Need help on serve (video included).

[Xzebetz]

I have a bit of problem when I serve. My arm (bicep) hurts when I serve. I've been inconsistent on my technique, which means I've been serving different ways with different grips. I've also made the mistake of throwing the ball back to much on my (attemptet ) kickserve.

But anyway, the result is I can't serve hard without my arm hurting, which makes me think that I've been "arming" it to much.

So now I am focusing on the right technique, doing it the same way consistent. So before this, I'd like feed back on how to do it correct. I made a video of me serving, which I'd appreciate feedback on.

How does it look. What can I do better? And what am I doing wrong?

Thanks!

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxizi6mf-uw

 

[Xzebetz]

Oh, and I have a video from the back as well if this gives a better view! I'll upload it later.

In the video I serve at maybe 60% of my power. If I increase power I increase my mistiming and I tend to arm it more.

 

[LeeD]

You have a nice, easy, replicable motion.
The one big problem is that you are trying to throw your hand as fast as you can, rather than throwing your racketHEAD as fast as possible.
Remember that old axiom..."crack the whip" ? It's not your HAND that needs to move, it's the HEAD of the racket.
Loosen up your wrist, shorten your takeback, bend the elbow, throw like a catcher, not a pitcher or outfielder or shortstop.
There is no tension on the bicep on serves. Your pain is not tennis associated, but your BODY associated. Have your arm checked out. It might be a previous tear or pull, one that doesn't bother you until you replicate that serve motion.
Some people always tell servers to "throw the ball". But that's not the right way to serve a tennis ball! Throwing is handspeed. Serving is some handspeed, for sure, but it's also how to get the rackethead to go fast, not your hand.
Did you know it's impossible to crack a whip if you hand keeps accelerating to 600 mph? Wierd I know. You hand has to SLOW DOWN at the right moment to allow the head of the whip to accelerate past the hand to make the supersonic sound!

 

[shindemac]

Your hurtin cause u have wrong technique. Lee is right. U shouldn't be using your biceps. Your technique is worse when u apply power. Doesn't look right at all.

 

[charliefedererer]

First, rest that arm until it is feeling better

Then, getting the racquet to start going up with more body motion will give you easier power and take stress off the arm.

If you can leave your tossing arm up longer, and form more of a "bow shape" as seen from the side [see pics 3,4 above], when you reverse the bow shape, you are using your whole body "like a pole vaulter" to power your serve.
Pat Dougherty: The Pole Vaulter's Pole http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTubBKQzf9M

You'll notice that in forming a bigger bow shape, your hip will protrude forward to offset the sideways upper body lean:
Tennis Lesson: Serve Tips: Lead with the Hip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgeYmEScfgQ

The other thing leaving your tossing arm up longer will get you a steeper shoulder angle from the back to the front shoulder (pic 4). Then you've got to "drop the left shoulder" to get more vertical shoulder over shoulder action (and not the mainly horizontal swinging action)f like Jim McLennan describes to "serve like the pros" and not an "amateur" - helping your shoulder in the process.
Preventing Rotator Cuff Injury TennisOne.com Editor Jim McLennan explains some serving techniques to generate power and protect your shoulder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTRvxaBMh8s
(You can also see how vertical the shoulder alignment should be in pic 6 above.)


Incorporate these movements into your serve, and your whole body, not just your arm, will be powering the ball like Soderling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a56pvP1i6x8



[Now most will complain Soderling doesn't get enough coil/uncoil motion into his serve. My advice would be to first work on the above suggestions, and then later work on adding in more coiling/uncoiling - it just is hard to work on too many things at once.]

 

[Nellie]

I generally like your motion, but I agree with the comments above that you are mostly arming the serve.

I would try getting a more forward toss and to more push of the front hip through the service contact zone. That way, you have an easier arm motion, but with more power from the weight of your body moving into the ball.

 

[Xzebetz]

THank you al very much for feedback. I can see what you mean with the throwing action.

So if I understand you right, I have to big of a take-back and do not do enough of the "back-scratch" with the racquet (picture 4-5-6 below). So I should shorten the take back, remember to get the racquet straight down my back so I can get the whip action working. At the same time I must remember to use my core better with bending the knees, using my hip and upper body.

