first serves. Trying to get some topspin to pull them down into the box. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0IJfe3nsFs
Why not keeping it simple? "Elbow the enemy". That helped me correct my racquet drop, and it's pretty simple to understand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGWyLmyWzvc
Well, I would love to have your serve just the way it is. But I suppose some of the people here at TTW can help you make it better. Thanks for the vid.Just a few first serves. Trying to get some topspin to pull them down into the box. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0IJfe3nsFs
My problem was this, and simply doing this, putting my elbow away à la Roddick for example cleared the problem, even with my faulty muscle memory of months and months of doing it the "wrong way", so I don't know...Jeff does make a good point in that video.
But in someone with a long history of a racquet drop into the center of the back "back scatch" position, it is still possible because of their "muscle memory" to still end up dropping the racquet to the center of their back, rather than out to the right side.
I just wish in his video that he made the point that by getting the elbow out from the body, it allows you to let your racquet fall off more to the right - the correct position of the racquet drop from which to set up a powerful pronation movement.
Not down, but up. I think I literally can't get enough of posting those videos. You're almost crouching when you land, try to reach the ball up there, left arm extended. Nice action and pace on the other hand, good depth too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlPVdppfYGs; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EFWB18kPWY
Thanks guys! Question for Charlie Federer: if my racket drop is more to the right, wouldn't that take away from spinning the ball since spinning the ball requires pronating from left to right? Sorry Tom, I don't have any videos of me actually playing.
Let me try to clarify what I mean. I can definitely see what Charlie is saying when he tells me to exaggerate the pronation movement and bring the racket more to the right in the drop phase. I have actually messed around with this before, and it increased my serve speed a good ten miles per hour. The problem is that it also flattened the ball out, no matter how much I tried to spin it. Then I hear that Sampras, who pronated more than anyone, hit more spin than anyone on first and second serves. What gives? Please explain, Charlie.
The only obvious difference that I see between Sampras motion and yours (aside from LeeD's comment about pointing your back towards the net) is that just after impact, your racket hitting surface faces towards you rather than towards the right side fence. To me, that means you are not pronating (forearm rolling) as much as Sampras'.
The other thing I notice, although it's hard to tell, is at the point of impact, your racket is relatively straight as opposed to being at an angle with your forearm. That may be why you may not be getting the top spin you want. Harry
There is Stosur topspin serve and she goes from 7 to 1 mostly by using wrist ulnar deviation. An arm pronation practically doesn’t create spin at all.Okay, Charlie Federer, but then again, aren't you supposed to go from 7 to 1 for a kick serve? Isn't that left to right, or am I missing something?
There is Stosur topspin serve and she goes from 7 to 1 mostly by using wrist ulnar deviation. An arm pronation practically doesn’t create spin at all.
This is new picture – Stosur Topspin Serve, previous picture – Stosur Kick Serve.Lol... This has to be the most overused picture on this forum.
It is good though.
That hasn't Sampras' internal shoulder rotation on is of course. :twisted: Well, won''t hurt the newcomers I guess.Lol... This has to be the most overused picture on this forum.
It is good though.
Thanks Charlie, I understand about the right to left to right thing now. One last question: how do you control the amount of spin when you pronate through contact? For example, I can hit a flatter forehand or a spinnier forehand: how do I do the same for the serve with pronation?
This is new picture – Stosur Topspin Serve, previous picture – Stosur Kick Serve.
Just a few first serves. Trying to get some topspin to pull them down into the box. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0IJfe3nsFs
Darn it, I still can't do it! I can carve/supinate around the ball for spin, pronate square into it like unscrewing a lightbulb from the ceiling for power, or do a combination of both (as seen in the video), but I can't get heavy spin with heavy pronation. It's like the two seem to be mutually exclusive, but then I see Sampras and Stosur, and for them, it's clearly not. Is it the pronation that gives you the spin (if so, how?), or is it ulnar deviation like Toly says (and if so, how do you combine ulnar deviation and pronation into one motion?)? I'm probably frustrating you, Charlie, but I can assure you, I'm more frustrated than you are.
Darn it, I still can't do it! I can carve/supinate around the ball for spin, pronate square into it like unscrewing a lightbulb from the ceiling for power, or do a combination of both (as seen in the video), but I can't get heavy spin with heavy pronation. It's like the two seem to be mutually exclusive, but then I see Sampras and Stosur, and for them, it's clearly not. Is it the pronation that gives you the spin (if so, how?), or is it ulnar deviation like Toly says (and if so, how do you combine ulnar deviation and pronation into one motion?)? I'm probably frustrating you, Charlie, but I can assure you, I'm more frustrated than you are.