Hit a 98 MPH serve today!!

[HunterST]

I finally got around to taking my radar gun out and hit some serves. My fastest serve was 98 mph. I got two others in the 90s and the rest were mostly mid to upper 80s for first serves. My second serves were around 55-60 mph. One of them was 79.

How far do you think my average serve speeds will take me? That is, how will around an 85 mph first serve and a 60 mph second serve affect each NTRP level?

My guesses:

at 3.5: 1st serve=weapon. 2nd serve= lesser weapon

4.0: 1st serve= fairly good weapon. 2nd serve= Neutral (not a weapon, not a liability)

4.5: 1st serve= Neutral. 2nd serve= pretty significant hindrance

 

[Carlito]

Speed is not the only thing to consider when serving. There is a guy that serves about 80 aand I have a very hard time breaking him. Then there is another guy that serves 100+ and I break him all the time. Location, Location, Location.

 

[HunterST]

Speed is not the only thing to consider when serving. There is a guy that serves about 80 aand I have a very hard time breaking him. Then there is another guy that serves 100+ and I break him all the time. Location, Location, Location.

Good point. I have directional control, but not pin point accuracy. I can get it to your backhand or forehand, but I can't paint the lines.

 

[RoddickAce]

Well, my serves were estimated by TW posters to be around 80-85mph, but recently I played against a low 5.0 and I was able to ace him quite a few times with ok placement.

 

[teppeiahn1]

you can crank up to 100mph with bad technique. speed wont take you far but correct form will take you far.

So the question is "how far will my technique take me?"

 

[coach]

Speed is not the only thing to consider when serving. There is a guy that serves about 80 aand I have a very hard time breaking him. Then there is another guy that serves 100+ and I break him all the time. Location, Location, Location.

very true! A guy I play hits 95 mph serves but with no spin or placement, always flat. I block half of them back and break him all the time. A 95mph serve that bends and kicks in different ways and places is much more effective.

Also, there are many players that are "one-trick ponies"... a hard as hell serve or forehand but have other glaring weakness' in their games and that will limit how effective or good they will be. As they say, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

 

[HunterST]

Well, my serves were estimated by TW posters to be around 80-85mph, but recently I played against a low 5.0 and I was able to ace him quite a few times with ok placement.

Well if you're just going by TW posters then there's a good chance you're hitting 135

 

[GetBetterer]

I also agree with the posts who say that speed isn't everything. An announcer in a game (I think it was Wimbledon 2009) said Federer doesn't have the fastest serves, but he can place the serves where it needs to go.

 

[forthegame]

I too can hit over 100mph, they just hit the back fence before landing or the bottom of the net (or worse still, my partner's behind)!

As some sage (above) said, it's Location. Location, Location.

Seriously, I'm impressed by any non-pro who can hit such speeds, well done!

 

[WildVolley]

In my experience, there is a lot of variation in serve speed up to the 5.0 level. There are definitely some 4.0 players who serve harder than some 5.0 players. There are probably even some 4.0 players who have better serves than some 5.0 players. However, I rarely find people below the 4.0 level who hit consistently above 90mph (though I'm sure there are some).

Speed alone isn't what matters, but it does say something about your technique and potential ability level if you can easily bring over 100mph with good form. Perhaps all the top 50 players in the world can bring 130mph+ when they want. Federer can hit 130+ but rarely does, and he has a very strong serve.

I'd be more concerned about your second serve speed. Unless you are getting good spin, a 55mph second serve is going to be targeted by most 4.0 or higher players.

 

[LeeD]

Here's a couple of pretty slow servers who somehow seem to play almost OK tennis for a little while.
JimmyConnors, max 107.
JohnMcEnroe, max 115.
KenRosewall, no doubt less than 105
AlbertoBarasetchi, 105
HaroldSolomon, 100
EddyDibbs, 118
They weren't anyone you'd remember, but I thought they had potential at least up to maybe solid ......

 

[SirSweetSpot]

Connors had the most efficient service motion ever. A thing of beauty really.