Maybe it would be a good idea to do as explained in this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um5q7Lx107k&feature=related

 

[LeeD]

Not sure what you're saying is what you need. Players of our skill levels don't employ full body and legs.
But the main problem is you lack of elbow bend at trophy, and your conti grip is very much slid over to eForehand, almost pancaking at the trophy position.
Hold the grip conti, but towards eBackhand, like you're hitting a conti gripped backhand, not conti gripped forehand.
Bend that elbow more than 90 degrees.

 

[Limpinhitter]

I have a bit of problem when I serve. My arm (bicep) hurts when I serve. I've been inconsistent on my technique, which means I've been serving different ways with different grips. I've also made the mistake of throwing the ball back to much on my (attemptet ) kickserve.

But anyway, the result is I can't serve hard without my arm hurting, which makes me think that I've been "arming" it to much.

So now I am focusing on the right technique, doing it the same way consistent. So before this, I'd like feed back on how to do it correct. I made a video of me serving, which I'd appreciate feedback on.

How does it look. What can I do better? And what am I doing wrong?

Thanks!

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxizi6mf-uw

Not bad! I'm going to give you 3 things to work on that will increase power, spin and give you a more arching trajectory and therefore more net clearance and a higher kick.

First, instead of bringing your tossing hand down to the outside of your left leg, bring it down to the inside of your left leg and then toss parallel to the baseline. This will assist in the second thing to work on . . .

Second, turn your back to the target in the trophy pose. You have a nice shoulder tilt (by sliding your left hip to the target, that's good), but, you also need shoulder turn. Together turn and tilt will allow you to rotate your right shoulder up to the ball adding the mass of upper body rotation into your shot, rather than just an arm swing. It will also cause you to hit up on the ball, giving it a big arch, heavy top spin and a big kick.

Third, when your hands are going up together during the toss, keep the palm of your right hand down a big longer. You are turning your palm up to the sky (suppinating your arm) too soon, almost coming to a stop and then basically slapping at the ball. The suppination-pronation of the arm adds the most racquet speed when it is continuous. You are suppinating too soon, almost coming to a stop, and trying to accelerate from there. Watch how long Federer keeps his right palm down on his windup before the racquet drops behind his back:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InYd8IrFnkU

PS: The pics of Soderling above show what the biggest hip slide in the game looks like.

 

[connico]

Some people always tell servers to "throw the ball". But that's not the right way to serve a tennis ball! Throwing is handspeed. Serving is some handspeed, for sure, but it's also how to get the rackethead to go fast, not your hand.

Throwing is not handspeed. The throwing motion is all about the kenetic chain; the modern tennis serve shares similarities with throwing. More than 50% of RHS in the serve is generated by pronation that should occur at the top of the serve.

Why is his arm hurting? This is an easy question to answer. Its because at trophy position his elbow is not bent enough, his racquet head is pointing to to the left and back and that his racquet is way to far from his body.

His bicep is doing way to much work to;
a. compensate for a poor trophy position
b. generate RHS to compensate for loss of efficiency.


Three things to work on would be to improve the trophy position by bending the elbow more, racquet head pointed to sky and leading edge of frame pointed at the point of contact / ball.

Wha I do like about the serve is his head position at impact.

 

[LeeD]

Strange. You start out critisising my "throwing is hand speed, tennis is not", then you go and say exactly the same thing I said to fix his serve.
But ...whatever.
Throwing is all about hand speed. A 100 mph pitcher can move his hand to 100mph. A javelin thrower can move his hand to 85mph to throw 275'. A football player can move his hand at whatever speed it takes to throw his farthest distance. A rock thrower moves his hand exactly the same speed his rock leaves his hand...which in most cases, would be his fingertips, not his palm.

 

[connico]

Strange. You start out critisising my "throwing is hand speed, tennis is not", then you go and say exactly the same thing I said to fix his serve.
But ...whatever.
Throwing is all about hand speed. A 100 mph pitcher can move his hand to 100mph. A javelin thrower can move his hand to 85mph to throw 275'. A football player can move his hand at whatever speed it takes to throw his farthest distance. A rock thrower moves his hand exactly the same speed his rock leaves his hand...which in most cases, would be his fingertips, not his palm.

Agree with how to fix his serve.

Disagree that "throwing is handspeed". I can flick my hand backwards and forwards using my wrist faster than ALL baseball pitchers, anyone with a healthy wrist can. What I can't do is throwing 100mph using only my hand...

I need my whole body to throw a ball at any decent pace.

