Critique my serve (2 videos)

[AsgerHO]

I have been working a lot on my serve for the last couple of years, and I wanted to know if you guys have any comments to make it even better.
It´s already my best shot, and I want to make it even better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSsWuRrt_pE (from September 2009)

And to compare:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYPkQIckcMA (January 2009)

Thanks

 

[Nellie]

I think you need to work on consistency in the toss. On several serves, I thought your toss was not far enough forward. Compare for example, the serve at 1:14 versus the next serve that is about 20 mph slower.

I also think you served better when the toss was higher (like at 1:31 - nice serve with good action)

You may do this, but when you practice serves, try to set up simple targets (a tennis bag, balls, etc.) to divide the box into thirds and try to get the serve to go consistently down the T, wide, and into the body (emphasizing practice on the first two). You will improve a lot more with a focused practice.

 

[Cup8489]

Nice serve!

A possible suggestion would be to try a deeper knee bend, you have good bend on for your back, but I'm sure a lower knee bend will allow you to explode into the ball even more.

Obviously this is a preference thing, but I think you would benefit from it. Nice serve, though.

just watched the second video. You stay low on the serve, but don't seem to go up after it too much. For how dynamic of a stance you have i had expected more explosion into the ball. I agree with the above poster on working on your toss as well, and try to get it somewhat higher to give yourself more time.

 

[EikelBeiter]

You've got a nice service.

But if this is a recruitment video, I suggest to film it again without foot faulting so much.

 

[Marcard]

But if this is a recruitment video, I suggest to film it again without foot faulting so much.

On the foot faulting note i did notice this too.. Every time you lean back right before you toss the ball your front foot shifts forward over the line.

 

[LeeD]

Nice serve to critique...
Footfault you surely have cured by now. Do not ever move that front foot....it WILL make you step too far forward on critical points. Weight it.
As said, and first thing I noticed, was serve toss erratic. Your up the middle serve toss is all over the map. SLOW DOWN, take your time to compose yourself, look at the opposing court, look EXACTLY where you're standing, THEN start the motion.
You're a little stiff and out of balance at the start of your motion. I see it in lots of 5.5 players, but they aren't the ones getting better. Just too much movement and herkey jerkey stuff thrown in with an otherwise powerful motion and hit.
Look at DJ and the pros. BOUNCE the ball 3-5 times to get body set and rythum before starting the motion. TAKE YOUR TIME. Everyone is waiting for you to begin the point, so don't rush it.

 

[LeeD]

Add....
You're young, strong, and fit.
You are giving away power and directional control by NOT moving forwards into the court MORE. You should at least end up 18-24" inside the court when you're planning to retreat after your serve. You should end up much farther into the court when you plan on forcing serves or S/V.
Old farts conserving energy can end up inside the court by a foot or so. You are young, strong, and fit, so USE MORE ENERGY into each serve, and by moving into the court farther, your body direction is guided exactly the same every serve, so you can pinpoint your target more consistently.
Serving is not like shooting a gun. Shooting, you have set feet and set stance, set hand height, set head, and combat, you pivot off the trunk with SET feet.
Serving is all about movement, energy, kinetics, motion, start, takeback, set, and forward movement WITH an ending. Make that ENDING, the body moving forwards, as your final part of your serve swing.
Like golf, the final finish (full followthru in balance) makes or breaks the shot quite often.

 

[mista-k]

nice serve...hope it goes in during the real match. work on placement