 

[LeeD]

His motion was very similar to mine, but he'd push it in at girl speeds.
I hate to use him as an example of my service motion, or vice versa, as he's like the best, and I'm closer to the bottom of the heap.
But with very similar motions, I'd get it close to 130, while his poked along at barely over 100.
Of course, his groundies and eagle eyes made some difference.

 

[Davis937]

His motion was very similar to mine, but he'd push it in at girl speeds.
I hate to use him as an example of my service motion, or vice versa, as he's like the best, and I'm closer to the bottom of the heap.
But with very similar motions, I'd get it close to 130, while his poked along at barely over 100.
Of course, his groundies and eagle eyes made some difference.

Hey Lee ... I'm a shorty at 5'6" ... my service motion is improving, as is my serve ... can a dude my height get up to 100 mph ... or ... is that a pipe dream?

 

[Davis937]

I finally got around to taking my radar gun out and hit some serves. My fastest serve was 98 mph. I got two others in the 90s and the rest were mostly mid to upper 80s for first serves. My second serves were around 55-60 mph. One of them was 79.

How far do you think my average serve speeds will take me? That is, how will around an 85 mph first serve and a 60 mph second serve affect each NTRP level?

My guesses:

at 3.5: 1st serve=weapon. 2nd serve= lesser weapon

4.0: 1st serve= fairly good weapon. 2nd serve= Neutral (not a weapon, not a liability)

4.5: 1st serve= Neutral. 2nd serve= pretty significant hindrance

Good show, Hunter ... you have every right to celebrate ... congratulations, must feel great!

 

[Yenster]

I'm around 5'7 and I served 89mph, 61mph kick. You beat me =(

 

[Nanshiki]

Saying you hit a 98 MPH serve is like claiming you have a six-inch member... most people will tend to believe you, but they aren't exactly going to be impressed.

 

[SuperDuy]

Hey Lee ... I'm a shorty at 5'6" ... my service motion is improving, as is my serve ... can a dude my height get up to 100 mph ... or ... is that a pipe dream?

I think Olivier Rochus had a 136 mph serve before. hes 5'5

 

[HunterST]

Good show, Hunter ... you have every right to celebrate ... congratulations, must feel great!

I too can hit over 100mph, they just hit the back fence before landing or the bottom of the net (or worse still, my partner's behind)!

As some sage (above) said, it's Location. Location, Location.

Seriously, I'm impressed by any non-pro who can hit such speeds, well done!

Thanks a lot guys! I appreciate the support

Saying you hit a 98 MPH serve is like claiming you have a six-inch member... most people will tend to believe you, but they aren't exactly going to be impressed.

The vast majority of tennis players cannot break 100 mph. I'm a 3.5 and I first picked up a racket 20 months ago. I know it's not an elite level serve, but for my experience and ability level I'm pretty happy with it.

 

[Jaewonnie]

Lol played some practice doubles today. Hit a plus 110mph into the wrong service box (it was in though) right through the guy's legs. Looool.

I shouldve just hit him and got the point. This is real placement

 

[HunterST]

Lol played some practice doubles today. Hit a plus 110mph into the wrong service box (it was in though) right through the guy's legs. Looool.

I shouldve just hit him and got the point. This is real placement

haha wow. You could probably get a few more mph if it was going in the right direction. How did you get it clocked during play? Do you have one that measures speed from the side?

 

[Davis937]

I think Olivier Rochus had a 136 mph serve before. hes 5'5

Thanks, SD, for the encouragement ... I'll just keep on working ... and reaching for the "stars" ... sorry, that was pretty bad, no!

 

[Larrysümmers]

Saying you hit a 98 MPH serve is like claiming you have a six-inch member... most people will tend to believe you, but they aren't exactly going to be impressed.

lmao. That is funny

 

[autumn_leaf]

Saying you hit a 98 MPH serve is like claiming you have a six-inch member... most people will tend to believe you, but they aren't exactly going to be impressed.

again...location location location :twisted:

it doesn't matter how big your "serve" is. it depends on how many times you can get it in as well...pft lol...