Also please see

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh2pOG_X3IA

If that motion doesnt share similarities between a tennis serve than pigs can fly. Trophy + forearm pronation = similarities

 

[pvaudio]

Agree with how to fix his serve.

Disagree that "throwing is handspeed". I can flick my hand backwards and forwards using my wrist faster than ALL baseball pitchers, anyone with a healthy wrist can. What I can't do is throwing 100mph using only my hand...

I need my whole body to throw a ball at any decent pace.

My friend, you're the one missing the point. The entire reason that you practice the throwing motion is to get used to the kinetic chain required to transfer your body's energy into throwing a ball. The ball only moves at such a speed because you've built up enough energy in your body to accelerate it to such a speed. The same applies in tennis. You build up your coil and explode up at the ball, pronate and the only reason that the ball moves anywhere but up from the ball toss is because you've accelerated the racquet to hit it. The goal is to be able to transfer your body's energy down to the racquet face. If you do that via efficient biomechanics, you have a big serve. But at the end of the day, it's only the speed of the racquet head that determines how fast the ball goes. How you speed up the racquet head is the key to a successful serve. It is not the speed of your hand, however, that determines this. It's how your hand translates the energy you've built up into accelerating the racquet through impact. In short: you're arguing semantics.

 

[t135]

Can't view Your video on a mobile device.

 

[connico]

My friend, you're the one missing the point.

No you've missed the point. What your saying is exactly what I am saying. Throwing is all kenetic chain, the tennis serve is all kenetic chain. The bicep and the hand has alot do with this chain.

Throwing is not all about handspeed, its about pronation.

 

[pvaudio]

No you've missed the point. What your saying is exactly what I am saying. Throwing is all kenetic chain, the tennis serve is all kenetic chain. The bicep and the hand has alot do with this chain.

Throwing is not all about handspeed, its about pronation.

Seriously. All three of us are saying the same thing, only you don't seem to realize it. Throwing: accelerating the ball with the HAND. Serving: accelerating the ball with the racquet. No one is talking about patty caking anything. The entire point that all three of us are making, but you seem to be missing, is that it's how you use your body to transfer energy TO the hand, or TO the racquet because at the end of the line, it's only the speed of the hand or the speed of the racquet face that's going to impart energy to the ball. I don't see how you're not realizing you're arguing against what you're saying. The whole point is that you need to have a complex series of motions to be able to transfer your body's energy into juice at the hand or the racquet face. If you can't do that, then your kinetic chain is worthless which is why you see lots of players with seemingly good form end up with pitiful serves because they cannot transfer their energy up to the ball. All that LeeD said is that the key is being able to complete that transition. All that you're saying is that the key is being able to start that transition. That is incomplete. You might be able to make 500hp at the wheels, but unless your tires will grip enough to propel you forward, you're not going to going anywhere. It's a complex series of events, but it's being able to transfer all of that into a single area, and in this case, the hand, or the racquet face.

 

[Xzebetz]

Can't view Your video on a mobile device.

Changed that now. Did'nt realize I checked no for available on mobile devices.

 

[Xzebetz]

Not bad! I'm going to give you 3 things to work on that will increase power, spin and give you a more arching trajectory and therefore more net clearance and a higher kick.

First, instead of bringing your tossing hand down to the outside of your left leg, bring it down to the inside of your left leg and then toss parallel to the baseline. This will assist in the second thing to work on . . .

Second, turn your back to the target in the trophy pose. You have a nice shoulder tilt (by sliding your left hip to the target, that's good), but, you also need shoulder turn. Together turn and tilt will allow you to rotate your right shoulder up to the ball adding the mass of upper body rotation into your shot, rather than just an arm swing. It will also cause you to hit up on the ball, giving it a big arch, heavy top spin and a big kick.

Third, when your hands are going up together during the toss, keep the palm of your right hand down a big longer. You are turning your palm up to the sky (suppinating your arm) too soon, almost coming to a stop and then basically slapping at the ball. The suppination-pronation of the arm adds the most racquet speed when it is continuous. You are suppinating too soon, almost coming to a stop, and trying to accelerate from there. Watch how long Federer keeps his right palm down on his windup before the racquet drops behind his back:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InYd8IrFnkU

PS: The pics of Soderling above show what the biggest hip slide in the game looks like.

Thanks for this. Just have some questions.

Your first point. I can see what you mean with my hand starting outside my left leg instead of inside. But you say I should toss the ball parallel with the baseline. That means in the direction out of the court? Shouldnt I toss the ball a couple on inches inside the court?

