Hitting the Back Fence on Serve

[Datacipher]

Depends on the fence. There is one court at one club in my area where I can routinely hit serves through the fence. Everywhere else the fence holds the ball in.

I find on a standard fence, once I start going over 100mph....maybe one in 30 go through....of course...sometimes you do 3 in a row, then nothing happens for 50 serves.....it's random as expected.

If you get those fences with bigger gaps then they start going through much more....I think the fences with plastic coating also let the ball through much more.

 

[RyKnocks]

Hmm, I should add that I use Penn Pressurless balls to practice serve. Will I get more bounce with a pressurized tournament ball?

 

[LeeD]

I've only used Tretorn Pressureless balls, and they're rocks that compare pretty evenly to my Dunlops.
If you want to impress someone, use Wilson's on a hot day.

 

[Fuji]

I've only used Tretorn Pressureless balls, and they're rocks that compare pretty evenly to my Dunlops.
If you want to impress someone, use Wilson's on a hot day.

VERY TRUE! LOL!

Wilson's can really take off on a really hot day. Last time I played with them during +35 Celsius, it was awesome! I felt like I was serving over 115MPH easy!

-Fuji

 

[rkelley]

VERY TRUE! LOL!

Wilson's can really take off on a really hot day. Last time I played with them during +35 Celsius, it was awesome! I felt like I was serving over 115MPH easy!

-Fuji

Actually on the warmer days in to really that you're serving faster, it's that the balls are slowing down less. I was hitting with my son last week at night - probably 65°F and 60-70% RH. The balls tend to die and we both have to remember to take a step in from where we think the ball will actually be. This weekend I was hitting with him around noon - 85°F and 30-40% RH. His serve was just heavier. I had to put more topspin on the ball to keep it in. The difference is . . . night and day (sorry).

 

[LeeD]

Yes, and that is why I avoid tennis when it's over 65 degrees, use the heaviest DunlopHDHardcourtXtraFelt balls, and wilt in matches played in over 80 degrees.....
I can't pick up the fast serves at all.

 

[Fuji]

Actually on the warmer days in to really that you're serving faster, it's that the balls are slowing down less. I was hitting with my son last week at night - probably 65°F and 60-70% RH. The balls tend to die and we both have to remember to take a step in from where we think the ball will actually be. This weekend I was hitting with him around noon - 85°F and 30-40% RH. His serve was just heavier. I had to put more topspin on the ball to keep it in. The difference is . . . night and day (sorry).

LOL! I thoroughly enjoy puns and plays on words! They are my favorite form of joke!

It makes sense though. I feel like I just hit heavier in the heat, rather then the cold. I play at around 60% efficiency in the cold. I just can't get into it.

-Fuji

 

[LeeD]

I think there's an old thread where JollyRoger said he couldn't warm up when it's under 85 degrees.
Me, I melt when it's over 70 degrees, especially if it's sunny.

 

[mikeler]

I find on a standard fence, once I start going over 100mph....maybe one in 30 go through....of course...sometimes you do 3 in a row, then nothing happens for 50 serves.....it's random as expected.

If you get those fences with bigger gaps then they start going through much more....I think the fences with plastic coating also let the ball through much more.

I've only had a few go through on this court. One time there were a bunch of people standing around and it came very close to hitting a lady there.

 

[jmnk]

Guys, easy measurement here...
NINE racket lengths, standard racket, is 20' + 4" or so. If you have longer racket, I'll let you do the rocket science.
My first flat serves, with a strikepoint just under 9', seems to hit about 36-45" up on the backboard at least 8 out of 10 tries. This is DunlopHDHardcourt Heavyduty Xtra Felt new tennis balls in 58 degree weather around 10 in the morning.
They go much higher with any kind of Penn or Wilson balls, and in weather over 90, might actually bounce as high as they did on my serves 35 years ago.
At GoldenGatePark, and JDubbs can check it out, or anyone near SanFrancisco, my first flat serves would regularly hit just under, or bounce over the back railing on courts 1 thru 5. The fence is just over shoulder high, but I never measured it. I'm 5'11". Have hit the back railing at least 50 times.
And NOBODY sits behind the courts when I'm serving opposite side of courts 6 thru 11.

I'm impressed. That is until I watch again your recorded serves............ Than - not so much Exaggerating a bit?

