Can you serve 100MPH if your 6 foot and under??
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MoxMonkey
Semi-Pro
Im just over 6ft. Id like to think it's possible. Although I doubt I could do it now.
When hitting around if a moonball comes in forehand side(overhead) sometimes I'll switch to a continental grip and knock the living **** out of it. I don't know how fast it is, but it's wayy faster than when I serve.
So id like to think that it's something I could work up to.
When hitting around if a moonball comes in forehand side(overhead) sometimes I'll switch to a continental grip and knock the living **** out of it. I don't know how fast it is, but it's wayy faster than when I serve.
So id like to think that it's something I could work up to.
I sat down and talked to Pete at Trans Am SF.
Notice his long torso, short legs...strong.
That's a swimmer's body, which is why I mentioned our contractor, a former AAU swimmer who stands 6'1", reach 8'4", and missed Olympics by 2 swimmers.
I am 5'10" and 3/4. Army 1970. I reach 7'4".
Notice his long torso, short legs...strong.
That's a swimmer's body, which is why I mentioned our contractor, a former AAU swimmer who stands 6'1", reach 8'4", and missed Olympics by 2 swimmers.
I am 5'10" and 3/4. Army 1970. I reach 7'4".
Modified racquet. Very heavy.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
I doubt I've ever broken 100 and served it in.
I think he was stringing at 70-75 lb. Do you recall his tension, or what string he was using???
Fxanimator1
Hall of Fame
”Can you serve 100MPH if your 6 foot and under??”
“You’re”
“You’re”
Cashman
Hall of Fame
Any idiot can belt a ball, the trick is to be able to do it with consistency, variety and movement.
A lot of opponents will prefer a hard flat slap with a relatively predictable location, they can just block it back for a pretty sharp return.
After a certain point, the harder I hit a ball the less effective my serve is
curly_2350
Rookie
A bit off topic, but seeing as the topic was comprehensively answered in the first 2 posts I won’t feel too bad.
Anyone tried this cheap radar product that’s popped up recently? This is AUD so it should be only around $140 or so USD maybe if available over there? I wonder if it’s accurate and reliable. If they are getting that cheap it would be very easy for clubs (or even nerdy individuals) to have one handy to really see what numbers people are getting.
Anyone tried this cheap radar product that’s popped up recently? This is AUD so it should be only around $140 or so USD maybe if available over there? I wonder if it’s accurate and reliable. If they are getting that cheap it would be very easy for clubs (or even nerdy individuals) to have one handy to really see what numbers people are getting.
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
I bought a Bushnell radar gun years back and I think it was right around $100 US. Works well enough and I could use it for both baseball and for tennis. I think max speed was around 115mph, but that was rarely an issue working with young kids and high schoolers. It was fun and accurate enough for our purposes.
Hit 'em clean
Semi-Pro
I'm 5'7" and 49... soon to be 50. I've lost a lot of flexibility in my shoulder over the years so I can't get the racquet drop or position that I'd like to any more. If I could I'm pretty certain I could hit 105. Any time I've been measured on a radar gun I my best serves are 98-100. Most of my well hit first serves are 98mph, but when I really catch one I'll hit 100. My first serve usually averages between 92-100, but getting 60% in at 100+ would be a challenge... even if I was younger and had the range of motion I used to have. At my height there is not a lot of margin for error. I think someone closer to 5' 10" and up would certainly have an easier time, but the question is avg 100mph and get 60% in.... that would be impressive by most club level standards. Remember, it's averaging 100mph and getting a good percentage... that's the hard part. You'd have to be capable of hitting 105-110mph pretty consistently because your misses are going to be in the 90's.
I've played in 5.0 leagues and plenty of 5.0 players... still play some former div 1 college players from time to time. Some of them are capable of hitting those speeds, but I've never played anyone that could consistently hit a big first serve like that and get 60% in. The reality is if you're only playing a few times a week, unless you're an amazing server... you're not going to get 60% of you're flat first serves in. The D1 college guys even know this so they often mix in spins on their first serve to get a higher % in and better placement.
Placement and spin wins more service points than pure speed.