 

[Jaewonnie]

haha wow. You could probably get a few more mph if it was going in the right direction. How did you get it clocked during play? Do you have one that measures speed from the side?

Well my local pro confirmed some of my serves to be plus 110mph. And I can estimate the speed pretty much everytime i serve now but its not exact.

 

[Nanshiki]

The vast majority of tennis players cannot break 100 mph. I'm a 3.5 and I first picked up a racket 20 months ago. I know it's not an elite level serve, but for my experience and ability level I'm pretty happy with it.

If you just started playing a year and a half ago, what makes you so sure that the 'vast' majority of players cannot break 100 MPH? I would guess that most 4.0 men could break 100 MPH if they didn't care about it going in.

 

[SlapShot]

Well my local pro confirmed some of my serves to be plus 110mph. And I can estimate the speed pretty much everytime i serve now but its not exact.

So....that's a no then.

I agree that spin and deception are just as big of weapons as pace. I actually tend to take some off of my serve and put some junk on it to keep people off balance, and that works for me up to 4.5.

That being said, my flatter serve stretches into the upper-teens, 120+ range, it's just 40% (or less) consistent, so a kicker at 75-80 is a nice "change-up".

 

[drakulie]

Well my local pro confirmed some of my serves to be plus 110mph. And I can estimate the speed pretty much everytime i serve now but its not exact.

not a very good way to calculate speed.

 

[coach]

Isn't Henin like 5-6 or 5-7, and she guns it routinely over 100, and can kick it up to 120+ on occasion. Shows what proper training and technique can do.

 

[HunterST]

If you just started playing a year and a half ago, what makes you so sure that the 'vast' majority of players cannot break 100 MPH? I would guess that most 4.0 men could break 100 MPH if they didn't care about it going in.

Because I've actually done research and talked to people who have been playing for years.

There's a thread titled the "over 100 mph club" on this forum. Very few players can confirm that they have hit 100, and the ones that have are the highest level players such as Tonlars, Will Hammilton, Clint Thomson, etc.

My guess: You don't really know much about recreational tennis. You hear tennis commentators on TV talk about how amazingly slow a 90 mph second serve is, or how the players are just spinning it in at 110 on their first serve. Those are the standards for the pros, not for the rest of us.

 

[drakulie]

My guess: You don't really know much about recreational tennis. You hear tennis commentators on TV talk about how amazingly slow a 90 mph second serve is, or how the players are just spinning it in at 110 on their first serve. Those are the standards for the pros, not for the rest of us.

true. I myself took my radar gun out a few times, and most people who **swear** they are easily topping a 100 mph, could barely crack 80 mph.......And this is with no pressure, and not worrying about hitting it into the box.

Most people really have no idea how fast they are hitting the ball.

Of course, I could crack the 100 mph mark.

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

Saying you hit a 98 MPH serve is like claiming you have a six-inch member... most people will tend to believe you, but they aren't exactly going to be impressed.

nice !!!!!

 

[Jaewonnie]

not a very good way to calculate speed.

our club does have a radar gun where u place it just behind the net though. I'm assuming he knows what he's talking about.

 

[SlapShot]

our club does have a radar gun where u place it just behind the net though. I'm assuming he knows what he's talking about.

So, you haven't had your serve clocked period?

One person's estimate doesn't equal truth.

 

[autumn_leaf]

true. I myself took my radar gun out a few times, and most people who **swear** they are easily topping a 100 mph, could barely crack 80 mph.......And this is with no pressure, and not worrying about hitting it into the box.

Most people really have no idea how fast they are hitting the ball.

Of course, I could crack the 100 mph mark.

my coach had that speed trax thing out one day. i tried wailing on the ball and could only get 82mph... lol. i think i hit faster now because i don't try to throw everything into it. just hit clean and smooth.

most of the time i doubt i'm breaking into the 60s-70s since i have a good amount of spin on the ball, i find a fast flat serve is quite useless if it only goes in 20% of the time. which might even be a generous number for me.