Second point: So if I wanna serve down the line, my back should be pointing that direction?

Third: So I need to do it more in one motion? If I understand it correct I mistime it, which causes my right arm (racquet) to wait (a split second) until I regain speed again. And therefore use my bicep instead of utilizing the engergy from one fluid motion or the whip action from pronating?

 

[mightyrick]

I have a bit of problem when I serve. My arm (bicep) hurts when I serve. I've been inconsistent on my technique, which means I've been serving different ways with different grips. I've also made the mistake of throwing the ball back to much on my (attemptet ) kickserve.

But anyway, the result is I can't serve hard without my arm hurting, which makes me think that I've been "arming" it to much.

So now I am focusing on the right technique, doing it the same way consistent. So before this, I'd like feed back on how to do it correct. I made a video of me serving, which I'd appreciate feedback on.

How does it look. What can I do better? And what am I doing wrong?

Thanks!

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxizi6mf-uw

You don't have perfect form (few -- if any -- at our level do). The only really bad thing that I see is that you do not have a loose arm action. You're tight. You are trying to use your muscles to create power.

The first adjustment I would make is to hold the racquet handle like an egg, focus on keeping the arm loose... and just execute your motion... but loose and fluid.

It will almost feel like the racquet is going to fly out of your hand. It may also feel like you are swinging slower. These are illusions and you will be surprised. A loose arm will generate faster pace than you're getting now -- with little to no pain.

 

[shindemac]

I disagree with any advice that suggests any fixes to his mechanics at this stage. Reread pvaudio's post about kinetic chain and the post above from mightyrick. There is a common theme here, and it's important that you fix this first. It doesn't seem like you understand the kinetic chain and what it means to have a loose arm. You are trying to look for mechanical fixes to get a loose arm, but that is the wrong way. Loose arm means simply that. Don't use it. Don't tense it. You are so used to arming the ball, you don't even realize how not to use it anymore. You need to reprogram yourself to fix this. It's nothing about mechanics, about racket drop etc. Like rick said, hold an egg in your hand. With your current arming, you would crush the egg every time.

There are many who are helping you and zeroed in on your problem. But you are asking the wrong questions and listening to the wrong advice. Don't ignore our advice and try to understand what it means.

 

[Xzebetz]

I disagree with any advice that suggests any fixes to his mechanics at this stage. Reread pvaudio's post about kinetic chain and the post above from mightyrick. There is a common theme here, and it's important that you fix this first. It doesn't seem like you understand the kinetic chain and what it means to have a loose arm. You are trying to look for mechanical fixes to get a loose arm, but that is the wrong way. Loose arm means simply that. Don't use it. Don't tense it. You are so used to arming the ball, you don't even realize how not to use it anymore. You need to reprogram yourself to fix this. It's nothing about mechanics, about racket drop etc. Like rick said, hold an egg in your hand. With your current arming, you would crush the egg every time.

There are many who are helping you and zeroed in on your problem. But you are asking the wrong questions and listening to the wrong advice. Don't ignore our advice and try to understand what it means.

I don't believe I'm ignoring advice. If I've come out like that it wasn't my intention. I'm really glad for all inputs.

Regarding the kinetic chain. I understand what you guys mean, when you say I'm arming it. So my first plan is to fix this problem. I'm not loose in my arm as you should be, like when you are throwing a ball. That's why I asked if it would be a good idea to follow the program in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um5q7...eature=related

He's talking about fixing bad habits, with some excersises. If this is way off in reference to what you guys are getting at, then yes, I'm problaby misunderstanding you.

 

[Xzebetz]

I don't believe I'm ignoring advice. If I've come out like that it wasn't my intention. I'm really glad for all inputs.

Regarding the kinetic chain. I understand what you guys mean, when you say I'm arming it. So my first plan is to fix this problem. I'm not loose in my arm as you should be, like when you are throwing a ball. That's why I asked if it would be a good idea to follow the program in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um5q7...eature=related

He's talking about fixing bad habits, with some excersises. If this is way off in reference to what you guys are getting at, then yes, I'm problaby misunderstanding you.

Okay, didn't get the correct youtube video. Its here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um5q7Lx107k&feature=related

 

[Limpinhitter]

Thanks for this. Just have some questions.