I've played in 5.0 leagues and plenty of 5.0 players... still play some former div 1 college players from time to time. Some of them are capable of hitting those speeds, but I've never played anyone that could consistently hit a big first serve like that and get 60% in. The reality is if you're only playing a few times a week, unless you're an amazing server... you're not going to get 60% of you're flat first serves in. The D1 college guys even know this so they often mix in spins on their first serve to get a higher % in and better placement.
Placement and spin wins more service points than pure speed.
dominikk1985
Legend
Many WTA players are like 5'8 and can serve well over 110. Height and strength helps but most important is technique, timing and ability to hit the ball cleanly on the sweet spot. Obviously you won't serve 130 if you are under 6 ft but you can serve 110+ with good technique and athleticism.
dominikk1985
Legend
I think that is overrated, yeah a bit heavier racket is better if you have power but I'm pretty sure raonic could serve 120+ with a grandpa racket like a Ti S6.
No point in comparing Pros to average players.
I'm sure Federer could beat all of us with a junior racket, does that mean we shouldn't use adult sized rackets?
That type of logic doesn't help anything or add anything to a discussion.
The average Swingweight on the ATP is 350 for a reason.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Can I serve 100 mph as someone that is under 6 feet? No I cannot. But it's more related to age and a surgically reconstructed shoulder.
Can someone else under 6 feet serve 100 mph? Most certainly. But they'd need more jam in their legs to elevate into the ball than I've got. And more shoulder ROM than I have.
The more interesting question is whether someone under 6 feet can patty cake a flat serve at 100 mph. At what point does the angles and physics not work for a completely flat serve?
Can someone else under 6 feet serve 100 mph? Most certainly. But they'd need more jam in their legs to elevate into the ball than I've got. And more shoulder ROM than I have.
The more interesting question is whether someone under 6 feet can patty cake a flat serve at 100 mph. At what point does the angles and physics not work for a completely flat serve?
Jake Speeed
Professional
At the level you guys play, speed isn't all that important. Are you going to the net or hitting aces?
Spin and a well placed ball offers advantages over 67%, REALLY.
Spin and placement can be 99%. Better math as far as I'm concerned.
Well, unless there's some ATP players in here sneaking around.
Spin and a well placed ball offers advantages over 67%, REALLY.
Spin and placement can be 99%. Better math as far as I'm concerned.
Well, unless there's some ATP players in here sneaking around.
Pete Player
Hall of Fame
At 5-11, 100 MPH easy. Used to be 110 to 115 before hamstring got torn off my but. After the injury I’ve had hard time passing 172 k on flat first serve.
Since then knee broke down and collar bone broke in three. Luckily enough that was only the tossing arm.
Regular slice second serve is 90-95-ish. but it is not only the ball speed making a good serve. Placement and spins are even more significant aspects. And the more versatile you are tossing the same gives an advantage.
Since then knee broke down and collar bone broke in three. Luckily enough that was only the tossing arm.
Regular slice second serve is 90-95-ish. but it is not only the ball speed making a good serve. Placement and spins are even more significant aspects. And the more versatile you are tossing the same gives an advantage.
if you are interested this may help https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...tennis-serve-trajectory.689458/#post-14988078 . You can adjust initial serve parameters, including the height, speed, and the spin, to see where the ball would have landed.
considering that such a huge second serve would be about 10mph faster than that of ATP pro Schwartzman (or countless others) I find that totally believable....
mad dog1
G.O.A.T.
Yup. Just like weight lifting. If your max limit on a deadlift is 500 pounds, even adding a measly 5 more pounds is huge.
mmk
Hall of Fame
Dominika Cibulkova is 5'3", and per Tennis Abstract she had a number of matches with top serve speeds over 100 mph
curly_2350
Rookie
Probably not, but it clearly shows 5'9 - 5'10 males are really grasping at straws if they're blaming their height on a weak serve.
I know Serena is a pro, but I would think 5.0 men are stronger/equally strong as pro women. Serena is 5'9 and can hit 110-115 consistently on her serve with 60-70% percentage on her best days.
