Nishikori platform serve

rothko

New User
Has anyone noticed that from Madrid to Wimbledon Nishikori changed from a pinpoint to a platform serve. Any takes on why at this stage of his career? What are the advantages brought by this change? Is everything the same on both serves, except the dragging) non dragging of the back foot?It seems to me that when I try both serves, rhythm is different.thank you
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Platform is more stable, allows you to be more balanced, so you hit more serves IN.
You need only be able to hit both to know this.
Pinpoint gives more potential power, but in the end, it's player's preference.
 

krz

Professional
His serve is the only thing holding him back from hitting the next level. He's not that small he should be able to get a lot more pop than he's currently getting. That and he's a pretty quick guy his defense should be a lot better than it is. He's got incredible racket head acceleration.


I've used both and the pinpoint does make it easier for me to get better weight transfer. But, really that's just me. There's really no difference, it's just player preference.
 
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I would think the platform sacrifices some vertical as well as forward momentum in return for more consistency i.e. potential for better placement. Federer uses it (Sampras too), so it can't be that bad. Seems the biggest servers prefer the feet together though. Roddick did it, Isner, Karlovic etc.
 
I would think the platform sacrifices some vertical as well as forward momentum in return for more consistency i.e. potential for better placement. Federer uses it (Sampras too), so it can't be that bad. Seems the biggest servers prefer the feet together though. Roddick did it, Isner, Karlovic etc.

Roddick actually uses a very narrow platform...
 

Lawn Tennis

Semi-Pro
I would think the platform sacrifices some vertical as well as forward momentum in return for more consistency i.e. potential for better placement. Federer uses it (Sampras too), so it can't be that bad. Seems the biggest servers prefer the feet together though. Roddick did it, Isner, Karlovic etc.

I have to disagree on the placement bit. Sampras and Fed both have incredible placement. I agree the pinpoint seems to have a small power advantage (3-4% or so), but then look at a player like Raonic. Also, compare Djokovic (platform) and Murray (pinpoint). They are quite similar.
 
G

Golden

Guest
Great find! Thank you.
I can't recall any other top 50 player changing stances but many have changed their motions( Nadal, Djoko, Berdych)

Didn't Nadal have a very narrow platform serve back in 2006ish?
 

Bobby Jr

G.O.A.T.
That's quite interesting. He looks like he's also standing a little bit more side on at well - although could be even moreso imo. Maybe he's doing this to try and mitigate what is likely to always be a shortcoming for him - his serve - versus taller/bigger players. Serves with a pinpoint motion are more prone to developing sloppy habits imo when a player has a bad day serving and the drop in level/consistency seems to be worse than if you've got a platform serve, often because of hooked ball tosses and mistiming issues etc which are often exacerbated with pinpoint serves compared to platform. Murray being a good example of this in a top player. When he starts hooking his toss or mistiming the drive his serve goes to the dogs really quickly.

It'll be interesting to see how he goes with it. It could be a good move.
 
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Lukhas

Legend
Didn't Nadal have a very narrow platform serve back in 2006ish?
No. In juniors he did use a platform though. But his serve was incredibly poor for a top pro player. Circa USO '10, he made some tremendous changes. Now it looks like a real serve.

And yeah, Roddick uses more of a narrow platform than a wide pinpoint IMO. His front foot even moves towards his back foot when he's tossing. Monfils kinda fits the same category, but his feet are even closer. Although they are slightly more apart when serving from Ad. side or/and on second serves.

I feel it's easier to drive from both feet if they are at a reasonable distance from each other. Which mean no pinpoint, but no Henman-wide either. You need some good tights though. Maybe that's what Nishikori wants: he sacrifices a bit forward momentum for a better upward momentum and more stability.
 
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PhrygianDominant

Hall of Fame
I would think the platform sacrifices some vertical as well as forward momentum in return for more consistency i.e. potential for better placement. Federer uses it (Sampras too), so it can't be that bad. Seems the biggest servers prefer the feet together though. Roddick did it, Isner, Karlovic etc.

John Yandell found that platform created more horizantal weight transfer, I don't remember but I think he found that pinpoint created more vertical.
 

PhrygianDominant

Hall of Fame
Oh and by the way, just when I thought I couldn't like Nishikori's game anymore, he does this. Now he is like a little japanese Agassi (little in achievements, he is abou the same height as Agassi), I hope he accomplishes some great things.
 

Lukhas

Legend
John Yandell found that platform created more horizantal weight transfer, I don't remember but I think he found that pinpoint created more vertical.
The momentum is different. From a platform serve, you have to drove yourself forward and upward. But with a pinpoint, you're "bypassing" the forward weight transfer by "doing a step forward". In terms of weight transfer he's likely right, but in terms of momentum I don't think so. But that's just me.
 

Lukhas

Legend
Even if there are advantages to both stances, I wonder why he switched in less than two weeks. Not that the switch is hard -it isn't- but he didn't get to work on it during tournaments.
 

cjs

Professional
The momentum is different. From a platform serve, you have to drove yourself forward and upward. But with a pinpoint, you're "bypassing" the forward weight transfer by "doing a step forward". In terms of weight transfer he's likely right, but in terms of momentum I don't think so. But that's just me.

I kind of agree. I use both pinpoint and platform.

For flat first serves I use platform as I feel I get more pop this way. I have more momentum going forwards.

For heavy kick second serves I use pinpoint as its easier to push upwards.

At the end of the day its a matter of personal preference. I generally coach kids to start with platform as its less complicated but if they prefer pinpoint I don't change it.
 

Lukhas

Legend
He struggled on serve as of his last matches. He isn't tall yes, but that wasn't really good serving at all even for his size.
 
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