Arthur Ash: most server toss the ball not far right enough. Insightful!!

[1171]

One of my favorite thinking player/teacher is Arthur Ash.

In Tennis April 1992, the issue dedicated to him after his death, Arthur Ash mentioned the most common problem for servers is that they do not toss the ball far right enough.

Even if they think they are tossing the ball right, it still end up above their head.

I tried to toss the ball as far right as I can manage the other day. I found I can hit the ball with more authority.

And better yet, my shoulder ache is really minimized. Totally comfortable after playing.

I guess tossing the ball far right allows me to align my shoulder-arm angle at 100 degree easily.

Any comment on this teaching and any other Arthur Ash teaching?

 

[Mahboob Khan]

For slice serve (by pass at 3 o'clock) the toss is generally more to the right may be at 1.30 pm. For a flat delivery, the modern Pros are actually contacting the ball slightly to their left which indicates tossing the ball too much to the right, barring slice serve, is open to debate.

 

[arnz]

Why would tossing the ball to the right cause less shoulder pain?

 

[Jon Hampton]

I've actually heard some people talking about this topic. Many pros claim to throw the ball more to their left, which imparts less spin and more forward impact than if the ball is tossed to the right. Thus, tossing the ball over to your right would probably make your serve more accurate, but with less power.

Why would tossing the ball to the right cause less shoulder pain?

My guess would be it's almost impossible to hit a flat serve when you start tossing the ball that far to your right--at least, without looking really awkward. And, putting spin on the ball on the serve, limits the amount of power, and less power means less concusive impact.

I'm welcome to any other theories.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

for your shoulder's protection (and to get more speed): toss more into the court, in order to use the inertia of the racquet, and to avoid "shouldering" the ball

try to do that even for kick serves (not easy, but ...)

 

[gzhpcu]

I always thought that tossing the ball more to the right results in more side spin (see Dementieva toss which is way off to the right). Tossing the ball more to the left, facilitates brushing up, and thereby more topspin (Rafter, Edberg). Tossing the ball in front and forward, results in speed. Sampras, I believe tosses way in front and way to the left. He has a radical left lean into the ball to reduce stress on his shoulder. He also had the most combination of speed/spin than any other pro.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Sampras was tossing between 11.30 and 12.30, not more than that, laterally. But yes, very much into the court.

http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/Q.Luo/tennis/sampras01.swf
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/Q.Luo/tennis/sampras02.swf
(use the slider on the left to slow-motion)

 

[dres]

Marius---when did pro's start tossing more to the left? And would it be bendficial for us 4.0 players to start adapting this? Is more leg drive or shoulder over shoulder needed to adapt to this toss?

 

[Rickson]

A righty tossing to the right is a good toss, but not too far right. A far right toss leads to many serving errors so don't go for the slider all the time and keep the ball only slightly right.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

for your shoulder's protection (and to get more speed): toss more into the court, in order to use the inertia of the racquet, and to avoid "shouldering" the ball

try to do that even for kick serves (not easy, but ...)

BINGO!

 

[LoveThisGame]

For a great player, let's remember that his last name has an "e" ... Arthur Ashe.