teppeiahn1
Rookie
I need to put more pace on my serves. They are around high 80's. let me know what you guys think!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dKEPF-A6tY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dKEPF-A6tY
Help me on my serve please (vid included)
- Thread starter teppeiahn1
- Start date
hacker_101
New User
Your form looks pretty good. I can't tell how far you toss the ball into the court because of the camera angle.
I would say toss the ball a little farther into the court so you get more weight transfer.
I would also say start your toss more parallel to the baseline and so your body has more coiled/stored energy.
Toss a little bit higher so you don't rush through your motion.
Look at these vids from a side perspective and you'll see how far they toss the ball into court wrt the baseline:
http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/pdmediabooks/assets/men/Frank%20Dancevic/PerformanceAnalysis.html
http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/pdmediabooks/assets/men/Novak%20Djokovic/PerformanceAnalysis.html
I would say toss the ball a little farther into the court so you get more weight transfer.
I would also say start your toss more parallel to the baseline and so your body has more coiled/stored energy.
Toss a little bit higher so you don't rush through your motion.
Look at these vids from a side perspective and you'll see how far they toss the ball into court wrt the baseline:
http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/pdmediabooks/assets/men/Frank%20Dancevic/PerformanceAnalysis.html
http://www.playerdevelopment.usta.com/pdmediabooks/assets/men/Novak%20Djokovic/PerformanceAnalysis.html
teppeiahn1
Rookie
Cool videos! I can see that they toss very far in front. I do need a higher toss.
Ill work on the coiling motion more next time! thx!
Ill work on the coiling motion more next time! thx!
teppeiahn1
Rookie
Hey thx, my serve used to be alot worst but for some odd reason, it improved somewhat with out practice.
My ground game is solid compared to the serve so im gona take LeeD's advice on working on it ALOT. My goal is to be able to hit solid serves, that can win points so I don't have to grind it out everytime.
Well, its a good serve but there are a few things that could be worked on.
Hard to tell a few couple of important things from the video but your grip looks is something that interests me.
I don't think the racquet pointing down is good either in the motion and I would keep it much higher - like above the waist. Your wrist goes a little too wimpy also and although some of that is good you might want to check because I think you have way too much.
I like your position and turn although its very quick which can/ofter does lead to a lot of errors. Racquet position might cause a lot of that because the toss seems about the right height but because of the severe racquet drop you have to hurry the entire motion.
I would work on the racquet position first because I think it might be the root of the problem.
Hard to tell a few couple of important things from the video but your grip looks is something that interests me.
I don't think the racquet pointing down is good either in the motion and I would keep it much higher - like above the waist. Your wrist goes a little too wimpy also and although some of that is good you might want to check because I think you have way too much.
I like your position and turn although its very quick which can/ofter does lead to a lot of errors. Racquet position might cause a lot of that because the toss seems about the right height but because of the severe racquet drop you have to hurry the entire motion.
I would work on the racquet position first because I think it might be the root of the problem.
teppeiahn1
Rookie
I understand what your saying. I need to kinda pause at the trophy position but instead I rush through it. Leading to very little loading = no power. I think I should fix the toss so I can slow down the motion a bit?
Yeah, you got a nice motion.
I'd turn much more sideways before bouncing the ball, get your feet more apart and choose either a platform (basically what you're doing now) stance or a pinpoint to get more ball speed and body momentum moving forwards.
As for your low toss. It looks rushed, buy you're getting a nice full swing, so I'd leave it and use it to your advantage like JollyS/V.
Low toss is really hard for opponent's to read, and you can hit hard without much effort with the low tosses.
Notice most male pros almost turn their backs to their opponents at the prep, similar to 1hbh topspin backhands. That allows more rotation into the ball. Reach higher with the toss to get the bow effect. Concentrate on hitting thru at the TOP of you swing, and try not to worry so much about the followthru.
Vids of pro good servers, just after ball strike, rackethead pointing straight down on the ground while the hand is still just behind it's zenith. Whip it, whip it good.
I'd turn much more sideways before bouncing the ball, get your feet more apart and choose either a platform (basically what you're doing now) stance or a pinpoint to get more ball speed and body momentum moving forwards.
As for your low toss. It looks rushed, buy you're getting a nice full swing, so I'd leave it and use it to your advantage like JollyS/V.
