Rajeev Ram: best service motion currently in thr ATP?

[Tight Lines]

There is a notion of a trunk rotation and a kinetic chain
Search for a video analysis of a serve by Rodick

What ??? Are you saying that SSC is involved in trunk rotation by serving fast? Are you saying you can release the core stretch in less than 40 milliseconds? No way in my opinion.

 

[MotoboXer]

Raj appears to have some latent tension in his serving arm shoulder going into trophy, which is probably the only way he can time a Sampras-style serve at 6' 5".
While Sampras has zero muscular-tension.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Raj appears to have some latent tension in his serving arm shoulder going into trophy, which is probably the only way he can time a Sampras-style serve at 6' 5".
While Sampras has zero muscular-tension.

Since he's only 6'4", it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[GuyClinch]

I prefer Roddick's serve to Pete's - simplifies the serve - much harder to do Pete's long motion with his extreme lag of hitting arm..

Roddick kind of goes to a nice preset position (some claim its before trophy - but its fairly close) and then explodes - goes right into external shoulder rotation - while launching his whole kinect chain. He gets good leg drive..

The only thing thats bad about it for amateurs is that Roddick's shoulder is super flexible. He has something like -60 degree of motion (external rotation) whereas some like me is above zero.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Surprised that you didn't post the video you created:

Many outstanding elements to the Sampras serve that make it worthwhile studying. However, the extreme lag of his racket (head) compared to the toss is something that most players would have a difficult time emulating. He has a fairly high toss as well that might be a bit challenging for many. I used Sampras as my model in the early/mid 90s but need to modify it somewhat for less lag and a lower toss height. I find the toss height that Federer employs is more to my liking.

The similarity between Ram's serve and Sampras' serve is uncanny. It is certainly intentional. However, Rajeev's implementation is somewhat flawed IMO. Note how far to the left that Rajeev lands and falls on his follow-thru. In the vid above, Rajeev is serving to the ad (right) court whereas Pete is serving to the deuce (left) court -- yet Rajeev falls off to the left more than Pete does.

First notice the right leg. Ram's right leg kicks off to the right whereas Sampras' right leg does not -- it kicks back toward the camera instead. Now look at the left foot. Pete's left foot lands in the direction of his serve. Ram's foot is turned quite a bit to the left when he lands. Theses actions of the right leg and the left foot is why Ram falls off to the left quite a bit -- rather than in the direction of his serve. He seems to be over-rotating his body a bit too much.

Pete is driving up and forward more. This might provide for a better energy/power transfer to the arm/racket for his kinetic chain. It also makes it easier for him to follow his serve to the net if he desires. Rajeev is moving in the wrong direction to follow his serve to the net. I suspect that he doesn't follow his serve very often in singles anyway but it could be a liability for doubles.

Pete's gets more air as well -- his upward drive is more explosive. Rajeev may be losing some of his upward drive by over-rotating -- too much energy going to the left rather than going upward.

Also noticed that Rajeev's toss appears to be somewhat lower Pete's toss. In the video posted, Pete releases the ball a bit sooner. However, Rajeev contacts the ball before Pete does.

 

[sureshs]

Rampras is #58 on the tour now. Not bad for a guy who plays a retro style now out of tune with the present conditions.

 

[slice bh compliment]

I saw the threadtitle and clicked, thinking, i bet by the end of the first page, someone calls him Rampras. First sentence of opening post!

Ram...such a fluid, flexible, tall, slender guy with good taste and a great influence. I once met him through a friend at a Challenger. What a mensch. Such a gentleman. Smart guy, too. I would think he would make a great coach or commentator one day. Similar body-type, but a massive step up from Gimelstob.

What is his real nickname, other than Rampras? Is it Raj? Or jeevs? Well, cool guy. Wishing him well.

 

[sureshs]

Don't confuse him with the Israeli player Andy Ram. That is probably a different spelling of Rahm and totally unconnected to Ram.

 

[slice bh compliment]

Hahah...Rajeev and Andy are related, right? Heck of a dubs team they would be. How would anyone tell them apart?

I am always confusing Bob Hewitt and Lleyton Hewitt.
Andy and serena williams.
Michael and reggie jackson.
Magic and michael Johnson.
Big bird and larry bird.
Carl and jerry lewis.
Former presidential candidate, rick perry and legendary tennis player, fred perry.
Trevor and yannick noah.
Jimmy, Jon and jackie stewart,
Omar sharif and sharif khan. And mahboob khan with kublai khan.
Budge Patty, don budge, and peppermint patty and patty Hearst.
Ross rebagliati and betsy ross. And ross case.
George clooney and george costanza.
Tony blair and blair witch.
Robert e lee and jet li.
Robert blake and james blake. And william blake.
David and robert frost.
Henri leconte and rene lacoste.
Dwight davis and ann b davis.
Huey newton and huey lewis.
Fig newton and isaac newton.
Leonardo diCaprio and DaVinci.

 

[slice bh compliment]

Rahm emmanuel has the best service motion among big city mayors.
Other best service motion categories....
Emmanual lewis, among child stars.
And jerry lewis among rat packers.
And jerry ford among twentieth century presidents.
His bro harrison ford among millenium falcon pilots.
Ryan harrison has the best serve from the state (nation) of Louisiana.
Paul ryan, among pseudo presidential candidates.
Ron and rand paul among presidential candidates who are related, sort of like andy and rajeev ram.

 

[sureshs]

Sort of like Sam Querrey and Nishi Querrey

 

[slice bh compliment]

^haha, yes!
This reminds me of the time just after the 2014 us open, i was a few miles north of SF, CA. I saw a beautiful building complex called the Marin Cilic Center. Well, it was marin county's civic center. But my mind changed the v to an l. This, btw, was in the town of San Rafa.L, which locals pronounce san ruff-ell.

Ok, back to serving. Like rajeev rampras, Pierre hugues herbert and milos raonic deserve a mention.

 

[mbm0912]

Isner and Raonic have about as perfect serving motions as I've ever seen.

Big serves, because they're big guys. Lopez has a much nicer motion. Noserer has a much nicer motion. Verdasco has a nicer motion.