Because I've actually done research and talked to people who have been playing for years.

There's a thread titled the "over 100 mph club" on this forum. Very few players can confirm that they have hit 100, and the ones that have are the highest level players such as Tonlars, Will Hammilton, Clint Thomson, etc.

My guess: You don't really know much about recreational tennis. You hear tennis commentators on TV talk about how amazingly slow a 90 mph second serve is, or how the players are just spinning it in at 110 on their first serve. Those are the standards for the pros, not for the rest of us.

i agree that most recreational players aren't able to hit above 100 but some are. when i was in high school this kid who was like 6'6" training for a decathlon picked up a racquet and started hitting bombs on every stroke... looking at him i was like "this just ain't fair". this is a guy barely knew the rules of tennis, but was very athletic, i do believe he broke the 100 mark quite easily as the ball was still rising on a flat serve when it smacked against the fence.

the other poster has a point though, just because you can hit over 100 mph doesn't make you a great player if other areas of your games are lacking. and i have seen 4.0+ players that have the strangest and dinkiest serves but made up for it with solid footwork and groundies.

just remember that a good serve is one less thing to worry about. it's really not an advantage unless your opponent has trouble with it. in fact it can be a disadvantage if you start relying on it too much.

 

[EKnee08]

I also agree with the posts who say that speed isn't everything. An announcer in a game (I think it was Wimbledon 2009) said Federer doesn't have the fastest serves, but he can place the serves where it needs to go.

Sampras never or rarely served over 123-124...

 

[onehandbh]

true. I myself took my radar gun out a few times, and most people who **swear** they are easily topping a 100 mph, could barely crack 80 mph.......And this is with no pressure, and not worrying about hitting it into the box.

Most people really have no idea how fast they are hitting the ball.

Of course, I could crack the 100 mph mark.

Very true. Most people don't have an idea of how fast 100+ is.
Someone on TW made a video frame rate calculator that was pretty accurate.
For those that want to get an idea, just get
some video (preferably 30 fps or higher) and as long as it shows the
contact point and point it hits the court, you can get a rough estimate.

http://donthireddy.us/tennis/speed.html

You have to subtract a little distance for how far you lean into the court
and where it lands, etc. but I think the equation looks fairly accurate.

 

[EKnee08]

Lol played some practice doubles today. Hit a plus 110mph into the wrong service box (it was in though) right through the guy's legs. Looool.

I shouldve just hit him and got the point. This is real placement

You and Sampras...Hit for Haiti (LOL). Lets not go there anymore!

 

[ProgressoR]

too much tension here, Guys, OP is pleased with his serve, its a great speed, and good luck on improving it. These kinds of things work wonders with confidence for developing players, and I am sure OP knows all the stuff about placement, consistency, that a well placed and well spun 90mph serve is probably more effective than a blasted 110mph serve that hardly goes in and when it does just goes in the cleanhit zone of the receiver. Just chill and let him enjoy, I say.

I am sure he will continue to work and improve and enjoy the game.

Well done Hunter

 

[ProgressoR]

and totally agree than many players who are convinced they hit 100mph serves probably find out its more like 80mph. Not many record themselves like drac did and post the results along with the speed gun reading. My friend tells me my serve must be 100mph, but i think its exaggeration (though maybe he thinks it) its probably less than 90, prob in the 80's, but I can improve it a lot and hope to get to 100mph 1 day, if i do i will be very happy that day. But i wont post on here if it happens, too much tension, as I said

 

[SirSweetSpot]

His motion was very similar to mine, but he'd push it in at girl speeds.
I hate to use him as an example of my service motion, or vice versa, as he's like the best, and I'm closer to the bottom of the heap.
But with very similar motions, I'd get it close to 130, while his poked along at barely over 100.
Of course, his groundies and eagle eyes made some difference.

I think if Jimbo's serve even pretended to be a weapon he'd be the undisputed GOAT.

