How do I serve 125mph and hit the T? [video included]

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Easy.
You're already close to triple digits.
Just grow another 5", become 24 years old again, and practice swinging for fast flat serves for 2 more years.
 

Lukhas

Legend
Lol. You don't need TT help.
Well, this. That said, the placement looks good enough. He doesn't need to "thread a needle" so to speak, hit a perfect serve at 125mph bang on the T. Getting that precision with his speed is pretty good enough.
 
I know it's a joke, but isn't he jumping forward too much?

I think he's okay. He isn't worried about a returner, and he's going for a lot of pace, so he's tossing it pretty far in front. Even if there were a returner, the return would probably not come back deep, and he'd be all right inside the baseline.
 

Captain Ron

Professional
Would anyone else be tempted to tag the coach standing in the box? ;)
Why not just put a cone there or something?
But maybe I'm evil, I occasionally serve at a doubles partners who try to crowd the tee.
 
Would anyone else be tempted to tag the coach standing in the box? ;)
Why not just put a cone there or something?
But maybe I'm evil, I occasionally serve at a doubles partners who try to crowd the tee.

Hope he's wearing a cup. :twisted: Seriously, this video reminds me of the "New balls please!" commercial.
 

Chas Tennis

G.O.A.T.
Need some help. Have a player only serving 105-115mph (verified with a pocket radar) and he can't seem to hit the target of 3 tennis balls placed on the T.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcOkikNsKes

I have been looking at the frame or two between the big L and impact. With that slow 30 fps frame rate and the server's high speed serve, I can't see the ISR very well. Also, I'm not familiar with that camera view. It looks a little suspect for going more in a forward direction and not fully using the rotation of ISR that requires a changing angle between the racket and forearm. ?

Big L and ISR,
http://www.hi-techtennis.com/serve/nalbandian_l.php

For a serve of that quality, high speed video in necessary for analysis. Look at the angles and ISR. How does the OP server compare to this high level serve?
https://vimeo.com/27528347

For stop action on Vimeo, hold down the SHIFT KEY and use the forward and backward ARROW KEYS. When I do this my computer jumps to the next video due to a glitch but then it works to single frame. If that jump-to-the-wrong video happens to anyone else, please let me know. Best to download and view with Quicktime or Kinovea for excellent single frame.

You might get some more useful results from a slow 30 fps camera by viewing from behind and looking directly along the ball's trajectory. You would have to repeat many serves of the same type and see if you can capture enough frames with useful forearm-racket angles to form a picture of what is happening. Video in direct, bright sunlight and with a wide angle zoom setting to get small motion blur. Sun on the server's back might make features of his arm show shadows and, therefore, be more trackable. Markers on the upper arm, tape on skin or a wrist band on the upper arm with a logo all can be used as markers to better see how the upper arm rotates.
 
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Chas Tennis

G.O.A.T.
Low cost high speed video camera capable of 240 fps with a very fast shutter (small motion blur) in direct sunlight and with a wide angle zoom lens setting.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=484212

Many other cameras with high speed video mode might also have fast shutters but that's difficult to determine. This one is cheap and I tested it for motion blur, see thread.
 
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I have been looking at the frame or two between the big L and impact. With that slow 30 fps frame rate and the server's high speed serve, I can't see the ISR very well. Also, I'm not familiar with that camera view. It looks a little suspect for going more in a forward direction and not fully using the rotation of ISR that requires a changing angle between the racket and forearm. ?

Big L and ISR,
http://www.hi-techtennis.com/serve/nalbandian_l.php

For a serve of that quality, high speed video in necessary for analysis. Look at the angles and ISR. How does the OP server compare to this high level serve?
https://vimeo.com/27528347

For stop action on Vimeo, hold down the SHIFT KEY and use the forward and backward ARROW KEYS. When I do this my computer jumps to the next video due to a glitch but then it works to single frame. If that jump-to-the-wrong video happens to anyone else, please let me know. Best to download and view with Quicktime or Kinovea for excellent single frame.

You might get some more useful results from a slow 30 fps camera by viewing from behind and looking directly along the ball's trajectory. You would have to repeat many serves of the same type and see if you can capture enough frames with useful forearm-racket angles to form a picture of what is happening. Video in direct, bright sunlight and with a wide angle zoom setting to get small motion blur. Sun on the server's back might make features of his arm show shadows and, therefore, be more trackable. Markers on the upper arm, tape on skin or a wrist band on the upper arm with a logo all can be used as markers to better see how the upper arm rotates.

I like your detailed comments and liked the link. Very usuful
 

UCSF2012

Hall of Fame
How about NOT wearing a muscle T shirt that grips to your belly fat and all your rolls. Reason?...loose shirts allow more free shoulder movement.
 

maxpotapov

Hall of Fame
How about NOT wearing a muscle T shirt that grips to your belly fat and all your rolls. Reason?...loose shirts allow more free shoulder movement.

Loose like this?
240x360_andyroddick.jpg
 

TennisCJC

Legend
Your goal of 125 and targeting 3 balls are pretty lofty. David Ferrer only average 112 mph in one of his Wimbledon matches. Federer averages around 117 mph and Serena averaged 102 in one of her Wimbledon matches. If you can average 110 mph and hit 18" target areas, you are roughly world class.

If you are near world class level, I would see about booking a month at an academy to see if they can improve serve. I don't think many on TT are going to help you at this level.
 
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