increase shoulder flexiblity

[dave333]

I have average shoulder flexibility (i can put my hands together behind my back; one from the top, one from the bottom. my health teacher says this is a good measure of shoulder flexibilty)

an instructor at my clinic says that a deep shoulder drop usually leads to a more powerful serve (is that true)? when I tried getting mine lower than what is more comfortable in trophy position, I got a stretch.

so my question is how to increase shoulder flexibility and does it even affect serves?

 

[TonLars]

please listen to this for your own good. I am playing lower professional tournaments and experimenting on my serve almost ended my career.

Be very careful about experimenting with your takeback and going outside your usual range of motion. I myself tried a farther takeback and I did something to my shoulder that put me out for months. And now, I still am in pain but with a cortisone shot I can at least play now without it getting worse.

 

[chess9]

please listen to this for your own good. I am playing lower professional tournaments and experimenting on my serve almost ended my career.

Be very careful about experimenting with your takeback and going outside your usual range of motion. I myself tried a farther takeback and I did something to my shoulder that put me out for months. And now, I still am in pain but with a cortisone shot I can at least play now without it getting worse.

Amen to this. Keep your shoulders strong, well-balanced (pecs, rhomboids, delts, rotator cuffs) and safe. I tried to stretch my serving shoulder and ended up with a pulled muscle. It took me a month to get back to serving properly.
Maybe I don't know how to stretch, but I think I'll stick with less drop at my age.

-Robert

 

[1171]

Proper shoulder stretch.

http://www.zoomers.net/romstrap.htm

 

[chess9]

Proper shoulder stretch.

http://www.zoomers.net/romstrap.htm

Have you tried these with success? I didn't see any testimonials, let alone recommendations of doctors, physios, etc.

-Robert

 

[1171]

I use stretch rubber band with handle to do those exercise on my shoulder.

It got my shoulder in much better shape. No pain/tender after serving.

Stretch all the muscles around the shoulder socket. Front, back, up, and down.

I am a physician, my orthopedic surgeon colleague show me those stretch exercise.