mjcn121789
New User
Can anyone explain how roddick serves (first and second serve) from toss to knee bend to wrist pronation and grip to follow through? I want to learn from the greatest serve ever...
How to Serve Like Roddick?
- Thread starter mjcn121789
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wihamilton
Hall of Fame
Roddick possesses the same fundamentals of all great servers. But Sampras is probably the greatest server ever... certainly better than Roddick. Placement > Power.
I wouldn't focus too much on the idiosyncrasies of his serve. He does things a little different because it works for him, but that doesn't mean it will work for you. The parts of his serve (and other pros) you DO want to emulate are the fundamentals. Once you have those down you can start tweaking the motion.
I wouldn't focus too much on the idiosyncrasies of his serve. He does things a little different because it works for him, but that doesn't mean it will work for you. The parts of his serve (and other pros) you DO want to emulate are the fundamentals. Once you have those down you can start tweaking the motion.
mjcn121789
New User
Sampras does have a great serve but Roddick is better. Roddick can place the ball very well also but with more power.
P
ProStaff Legend
Guest
but sampras could pull off more aces on the second serve
mjcn121789
New User
don't underestimate Roddick's second serve...His kick serve is nasty!!!
wihamilton
Hall of Fame
Sampras won 14 Grand Slams, Roddick's got 1... and Sampras definitely wasn't relying on his backhand to win him all those matches.
wihamilton
Hall of Fame
BTW Roddick's serve is amazing... it's just not Sampras amazing.
mjcn121789
New User
Sampras is definitely the better player (that's why he has 13 more grand slams) but we are talking strictly on serving and Roddick has the better serve. PERIOD!!!!
Lengthy thread here:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=142847&highlight=roddick
I'll try to come up with "succinct" directions to get everything down,. It helps me think through the whole visualization process and better understand what's going on.
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=142847&highlight=roddick
I'll try to come up with "succinct" directions to get everything down,. It helps me think through the whole visualization process and better understand what's going on.
mjcn121789
New User
Roddick is getter better on his volley though
wihamilton
Hall of Fame
Sampras is a better player because his serve was better. John Yandell wrote an article about what separated Sampras' serve from all the rest -- he concluded that the difference was the number of RPMs Sampras put on his serves. His serves spun significantly faster than other pros. This gave him the ability to 1) rip the ball, and 2) put it on a dime, e.g. more control.
Roddick has a cannon but he isn't in the same league as Sampras, placement-wise.
I'd be interested to know what you think separates Sampras from Roddick. If it's not his serve that makes him a player, what is it? Forehand? Volleys? Movement? I actually think Sampras was better at all of the above (although I'm not going out on much of a limb on the last two). But, again, in my view, the hands-down biggest reason Sampras is arguably the GOAT is his serve.
mjcn121789
New User
I think I'd rather face a serve with spin from Sampras than a 145mph serve from Roddick....at least i would have time to react. Besides the serve, Roddick has a powerful forehand as well
mjcn121789
New User
Sampras does have a better SECOND Serve but for serving in GENERAL, Roddick is better. On Roddick's first serve he can go down the middle or out wide with same amount of power. Also his second serve has so much kick that it can give trouble to other players
Gee Willikers Batman!
Professional
Way too many people want to serve like Roddick.. It annoys the HELL out of me.
Go learn your own way, out on the courts, rather then sitting here on the computer "Learning" how to hit the Roddick serve the wrong way, with the wrong technique.
Go learn your own way, out on the courts, rather then sitting here on the computer "Learning" how to hit the Roddick serve the wrong way, with the wrong technique.
mjcn121789
New User
I have my own technique. I'm just trying to figure out how he gets the power and how he pronates.
UW_Husky88
Rookie
geez I really hate seeing so many people trying to bash out everything just like the pros. Seriously, that's only going to work up to a certain extent. I'd honestly much rather have fed's serve because he can place it better rather than just relying on pace. I wish I had realized this when I was younger because now I'm scrambling to try and become a grinder, which is hard after being a baseline basher for so long. The power game really isn't worth it. For example, look at Sharapova. Although she still does well obviously, her lack of variety is starting to bite her now that people are figuring out how to deal with her power.
Roddick actually has terrific control over his serve. (Not as much as Sampras, but who does?) His 1st and 2nd serve percentage are higher than Federer's.
That said, if you get the technique "wrong", uhm you're going to blow out your elbow or shoulder. If you don't have pretty good understanding of pronation and all that other good stuff, maybe you're not ready?
That said, if you get the technique "wrong", uhm you're going to blow out your elbow or shoulder. If you don't have pretty good understanding of pronation and all that other good stuff, maybe you're not ready?
mjcn121789
New User
she's still winning though...and Sharapova is really hot. I know that didnt have to do with anything but i thought id throw it out there
wihamilton
Hall of Fame
Sampras' deception was due more to his toss (he put it in the same place every time) than his shoulder turn.
mjcn121789
New User
Can you please tell me the "right" technique to serving (like "pronation and all that other good stuff")?
It's fine to be a power player but you have to also have variety(look at what happened to Gonzo when he learned to hit with variety along with his amazing power), but no reason to bash people who enjoy hitting with lots of spin/pace. And don't get the womens game into this, because 95% of the top 100 are power players with no variety who go for broke on every shot. Not just Sharapova.
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schnick_15
New User
Roddick's power comes from his explosive leg drive and from his ridiculous racquet head speed.
The leg drive is all practice and timing, using the propultion from you legs to generate the racquet head speed, but it helps that Roddick's shoulders seem to be unbeleivably flexible.
If your needing ways to get better/quicker leg drive, try jumping boxes.
1) double leg
2) single leg
3) alternating legs
Hope this answers the first part of your question anyway.
jonline
Semi-Pro
This might help. A little slo-mo always does the trick...Roddick Performance Analysis
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