I've been told I have a deep knee bend...

[kickingbird]

How much knee bend is necessary for a serve?? This has been a big issue for me- I've been told I have a deep knee bend by at least 2 coaches. I just can't seem to fix it because if I don't bend my knees it doesn't feel like I'm getting any power out of my legs.

If you look at the pro circuit you'd notice that there is quite a lot of variation. Novak, Moya, don't have much knee bend at all. Then you look at Roddick, Gonzalez and Henman who all have quite a deep kneebend. Then there are the in-betweens like say a Safin.

So how much does knee bend benefit your serve? Is it worth the effort? I find it's much easier to control the ball without knee bend but I've become accustomed to wanting to feel the power rise from my legs throughout the service motion. I really like to spring up into the serve, especially on second serves...

What do you all think? Should I simplify my motion?

 

[kickingbird]

And if it helps, during my whole service motion, I don't have much weight on my backfoot at all... before I serve, my weight is 100% on my front leg. Is this bad??

 

[Marius_Hancu]

And if it helps, during my whole service motion, I don't have much weight on my backfoot at all... Is this bad??

this is bad. weight transfer from back to front would help you.

check:

first serve
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=34724
(check my postings on r.s.t on "rocking motion")

also check the links in
Serve Power and Placement
in the Sticky thread at the top

 

[Marius_Hancu]

there's no need for a very deep bend if it doesn't bring you something in terms of speed or spins.

but if you feel it does, keep it.

 

[x Southpaw x]

And if it helps, during my whole service motion, I don't have much weight on my backfoot at all... before I serve, my weight is 100% on my front leg. Is this bad??

Sounds like Federer's serve, though not quite. If you watch Federer closely... his weight is on his front leg, while he is ready and looking at the opponent. Then in one smooth motion, he shifts weight to his back leg then to his front leg again immediately to kneebend/trophy position.

And to your original post, knee bend is good. You might think you have less control, but the knee bend gives you more topspin and therefore higher chance of getting the ball into the service court.

 

[SageOfDeath]

I used to play this guy who bent his knees a lot. I was afraid of his serve at first but then he didn't do anything with all that saved energy. Bending your knees is good but you have to shift your weight into your shot like Marius said. Back to front foot and explode off with your front foot.

Someone gave me this link, forgot who, but I think its a very good serving link.
http://groups.msn.com/TennizFriendzSingaporeTFS/tennisanalysis2.msnw

 

[fastdunn]

IMHO, the main function of knee bending is to tranfer energy of
coiling to uncoiling/thusting up action. It does not actually add
much muscle power or swing speed. If you do, I think it actually
slows down your swing, IMHO. If you coil and lean forward, you knee
naturally bends. When you uncoil, you straighten up your knees and
move the energy upward in the kinetic chain. I abolutely pay no attention
to my lower body when serving and my legs flex by themselves....

 

[krnboijunsung]

Bending of the knees helps provide power for your serve if you use it the right way. In your case, it's not being used the right way because you said 100% of your weight goes into your front foot. Your weight should be balanced between the left and right foot. Balance is key in serving, and less jumbling of the legs and feet helps. Watch Federer and Coria, they're serving motions happen all at once, and both bend their knees equally. Not one feet holds all the weight.

 

[kickingbird]

Thanks for all the replies! It helps to know that I shouldn't have all (maybe not 100, but close to it) my weight on my front leg.

I think I have a tendancy to do this because I toss the ball out infront of me quite a lot- therefore it's hard to have weight on the back leg, as I'm 'chasing' the ball forward. What should my weight distribution be like when I toss the ball??

I will check the links and report back on my progress.

Thanks!

 

[Jonnyf]

http://www.tennisone.com/magazine/sap/drucker/roddick/refresh.php

here's a great pic of Roddicks back as he serves notice the weight distribution and deep knee bend there is also this frontal view

http://www.tennisplayer.net/public/...rchive_sample_archive.html?AR1stSAdFront1.mov

not trying to contradict any one just pointing out some more links to add