Foot Fault Help

[ejewels]

Hello,

A buddy of mine recorded us today serving. For a while now I've been known for my serve and its spin and power within my little tennis click. After watching myself serve on the playback, I noticed that I'm shuffling my left foot and foot faulting on literally all of my thought-to-be-great serves. It's not horrific, but I seem to toss, bend, and right before I spring up and jump into the serve, my left foot shuffles onto the baseline... foot fault . Anyone have this horrible realization before? What do I do? Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[Roy125]

Hello,

A buddy of mine recorded us today serving. For a while now I've been known for my serve and its spin and power within my little tennis click. After watching myself serve on the playback, I noticed that I'm shuffling my left foot and foot faulting on literally all of my thought-to-be-great serves. It's not horrific, but I seem to toss, bend, and right before I spring up and jump into the serve, my left foot shuffles onto the baseline... foot fault . Anyone have this horrible realization before? What do I do? Any help greatly appreciated.

Practice not moving your left foot past the baseline and don't let your other foot cross it.

 

[ejewels]

ya, thats easier said than done LOL. Maybe I could stand further back, but I don't wanna lose any ground...

 

[5th Element]

An easy trick is to put an old racket on top of your front foot for 10-20 serves and regress back to serving like a beginner. Does your foot still move?

 

[Jaewonnie]

I see a couple pros actually stand almost a good foot behind baseline serving. But most of these players step in of course.

 

[cellofaan]

ya, thats easier said than done LOL. Maybe I could stand further back, but I don't wanna lose any ground...

Standing a little further back is the easiest solution.
Any ground you'd lose was not legally yours anyway, as you were getting it by footfaulting.

 

[TheOneHander]

ya, thats easier said than done LOL. Maybe I could stand further back, but I don't wanna lose any ground...

If you fear your clique reputation or just your serve in general being lost over a couple of inches, don't! The difference is a) negligible and will not hurt you and b) that ground was never legally yours to begin with.

If you don't want to modify your service motion, just stand further back and videotape it again. Then make adjustments as necessary.

Cheers!

OneHander

 

[ejewels]

b) that ground was never legally yours to begin with.

Yes, I meant ground as in literally ground on the tennis court, not in a cocky way.

I think I'm gonna videotape again standing 6 inches back more. It seems as tho the pros either step in and shuffle a little or keep the left foot planted. Is there pros and cons to each?

 

[TheOneHander]

Yes, I meant ground as in literally ground on the tennis court, not in a cocky way.

I think I'm gonna videotape again standing 6 inches back more. It seems as tho the pros either step in and shuffle a little or keep the left foot planted. Is there pros and cons to each?

I see where you're coming from My point was that you won't give up much space, and you're not supposed to be over that line anyways. Honestly, a few inches won't do too much, but thanks for your humility

You can either step in or keep your foot planted. Keeping your foot planted simplifies the motion, but stepping in gives you a bit more momentum and for some people, rhythm. It's all personal preference.

Good luc!

 

[Blake0]

Some players have a habit of stepping up with their front foot. Other players step up with their front foot to gain balance somewhere during their motion. They start off balanced, but somewhere before they reach trophy position need the foot to move a little bit to gain balance.

Make sure you feel balanced throughout your serve and it's just a habit. Then you won't have to change your motion.

You can move back for a quick fix, or do what 5th element said to break the habit.

 

[ejewels]

You can move back for a quick fix, or do what 5th element said to break the habit.

Is it bad to do this? Seems like everyone is saying its a bad habit, although it seems as some pros even take a little step or shift to regain balance. If its legal, then maybe i just step back further but do the little step / shift.

 

[RyanRF]

Standing a little further back is the easiest solution.
Any ground you'd lose was not legally yours anyway, as you were getting it by footfaulting.

This ^

Move back. When combined with your little step forwards, you will be serving from the correct, legal position.

 

[RyanRF]

Is it bad to do this? Seems like everyone is saying its a bad habit, although it seems as some pros even take a little step or shift to regain balance. If its legal, then maybe i just step back further but do the little step / shift.

No, it's not really. Plenty of pro's incorporate a small step forwards in their service motion. Some might say that it complicates things, but ultimately, something this minor is not going to make the difference between being a good server and a bad one.

 

[Blake0]

Is it bad to do this? Seems like everyone is saying its a bad habit, although it seems as some pros even take a little step or shift to regain balance. If its legal, then maybe i just step back further but do the little step / shift.

Moving the back foot forward to go into pin point stance is different (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmmSMJhIUqU), im assuming thats what you meant when you said even pros take a step. I don't see any pros move their front foot normally during their motion in matches, unless it's by accident and they foot fault.

Moving back is not a bad thing and is legal, but i'd rather have you stop moving your left foot altogether. Shadow swing your service motion with a racket and see if you feel like you're loosing balance. Stop at your trophy position and see if you can hold it their for some time.

 

[ejewels]

Thanks. I'm only asking because I read another thread where people were saying it was technically against the rules... but then again pros do it, like this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpC***I7AN8&feature=related

 

[fuzz nation]

No they don't. Even in heavier high school matches with roaming officials, you'll get called for it on the spot. Some recreational players will take serious exception to foot faulting, too. Learn a reliable motion where you don't do it.

You'll be fine if you either back up your starting position by maybe only a half a foot or so, or learn to serve with a windup where your front foot stays put and you drag your back foot forward before you plant and drive your swing. Marat Safin makes a very deliberate move into his serve and he steps forward with both feet to crank it up.

 

[Tina]

Does foot work really help play tennis? I've never pay attention to this part. I am still learning about this sport. Thanks. Tina

 

[ejewels]

im assuming thats what you meant when you said even pros take a step. I don't see any pros move their front foot normally during their motion in matches, unless it's by accident and they foot fault.

Actually, no... I meant a serve that does both. There are a few pros like safin who step in with their left foot, then swing in their right foot to plant, then bend and jump... It has to be legal if they are doing it.

 

[charliefedererer]

The problem for almost every foot faulter is that they do not get into a proper "bow shape" in their trophy pose and/or drop their tossing arm too soon, rather than continuing to bring it up after ball release to maintain that bow shape.

As a result they are not properly balanced as they go into their swing.

Do the following to stop foot faulting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeZp90h-Ar8&feature=channel
http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/vid...technique/leading-with-your-hip-when-serving/

 

[TheOneHander]

Does foot work really help play tennis? I've never pay attention to this part. I am still learning about this sport. Thanks. Tina

Uh...YES! Very much It helps you prepare properly for your shot and it gives you more time while allowing you to have a better position. Beginners commonly miss the ball because they try to arm it and don't use their legs and feet to transfer weight into the ball and set up. Hope this helps!

To get back on topic, the Code states that taking one step with each foot is completely legal, but one step per foot during the serve only. There is nothing illegal about it-in fact, David Ferrer steps into his serve using both feet.

 

[richjohn]

Salute!

At least you are aware of the foot fault and now are trying to fix it here.

Some players I am playing with are aware of it but just ignore it...Sigh..If I call the foot fault, they are not able to play...

Hello,

A buddy of mine recorded us today serving. For a while now I've been known for my serve and its spin and power within my little tennis click. After watching myself serve on the playback, I noticed that I'm shuffling my left foot and foot faulting on literally all of my thought-to-be-great serves. It's not horrific, but I seem to toss, bend, and right before I spring up and jump into the serve, my left foot shuffles onto the baseline... foot fault . Anyone have this horrible realization before? What do I do? Any help greatly appreciated.