 

[LeeD]

Dude, that vid was April, at night, almost no tennis thru a wet winter (record rain fall in California, + I'm working on rebuilding a house), I'm SIXTY TWO years old, have had a sprained left ankle for 2.5 years then, NOTICE MY GIMPY LIMP!
You would not play tennis if you can't run ONE step. I cannot run ONE step.
Now think! If I wasn't hobbled by a backfoot sprain, do you think my serve would have more POP?
As such, Alex, who provided the camera, is 6' tall and 175lbs. ,and even he says my serve has much more pop than anything he can hit.
Alex is a 4.0. I claim I'm a FALLING 4.0. My serve is just fine for a bad 4.0 who's hobbled by a sprained ankle and old age.

 

[mikeler]

If your ankle sprain is lasting 2.5 years may I suggest that you see a doctor.

 

[LeeD]

Please, you know I"m a homeless person basically, as such, have had no medical insurance since 1983.
You know I'm 62, staring down at my grave.
I'm just trying to live out the rest of my days.
I can still windsurf with the very best. I play pretty bad 4.0 singles, but uppermost level 4.0 doubles.
My snowboarding has suffered the most of all sports, as the loading of the backfoot, my sprained side, is key in coming out of turns.
Surfing is bad, but at least I've been surfing for over 45 years, and was OK at one time, so I can compensate.
Just bought a Cannondale Caad8, a relaxed geometry "roadrace" bike. Been doing 30 mile rides, taking just under 3 hours, to get the atrophy back up to size of both legs.

 

[jmnk]

Guys, easy measurement here...
NINE racket lengths, standard racket, is 20' + 4" or so. If you have longer racket, I'll let you do the rocket science.
My first flat serves, with a strikepoint just under 9', seems to hit about 36-45" up on the backboard at least 8 out of 10 tries. This is DunlopHDHardcourt Heavyduty Xtra Felt new tennis balls in 58 degree weather around 10 in the morning.
They go much higher with any kind of Penn or Wilson balls, and in weather over 90, might actually bounce as high as they did on my serves 35 years ago.
At GoldenGatePark, and JDubbs can check it out, or anyone near SanFrancisco, my first flat serves would regularly hit just under, or bounce over the back railing on courts 1 thru 5. The fence is just over shoulder high, but I never measured it. I'm 5'11". Have hit the back railing at least 50 times.
And NOBODY sits behind the courts when I'm serving opposite side of courts 6 thru 11.

I'm impressed. That is until I watch again your recorded serves............ Than - not so much Exaggerating a bit?

Dude, that vid was April, at night, almost no tennis thru a wet winter (record rain fall in California, + I'm working on rebuilding a house), I'm SIXTY TWO years old, have had a sprained left ankle for 2.5 years then, NOTICE MY GIMPY LIMP!
You would not play tennis if you can't run ONE step. I cannot run ONE step.
Now think! If I wasn't hobbled by a backfoot sprain, do you think my serve would have more POP?
As such, Alex, who provided the camera, is 6' tall and 175lbs. ,and even he says my serve has much more pop than anything he can hit.
Alex is a 4.0. I claim I'm a FALLING 4.0. My serve is just fine for a bad 4.0 who's hobbled by a sprained ankle and old age.

hey, I do not think, I see. You never stated in your post that you ---used to-- serve like you claim, instead it reads you can do it right now. Also, if you've routinely hit over 3 feet on the back fence 80% of your serves when healthy I just have doubts you would not be able to hit them just in consistently. April or not. Night or daylight.

 

[LeeD]

OK, point taken and appreciated.
BTW, I got that vid taken because someone was availible to vid, as I don't have that kind of gear.
Now you vid yourself serving after taking 2 months off winter due to rain.

 

[jmnk]

OK, point taken and appreciated.
BTW, I got that vid taken because someone was availible to vid, as I don't have that kind of gear.
Now you vid yourself serving after taking 2 months off winter due to rain.

I suppose I could but I do not see how my service in any way, shape, or form is relevant to how you claim you serve.:| It's not like I'm saying my serve is better or anything....

 

[papa]

Assuming all the other pieces are in place, hitting the back fence on one bounce is great. However, too many times younger players see this as the main goal and don't concentrate enough on the stroke mechanics of the serve. Often/most of the time, this results in too many faults.

 

[nabrug]

I'm impressed. That is until I watch again your recorded serves............ Than - not so much Exaggerating a bit?

Can you give me the link of his serves. I still have not seen them.

 

[jmnk]

Can you give me the link of his serves. I still have not seen them.

I would rather not. Ask LeeD, if he doesn't mind he will give you the links. there's always google as the last resort....