Your first point. I can see what you mean with my hand starting outside my left leg instead of inside. But you say I should toss the ball parallel with the baseline. That means in the direction out of the court? Shouldnt I toss the ball a couple on inches inside the court?

Second point: So if I wanna serve down the line, my back should be pointing that direction?

Third: So I need to do it more in one motion? If I understand it correct I mistime it, which causes my right arm (racquet) to wait (a split second) until I regain speed again. And therefore use my bicep instead of utilizing the engergy from one fluid motion or the whip action from pronating?

1. Your tossing motion should be at about a 90 degree angle from the target. This promotes a good turn. If you toss and let the ball bounce, it should land about 1-2 feet in front of your left toe. So, yes, it also means that you have to toss a bit back to your left (toward the target since you are turned), in order to to place the ball in the right spot that would cause it to land 1-2 feet in front of your toe.

2. On EVERY serve, no matter what side of the box you hit to, you should turn far enough for your opponent to see your shoulder blades. An example, when I play, my primary serve tactic is to hit first serves out wide, on both sides, to open up the court, and to hit second serves to my opponent's weakness to keep him from attacking my serve, which is usually to the right side of the box to a righy backhand. Once in a while, I'll crank one down the middle (from either side of the center line), to keep my opponent guessing. However, I try to set up and make a full turn as if I'm going to the right side of the box on every serve so that my opponent can't tell where I'm going to serve until after I hit the ball. When I go to the left side of the box I just turn back a little sooner. When I go to the right side of the box I turn back a little later.

3. Not exactly. Let's try another way to accomplish the same thing. In the trophy pose, your left arm is pointing at the ball, your shoulder blades are visible to your opponent, and your right arm and racquet should also be visible to your opponent in the shape of a reverse "L" behind your head. I suspect that, right now, your opponent can't see your arm at all and only sees your racquet dropping behind your head.

This video of Sampras demonstrates what I'm talking about. You may not have Sampras' flexibility, few do. But, you can come close. Notice how Sampras leads the upward swing with his elbow. That promotes a continuous acceleration through contact.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6E3vPigzxI

 

[Limpinhitter]

Okay, didn't get the correct youtube video. Its here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um5q7Lx107k&feature=related

You don't have this kind of hitch. She's getting into a pretty good trophy pose, and instead of dropping the racquet head with a high elbow, she's dropping her elbow then pushing the racquet back up to the ball. You're not dropping your elbow. You're dropping your racquet head behind your back too soon, losing momentum, then slapping the ball.

The serve is based on throwing. Here's a good pitching video that might give you the visual you need to understand what I'm talking about. Notice you can see his arm in an "L" shape (not reverse 'cause Koufax was a lefty) behind his head on his windup. Imagine if instead, Koufax just brought the ball straight back behind his head and tried to accelerate from there? That's kinda what you're doing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDgMXFBHLP0

 

[shindemac]

No, the video fixes a different problem. We're not fixing a hitch here.

Reread mightyrick's post. He told you what to do to fix it. The solution has been posted right there for you to see...

 

[Xzebetz]

No, the video fixes a different problem. We're not fixing a hitch here.

Reread mightyrick's post. He told you what to do to fix it. The solution has been posted right there for you to see...

Hehe, sorry. English is'nt my native language, and actually thought that a "hitch" would be something you do which isnt normal. So I assumed I had a hitch with my serve.

So I'll forget the video correcting a hitch. I understand that I should focus on one thing at a time. So I'll start focusing on having a loose arm and having my back against the target for utilising the rotation. I was actually practising this against a wall last night. Trying to imagine throwing a ball. Didnt care about direction of ball, just loose arm and thinking throwing a ball. And I felt a difference. I intentionally didnt use much power, but I was actually able to practice this without any pain for 30 minutes. To compare I couldnt even practice serv for 5 minutes before without som pain in bicep. I even had a 1½ hour training session right after without any pain whatsoever.

So I'll start every training session by practising my serv with loose arm. And then post a video again.

I just need to be sure I understand something about my trophy pose:

So should I focus on anything here to start with or only loose arm? Someone mentioned that I need a better angle from my elbow so the racket is point more towards the ball/sky?

 

[Limpinhitter]

Hehe, sorry. English is'nt my native language, and actually thought that a "hitch" would be something you do which isnt normal. So I assumed I had a hitch with my serve.

