My serve vids

You could probably learn a little about the "kinetic chain", which is the progression of action for a good service motion, by watching some pros on youtube or other sites. You'll see things like more forward momentum that carries the server more into the court than where you're at now, an upward leg drive, core and shoulder rotation, etc. I think that our pals here are encouraging you to get a lesson so that a trained eye can work with you on the court and get you more familiar with some of these basic serving components.

As you practice your serves, you could probably stand to slow down your windup a little bit and get your racquet up behind your head before you move to the ball to encourage a larger swing radius. Right now it looks really compact. Take some practice motions without hitting a ball and imagine the motion you'd use to throw a javelin over the fence at the far end of the court - minus the running start. If the javelin idea doesn't quite make sense, just think of throwing a football or even your racquet. You need a big smooth windup and loose throwing motion to bomb it out there.
 
It doesn't look like you're snapping your wrist correctly, and toss more into the court and place your center of gravity forward when making contact.
 
youve got the "oldman" groove going on but faster rotation > nothing wrong with that >Id say play with old people and let them have it...
 
Give the guy a break.
It takes guts to post a video here. :)

I would suggest going over to Fuzzy Yellow Balls and reviewing the serve videos/instruction there.

It looks like you are using an Eastern grip which is quite limiting on the overall stroke mechanics.
You need to use a Continental grip and hit with more spin across and up the ball.
You are hitting at the ball.

Good luck.
 
There's no flow to it.

Your leaping into it and your serve looks too forced. Serving should look more natural.

Toss higher and more infront.

Start when all of your weight to your front foot which should be your left foot.

Then transition all the weight to your back foot (right foot).
 
looks to me like you need to take more time after you toss it. toss it, give a big knee bend, then explode into the ball. right now you are simply tossing it up and hitting it with your arm without getting your legs or back involved. you should let the toss go all the way up, let it peak, and then hit up on it with your racquet just as it is coming down.
 
tbini87 said:
you should let the toss go all the way up, let it peak, and then hit up on it with your racquet just as it is coming down.
Click to expand...

Best advice in this thread.

Great servers hit up into the ball and let the wrist snap and torque force it down. It will land further into the service box and be on your opponents much faster.
 
That is pretty ugly. Use your legs more and spring into the court more. You shouldnt be hopping backwards after you serve. That means your weight isnt going into the serve.
 
One big thing. Notice at ball contact, your BODY is staight up and down - freeze frame it and see what I am talking about. Your body should be arched forward at contact - ie, your waist should be bent forward so your body is in a slight L shape.

To do this you are going to have to load deeper in your legs, coupled with a toss more into the court.

Go out and try this one thing. Imagine doing a crunch as you strike the ball. See if it doesn't make a difference.

Obviously, the timing is going to be different than what you are used to, so don't give up in the first few minutes.
 
Thanks all for helpful advice and the criticism. =p

I think the angle of the camera is misleading my form just a bit since it looks like straight on from my right side but it's actually facing a little from a right angle.

By the way, I just started playing earlier this year and it was the first time I ever seen myself serving on video. I wish I picked up tennis at a much earlier age so now I've been playing like crazy and practicing everyday to catch up for the lost time. My goal is to get to a 4.0 or better at the end of this year. I'm probably around a 3.0 to 3.5 rating.

So now I have been working on my windup, higher and further in the court toss, more shoulder rotation and loose arm and my serves now have picked more speed and it feels like it hardly takes any effort at all then before. I think I have more untapped power to work with.

I'll try to post my improved serves when I can, I don't have my own camera but I'll try to get same guy who filmed me last time with better angles and views =)
 
lkdog said:
Give the guy a break.
It takes guts to post a video here. :)

I would suggest going over to Fuzzy Yellow Balls and reviewing the serve videos/instruction there.

It looks like you are using an Eastern grip which is quite limiting on the overall stroke mechanics.
You need to use a Continental grip and hit with more spin across and up the ball.
You are hitting at the ball.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Haha no kidding, but I want to improve my game and I can't afford private lessons. So this is the next best thing.

By the way, I am using a continental grip on the first video. The second vid I am using a backhand eastern.
 
You stayed in the same place in most of them. You should be building up power in your legs and squatting when you toss the ball then EXPLODING into the court after you hit the ball.
 
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