Low toss is really hard for opponent's to read, and you can hit hard without much effort with the low tosses.
Notice most male pros almost turn their backs to their opponents at the prep, similar to 1hbh topspin backhands. That allows more rotation into the ball. Reach higher with the toss to get the bow effect. Concentrate on hitting thru at the TOP of you swing, and try not to worry so much about the followthru.
Vids of pro good servers, just after ball strike, rackethead pointing straight down on the ground while the hand is still just behind it's zenith. Whip it, whip it good.
Bud
Bionic Poster
No glaring weaknesses in your form... which looks pretty good.
Would be nice to see where the ball is going into the court and the clearance over the net, however.
I see you wish to be a 5.5... What level are you currently?
teppeiahn1
Rookie
Hey thanks! My placement is alright on duce, somewhat weak on Ad.
Well I live in SoCal and Im under 18 so I can not play NTPR tournaments.
But based on my practice partners, Im good 4.5. Im pretty hard on myself but there are just too many gaps in my game to call myself a 5.0 or 5.5. I have no problem rallying with them though since my strongest part of game (like most juniors) are groundstrokes. But when I play sets, they put me in my place forsure.
Bud
Bionic Poster
If you were in San Diego, I'd hit with you to give you some idea of where you're at level wise. I've got a number of friends who play USTA and know where I'm at based on my results against them.
I'm currently on the waiting list for either a 4.0 or 4.5 league... I didn't realize how difficult it would be to find a league here in SD at those levels.
Bud
Bionic Poster
On his third and fourth serves especially (I just watched the first 4 for a FF), he does foot fault slightly as his left foot 'adjusts' and slightly crosses the baseline. It's so minor though, it would not affect the outcome of a game or match. A line judge may catch it though. It's difficult to see how far behind the baseline his toe is, when starting the service motion... so, he may not be FF at all. Very difficult camera angle to identify a FF.
To the OP... make sure when bring your right foot forward, as you prepare to jump into the court, your left toe doesn't rotate onto the baseline. If you notice (after reading the comments here) that you are FF, you could start your service ritual/motion 3-4" behind the baseline.
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teppeiahn1
Rookie
teppeiahn1
Rookie
I don't usualy foot faul, but ill be careful next time.
teppeiahn1
Rookie
Yea good point, I lack in the rotation alot, ill try putting my left foot parallel to the baseline next time!
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Some simple stuff for you:
1) When you get into your set up position, make sure the racquet and the right forearm are not in a "L" position. Have the racquet almost straight or in line with your forearm.
2) Aim at the ball with your belly button. This will improve your coiling motion.
1) When you get into your set up position, make sure the racquet and the right forearm are not in a "L" position. Have the racquet almost straight or in line with your forearm.
2) Aim at the ball with your belly button. This will improve your coiling motion.
teppeiahn1
Rookie
I will take off all the tention on my wrist next time, thx!
teppeiahn1
Rookie
Yea it slowly becamse a habit. I need to fix the toss because I throw it left and right so I get off balance on shots. thx!
Can you explain to me about the shoulder being square?
USERNAME
Professional
Ok what I mean is that after you follow through your shoulders are level with each other, like a square. Also you should also be facing the net with your shoulders, maybe turned a little to your left.
OK. Make one "tiny" change at a time because the serve is good and should carry you quite far. If you just try and make it a little more smooth, the racquet might not stay down for as it is now.
Its not wrong that the racquet comes down, you know that, it just seems to me that it stays there too long and as a result everything else is rushed.
teppeiahn1
Rookie
Ok thx, I tend to sometimes push of with 1 foot, and good tips that would help me use both?
teppeiahn1
Rookie
Ok ill try to simplify the motion just a little bit with a little higher toss. hopefully it would smoothly flow through.!!
Yep, I agree with others posting.
Higher the ball toss a little that will allow you to have a trophy pose set before your swing. Your serve motion is very similar with mine in fact. And what I try to do is kind of pause for like half a second with the throphy position and then swing. But I had to practice a lot with the ball toss, since it is changing the rythm of the serve motion.
Higher the ball toss a little that will allow you to have a trophy pose set before your swing. Your serve motion is very similar with mine in fact. And what I try to do is kind of pause for like half a second with the throphy position and then swing. But I had to practice a lot with the ball toss, since it is changing the rythm of the serve motion.