The key is good technique, but extended length and high SW also helps. Serena uses a 28 inch racket.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
I don't think they blame their lack of height on a weak serve. They are just jealous of 6'3" guys with waiter's tray serves bombing in aces because the angles and physics favors them.
You can get away with worse technique at a certain height.
Serena plays with WTA tennis balls, lighter and less knapsack than ATP balls.
While Serena is indeed a mere 5'9" or so, she is around 185 lbs, often more, and stronger than most 5.0 men.
I'd venture to say she has played WTA events very close to 200 lbs.
D
Deleted member 771407
Guest
She is fat dude. Unless she lifts weights regularly she will be significantly less strong in her shoulders and arms than a random athletic male. That's just biology.
Strength comparisons in untrained men and trained women athletes - PubMed
The purpose was to compare untrained college men with trained collegiate women basketball and volleyball players in terms of absolute and relative upper and lower body strength. Absolute and relative strength comparisons were also made between the two groups of women athletes. Eighty subjects...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
D
Deleted member 771407
Guest
Super strong for a woman. Not for a man. Federer can destroy the ball lie she can only dream of, and it's not just technique.
Dude, Serena weighs between 185 and two hundred pounds! And, she is quick and explosive.
D
Deleted member 771407
Guest
It's not about weight, this is not wrestling, it's about muscle mass and strength. Read the study I linked. But really it's kind of ridiculous that we have to do studies about that stuff. Shows how little exercise we do in today's world.
Besides, serve is more about technique anyways, then heigth, and only then strength, imo.
Dude, Serena is not your average WTA player!
She is a one off, ultimate Alpha female.
And we cannot lump all females into the same boat.
Serena is an Alpha explosive athlete. Only a few in tennis.
Just like NOT ALL 6' 2" ATP players serve the same.
A now fat Andy Roddick can still serve faster than 70% of current ATP players.
KineticChain
Hall of Fame
nope, its impossible to serve 100mph under 6'
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SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
I can throw baseballs over 100 mph... if I'm throwing them down from a 20 story building.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
Simona Halep at 5'6" is not known a powerhouse server. But even she has hit serves at 108 (and faster, I believe)
How Simona Halep dominated Serena Williams to win Wimbledon
The Romanian put in an unstoppable performance to win her second Grand Slam title. Here is where the match was won and lost.
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jered
Rookie
Simona can hit around 108 mph as outlier fastest first serves but she averages around 97mph which means she probably hits at least 1/3 of first serves over 100mph as a tiny woman.Simona Halep at 5'6" is not known a powerhouse server. But even she has hit serves at 108 (and faster, I believe)
How Simona Halep dominated Serena Williams to win Wimbledon
The Romanian put in an unstoppable performance to win her second Grand Slam title. Here is where the match was won and lost.www.espn.com
Which makes sense. I'm 5'9" and according to PlaySight data I average low/mid 90s with a controlled first serve. When I really go for it, I can easily hit over 100mph, somewhere in the 110 range, aiming for the middle of the box and get it in maybe half of the time but I'm definitely not sure where in the box it is going and most times those serves go right into your opponents hitting zone so really, although faster, it's not a good serve. About once or twice per set I have a serve show up over 120mph with my best ever being 128mph but again, I'm not sure how accurate PlaySight is overall. Accurate enough to be over 100mph I'm sure.
Although I'm under 6', when I make contact on serve I'm a good foot off the ground and a couple feet into the court. I notice the majority of rec players don't leave the ground which could be a factor. Control is the biggest issue so I usually dial back a bit to be more accurate. Sometimes you feel like gambling though...
I think serve speed is not the hard part, serve accuracy is the hard part and really sets 4.5+ apart from the rest even at a slower serve speed.
Edited to correct Halep top serve speed.
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mmk
Hall of Fame
Reminds me of someone I know who used to say that guys taller than him were faster runners because of their longer legs, and guys shorter than him were faster because they could move their shorter legs more quickly.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
Jason Swerve
Hall of Fame
Hingis was consistently serving 100 MPH in '97. Most of the pros can easily serve 100 in the box, if they're willing to 'go for it'. Getting it in while playing a tense match for points and money is the hard part. Much easier done than said if they have the impeccable technique that Serena had in her prime.