Can you imagine the Connors style coupled with a 120+ serve?

 

[WildVolley]

If you just started playing a year and a half ago, what makes you so sure that the 'vast' majority of players cannot break 100 MPH? I would guess that most 4.0 men could break 100 MPH if they didn't care about it going in.

I'd be willing to put very good money on the fact that most tennis players in the world do not serve over 100mph. I'm almost certain there hasn't been a good study, but from personal study of high school players and public court recreational players in Southern California, the % I've clocked hitting over 100mph is under 10%.

I have a high school player who I've clocked hitting 116mph in practice. He's an athletic guy who has a very low 1st serve % when he's going for the big bombs. The next best on my team can just barely push 100mph when they go for it. I haven't even seen the five star recruits in my league hitting much above 100mph on first serves.

Most lower level players do a poor job judging serve speed. One day I was hitting what were big serves for me (probably 105-115mph). The guys I was playing against (self-rated 4.0-4.5s) started calling me Roddick. They didn't believe me when I told them that Roddick easily brings 20mph more than my serve with much more spin.

 

[Nanshiki]

Most players can't hit 100+ serves in matches. Like I said, I said only when they were going to max velocity and nothing else.

 

[Dave M]

I had my serve measured at Wimbledon as a 14 year old, i served with an aluminum racket they had there and was clocked at, 83 and 88 mph, that with a 25" frame too.I was elighted in fact so much so i'v never bothered to test it again as many of said i'v foun over the yars that the harder/faster I hit the serves the more often some git at the other side of the net flails at it and hots some crazy angl fo a winner as they fall over.If i kick a serve in at 60 ish to their backhand making them play a shot by their had i win a lot more points!

 

[big bang]

His motion was very similar to mine, but he'd push it in at girl speeds.
I hate to use him as an example of my service motion, or vice versa, as he's like the best, and I'm closer to the bottom of the heap.
But with very similar motions, I'd get it close to 130, while his poked along at barely over 100.
Of course, his groundies and eagle eyes made some difference.

sure! last week your serve looked like Kordas bet it looks more like Andreevs with the speed of a 12 year old!

 

[LeeD]

Bold words for 901 posts!
Don't discount the serve speeds of someone who has played at A-Open levels for a couple of years.
Remember, nowadays at 61, first try no stretching or warmup, I can throw an NFL football over 55 yards.
And when I practice my serves, most come over and watch for a little while, any court, anywhere.
Of course, they wonder how someone can miss so many flat first serves.......

 

[ProgressoR]

Bold words for 901 posts!
Don't discount the serve speeds of someone who has played at A-Open levels for a couple of years.
Remember, nowadays at 61, first try no stretching or warmup, I can throw an NFL football over 55 yards.
And when I practice my serves, most come over and watch for a little while, any court, anywhere.
Of course, they wonder how someone can miss so many flat first serves.......

55 yards is impressive, with no warm up. I never threw one of those but i could throw a cricket ball about 70 yards, which is pretty good for amateurs but not great. However i find the same throwing motion translates well into the serve. Not surprised you can whack your flat serve. At your age too!

 

[LeeD]

Problem is, I cannot cover alley to alley, or move back from net position nearly as well as 35 years ago. I know HOW to move, just can't get it going, like feet stuck in mud, slow motion, while the brain is waiting for the body to start up, get in gear, then slowly wander off in the general direction.
Imagine how Chang or Rosewall felt when they got older.
It's a tough reality to face, and the choices are somewhat limited ..

 

[SirSweetSpot]

Yeah, the strokes tend to stay...but mired in quicksand what good are they?

 

[SuperDuy]

Bold words for 901 posts!
Don't discount the serve speeds of someone who has played at A-Open levels for a couple of years.
Remember, nowadays at 61, first try no stretching or warmup, I can throw an NFL football over 55 yards.
And when I practice my serves, most come over and watch for a little while, any court, anywhere.
Of course, they wonder how someone can miss so many flat first serves.......

So thats pretty cool you used to be a 5.5 player, people always think not.