Height to serve speed relation
- Thread starter RFGOAT1992
- Start date
I"ve never walked up to Andy Roddick live, so will defer.
He's listed at 6'2", and when he loses to Fed, he's taller than Fed, and 20+ lbs. wider in shoulders and legs.
I'm 5'10", and with insoles in my tennis shoes, might be close to 6', but serve like a 5'9" tall person just the same. I can't create the ball speed to exceed 105 mph, unless it's hot outside, no wind, no sun, new Wilson balls, and I"m fresh. Those are unrealistic conditions, for all to come together.
US Army test, Feb., 1980, I was listed 5'10" and 3/4, me making arches in both my feet, cheating basically, since I"m flat footed.
I"ve seen plenty of shorter players with MUCH bigger serves, but those guys are 4.5+ level players, and choose to spin the ball IN at barely 100, something I can match....by hitting flat.
He's listed at 6'2", and when he loses to Fed, he's taller than Fed, and 20+ lbs. wider in shoulders and legs.
I'm 5'10", and with insoles in my tennis shoes, might be close to 6', but serve like a 5'9" tall person just the same. I can't create the ball speed to exceed 105 mph, unless it's hot outside, no wind, no sun, new Wilson balls, and I"m fresh. Those are unrealistic conditions, for all to come together.
US Army test, Feb., 1980, I was listed 5'10" and 3/4, me making arches in both my feet, cheating basically, since I"m flat footed.
I"ve seen plenty of shorter players with MUCH bigger serves, but those guys are 4.5+ level players, and choose to spin the ball IN at barely 100, something I can match....by hitting flat.
v-verb
Hall of Fame
Is that really 130? Wow!
130?
I don't have the know how to measure.
I'd bet it's closer to 120, or high teens.
Mat Lin, who can serve around 111 tops, hit a couple against me, and they seemed about the same speed and bounce. We played in 68 degree weather.
I can't hit that speed, but several players on this forum will vouch I can serve pretty close to that.
I don't have the know how to measure.
I'd bet it's closer to 120, or high teens.
Mat Lin, who can serve around 111 tops, hit a couple against me, and they seemed about the same speed and bounce. We played in 68 degree weather.
I can't hit that speed, but several players on this forum will vouch I can serve pretty close to that.
BigSkyChamp
Rookie
Close. I meant he CAN serve 130MPH, but that particular serve was probably more like low 120's. We just decided to take a few clips after hitting for 3 hours, so there probably wasn't a lot of juice left.
I'm supposed to hit again with him soon, so I will tell him to unleash the cannon next time.
I'm supposed to hit again with him soon, so I will tell him to unleash the cannon next time.
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I haven't faced anything like 120's in over 5 years.
Seems to me, if it goes 130, you can't really see it, but you can see which side it's coming, and you already figured out it's bounce height, so just stick your racket out with solid body position, hope your depth perception is working full time, and hope to block it back.
Seems to me, if it goes 130, you can't really see it, but you can see which side it's coming, and you already figured out it's bounce height, so just stick your racket out with solid body position, hope your depth perception is working full time, and hope to block it back.
RFGOAT1992
Semi-Pro
woah look at all these diggers. hahaha
im approaching 90mph now im currently tweeking my elbow position and my jump, i felt like my elbow was too close too my body, so it really affected my speed and consistency, currently fixing it, im feeling more power now, i also need to incorporate my whole body into it a bit more, i still feel disconected a bit on my upper and lower half, its not yet a smooth motion, i feel like i can get even higher speed and consistentcy if i can get a smother body movement from it.
im approaching 90mph now im currently tweeking my elbow position and my jump, i felt like my elbow was too close too my body, so it really affected my speed and consistency, currently fixing it, im feeling more power now, i also need to incorporate my whole body into it a bit more, i still feel disconected a bit on my upper and lower half, its not yet a smooth motion, i feel like i can get even higher speed and consistentcy if i can get a smother body movement from it.
Kalin
Legend
One thing about height and serve- I bet most of us are thinking 'if I only were 2 inche taller I'd kill every serve'. I know I am (6"1.5)
So work with what you have and work on spin and placement. Speeds are relative anyway. Does anyone believe that Groth's serve was 167 when almost no serve in history (measured in a proper court) has been over 148?
So work with what you have and work on spin and placement. Speeds are relative anyway. Does anyone believe that Groth's serve was 167 when almost no serve in history (measured in a proper court) has been over 148?
donquijote
G.O.A.T.
What creates the ball acceleration is racquet head speed before the contact.
The more the distance between swing start point and the ball contact point, the higher head speed one can produce.
That means, people with broader wing spans (long arms) can create faster serves. Usually taller people have much bigger wing spans.
Taller players also have the advantage hitting the ball from a higher contact point in the air, hence being able to make less errors and also get more bounce when the ball lands on the other side of the net.