So I'll forget the video correcting a hitch. I understand that I should focus on one thing at a time. So I'll start focusing on having a loose arm and having my back against the target for utilising the rotation. I was actually practising this against a wall last night. Trying to imagine throwing a ball. Didnt care about direction of ball, just loose arm and thinking throwing a ball. And I felt a difference. I intentionally didnt use much power, but I was actually able to practice this without any pain for 30 minutes. To compare I couldnt even practice serv for 5 minutes before without som pain in bicep. I even had a 1½ hour training session right after without any pain whatsoever.

So I'll start every training session by practising my serv with loose arm. And then post a video again.

I just need to be sure I understand something about my trophy pose:

So should I focus on anything here to start with or only loose arm? Someone mentioned that I need a better angle from my elbow so the racket is point more towards the ball/sky?

Excellent pic. Shows exactly what I'm talking about. Your shoulder tilt and hip slide are good, could be better. Ideally, your arm and hand would be stretching striaght up at the ball and your left hip more forward and your shoulders more titled so that your body is in a bowed (convex) shape.

But, there's virtually no shoulder turn. Your left shoulder is at almost "0" degrees from the target. It should be at least 45 degrees from the target. If your tossing motion was 90 degrees from the target, that would promote more turn. You have to turn back if you want to turn forth. By turning and tilting your shoulders, you end up rotating your upper body (your right shoulder), up to the ball adding all of the mass of your upper body into your shot.

Now, notice that your right palm is facing the sky and your elbow is at about 6-7 O'Clock (from above). You have begun to flop your racquet back too soon and will lose momentum at the bottom of your racquet drop (the bottom of your windup behind your back, that's where your hitch is), and you will have to accelerate again from there and basically slap at the ball. Rather, at this stage, your palm should be facing more toward the ground and your elbow should be higher and pointing more toward 8-9 O'Clock. This will promote a gradual and continuous acceleration through the racquet drop up to contact.

 

[mightyrick]

So should I focus on anything here to start with or only loose arm? Someone mentioned that I need a better angle from my elbow so the racket is point more towards the ball/sky?

In my opinion, you should just focus on loose arm hitting first. Get used to the way it feels. Don't even worry about your serving form. Just focus on loose arm hitting. Free, fluid and relaxed motion. Relax into the ball.

After that feels better, then you can start to worry about adjustments to your form if you want. But take small steps.

Regardless of what some others are saying... I actually like your serve motion. Clearly, it is comfortable for you. Your serving motion is consistent. Your placement is consistent. Your form causes your serve to sacrifice power... but if you strike the ball with a loose arm, you will probably increase your power significantly.

In my opinion, work on the loose arm hitting. After that, work on a second serve if you don't have one.

 

[Xzebetz]

This forum is golden!! I just wanna say thanks.

I've had some training sessions now and played two matches. First match I lost, but only focused on loose arm and pointing racquet straight towards ball. No pain at all, but serve is inconsistent and huge amount of double faults.

Yesterday I played a match again. I won in three sets, and my serve is getting slightly better, but still need a lot of work (inconsistent and double faults). But no pain, which is awesome and the most important thing. I actually only do half serves at this point, cause I wanna get the feeling of loose arm in my system. My arm still tends to want to arm it when I'm not focused, but its getting better. My mechanics is getting better at feeling natural with the new serve motion.

But first time in a loooong time I came home from a three sets match with no pain whatsoever. I'm really happy!

 

[charliefedererer]

THank you al very much for feedback. I can see what you mean with the throwing action.

So if I understand you right, I have to big of a take-back and do not do enough of the "back-scratch" with the racquet (picture 4-5-6 below). So I should shorten the take back, remember to get the racquet straight down my back so I can get the whip action working. At the same time I must remember to use my core better with bending the knees, using my hip and upper body.

Don't have the idea of having the racquet "straight down my back".

The racquet drop should be to a position well to the right of your body, like in pic 5 of the Sampras serving sequence below.

If the racquet drop is straight down the middle of your back you can't pronate right to left.

In this video, Coach McCraw demonstrates this exact point. He shows how you should be bringing the racquet around to drop it on your right side, versus bringing it around so the racquet drop is close to the center of your back as you were doing in your video.
McCraw Serve Fundamentals http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuIgTyh4aDs&feature=related

See more detail about this in my post #8 in the following thread http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=429374

 

[DeShaun]

I would bet that your serve draws many compliments from passers by. Everyone loves to see such a nice and easy hitting motion.
What may be causing your bicep to tighten up is your lack of a wrist snap.