Advice on Serve

crazy8tiger

crazy8tiger

Rookie
Just wanted to post my video up so I can get some help on what I can work on and improve. One thing I noticed is on my racquet take-back my strings point up to the sky like a waiter's serve and another is that my toss seems kinda high so I think I'll probably need to work on preparing faster so I can toss lower.

All 1st Serves on Ad court:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1AlH6iHKk4

(First 2 went into net and long; Last 2 were in, out wide and down the middle)
 
Solat

Solat

Professional
you lack upward drive you have knee bend but no upward movement out of it. Your ball toss is probably too far out in front causing you to chase it

your racquet drop is good but grip needs work
 
F

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
I agree on the issue with your upward drive. Look at where your head is as you swing through the ball and you can see that it remains at almost a constant level - you want to drive upward as you swing at the ball. That can nicely energize that serve.

As far as your feet are concerned, you're really loading up for rotation through your serve by bringing that right foot up and setting it next to your left as you wind up. Looking at your shoulder turn though, I don't see a whole lot of the rotation that will also fire up that service motion for you. Use your service motion to throw a few tennis balls instead of swinging your racquet and keep it loose and exaggerated. A big leg drive and turn through your throwing motion with little effort from your arm should allow you to bomb the ball over the back fence or at least toss a ball onto it.

Keep up the good work!
 
N

Nellie

Hall of Fame
You are opening your shoulders too early. Keep sideways until after your swing starts from the trophy position. Otherwise, all of the energy from the shoulders rotation is lost. Now, you essentially close your shoulders, open the shoulders, pause, and then swing only with your arm/shoulder, so that the shoulder rotation is merely cosmetic.
 
FH2FH

FH2FH

Professional
Is that a weak forehand grip? Use continental at least. You are opening too early. Step more behind your left foot with the right. That's one thing that should keep your body closed longer.

Did you learn an improper forehand grip on your serve initially? Your arm/racquet motion still looks a bit like the frying pan, flat serve. It needs to become more like a throw with the forearm pronating just at and after contact. As the grip goes further away from a forehand grip, the stance and body need to be more closed.
 
crazy8tiger

crazy8tiger

Rookie
I'm using a continental grip if the video makes it look like a forehand grip. I learned using the continental and haven't switched my grip for different serves yet. Thanks for the tips, I'll try to get another video this weekend keep your tips in mind.
 
5263

5263

G.O.A.T.
Solat said:
you lack upward drive you have knee bend but no upward movement out of it. Your ball toss is probably too far out in front causing you to chase it

your racquet drop is good but grip needs work
Click to expand...
I agree with the above that u need more upward drive, but don't think your toss is too far in front. It is too far out in front if u don't have leg drive, but once u start to use the legs, they can propel you up and out to get much better extension and a higher CP. It will also enhance your racket drop if your timing is good.

Also if you focus on keeping that tossing arm up till the last moment, it will help you not to open up too early.
 
Q

Quasar

Rookie
Looks like a slightly eastern forehand grip. Grip it continental or eastern backhand and when you get to the trophy pose your racket face that will hit the ball should not be facing the back fence like it is. It's really hard to hit a powerful serve like that because it makes it very difficult to pronate through the ball. This is also a major reason why you don't go up to the ball enough. Because you are still doing too much of a forward swinging pusher serve.
 
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