We all know serve is very crucial in tennis. That's why we don't see many short pro tennis players.
The more the distance between swing start point and the ball contact point, the higher head speed one can produce.
That means, people with broader wing spans (long arms) can create faster serves. Usually taller people have much bigger wing spans.
Taller players also have the advantage hitting the ball from a higher contact point in the air, hence being able to make less errors and also get more bounce when the ball lands on the other side of the net.
We all know serve is very crucial in tennis. That's why we don't see many short pro tennis players.
There is no doubt that pro players, shorter than 5'7", CAN hit flat serves IN at around the 135 mph range. They don't often try it, of course, geometry and all that, but they are certainly capable of hitting a ball that speed.
I know a couple of 6'6" tall guys who can never clear 90 mph on first serves, and they used to play at 4.0 level. They were superior retrievers and could reach sideline to sideline with very few steps, get to drop shots, and reach up to hit overheads. They were extremely thin, like 6'6" and maybe 165 lbs.
And of course, 10 guys at 5'10" and around 150 lbs., only 2 can hit over 100, while at least 2 can't break 90 mph, but all play at 4.0 levels.
I know a couple of 6'6" tall guys who can never clear 90 mph on first serves, and they used to play at 4.0 level. They were superior retrievers and could reach sideline to sideline with very few steps, get to drop shots, and reach up to hit overheads. They were extremely thin, like 6'6" and maybe 165 lbs.
And of course, 10 guys at 5'10" and around 150 lbs., only 2 can hit over 100, while at least 2 can't break 90 mph, but all play at 4.0 levels.
donquijote
G.O.A.T.
I don't know any current ATP players shorter than 5'8". Not at least in the Top 100.
Anyone?
Anyone?
Diego Schwartzman?
C
Cenarius
Guest
ATP says 5ft 7in(170 cm).But seems a little shorter.
donquijote
G.O.A.T.
goran_ace
Hall of Fame
Michael Chang was listed at 5'9" back in his playing days but I stood near him at a tournament once and that height listing might be a little generous. His legs were huge though. He could hit 130 when he wanted to. I think it was the '92 season where he experimenting going for bigger serves to get some easy points, but that just wasn't his game and took away from his ability to grind an opponent down.
dominikk1985
Legend
only Plays a role if your technique already is very good. 5"6 tall pro Girls and Junior Players can easily serve 100+ because of their technique.
donquijote
G.O.A.T.
I doubt that. Here is the stats from Serena-Venus Wimbledon match:
These are two of the best servers in women's tennis. Serena averages 105 MPH and Venus 100 MPH.
http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/scores/stats/day15/2401ms.html
(click on SERVE STATS)
Average Serve Speed
SERENA / VENUS
Total | 1st Serve | 2nd Serve | 2nd Serve | 1st Serve | Total
105 MPH | 108 MPH | 97 MPH | 86 MPH | 106 MPH | 100 MPH
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tennisdad65
Hall of Fame
Most pro's can hit their flats at 125+mph irrespective of height. Lots of club players these days can hit flats over 100 mph. It is the first serve % that's more important.
Examples:
Nishikori, 5-10, - flats around 25-35% at 125 mph, mixed in with topspin or slice firsts. His untimely flat attempts often get his first serve % down to 50% or less.
Murray, 6-3, - flats around 30-35% at 135 mph, mixed in with topspin or slice firsts. Overall first serve % ~60%, though he went with less flats in this wimby and increased his first serve %.
Nadal, 6-1, never hits a pure flat serve.. first serve % is ~65% +
Novak, 6-2, never hits a pure flat serve.. topspin or topspin-slice firsts between 105-120mph, first serve % is mostly 65-70% +..
Which serving model would you pick? I would pick Novak's..
Examples:
Nishikori, 5-10, - flats around 25-35% at 125 mph, mixed in with topspin or slice firsts. His untimely flat attempts often get his first serve % down to 50% or less.
Murray, 6-3, - flats around 30-35% at 135 mph, mixed in with topspin or slice firsts. Overall first serve % ~60%, though he went with less flats in this wimby and increased his first serve %.
Nadal, 6-1, never hits a pure flat serve.. first serve % is ~65% +
Novak, 6-2, never hits a pure flat serve.. topspin or topspin-slice firsts between 105-120mph, first serve % is mostly 65-70% +..
Which serving model would you pick? I would pick Novak's..
heninfan99
Talk Tennis Guru
goran_ace
Hall of Fame
Averages. Venus and Serena have maxed out at 128-129ish. Look at Federer's average versus his max versus what people claim to hit on here.
dominikk1985
Legend
I was talking about top end Speed not average. serena has dialed it up to 125 occasionally but her average is slower. even errani occasionally serves one at about 90 mph and she is about the slowest Server on tour.
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