Serve: back leg and jump

[dascho]

Hello,
I've noticed something which I haven't really been aware of before:

All (pro) players have at the beginning of their serve-motion a rather wide stance (meaning their back leg is significantly behind their front leg).
However, when it comes to the jump, I've noticed that some players jump directly out of this wide stance position (e.g. Tsitsipas, Federer, Sampras, Becker), whereas others, before jumping, move their back leg to the front, right behind their front foot, and then jump out of this position (e.g. Zverev, Medvedev, Murray, Nadal).
I hope you understand my explanation.

I wonder, why is that so? Are there are any specific reasons that speak for or against the two styles?

I myself move my back foot back, then move it to the front and jump from there (like Zverev). I think I've always done it this way. Out of curiosity I tried the Tsitsipas/Federer style and it felt very strange to me. I have the impression, I don't get enough power/movement if I jump directly from the back position. I feel that I need the motion of moving my back leg to the front first, to gain sufficient momentum and power for the jump. However, many pros jump directly from the back position.

Any thoughts?

 

[eah123]

There are 2 main serving stances. The first one where they stay in a wide stance is called the "platform stance". The second one where they bring the back foot forward so the feet are together is called the "pinpoint stance". There are some pros/cons to each stance, but it's really best to try both to see which is more comfortable/effective for you.

 

[TennisDawg]

It’s the server preference one is pinpoint stance the other platform stance. The important thing is that you don’t actively try and jump rather it’s the momentum that results in a jump or what some great instructors call a “passive” jump.

 

[nyta2]

...
I tried the Tsitsipas/Federer style and it felt very strange to me. I have the impression,

IME when switching from pinpoint to platform, it was because
a) the rhythm changed (ie. that extra movement was now gone
b) the toss location when i was in pinpoint, was too far into the court for platform (which also led to a loss in power, as i was mostly elevating/pushing off my front foot)

I don't get enough power/movement if I jump directly from the back position.

imo avoid using "jump" to describe, as the tendency is to get into a squatty kind of position where you "jump" using your legs... like a basketball shooter (without incorporating any hips)

I feel that I need the motion of moving my back leg to the front first, to gain sufficient momentum and power for the jump.

when i was in pinpoint, the act of moving the back foot to behind the front foot does not add momentum to the serve

However, many pros jump directly from the back position.

Any thoughts?

something else to consider is roddick's serve... which is a narrow platform, which similarly eliminates the moving of the back foot to the front foot.

 

[TennisDawg]

This is a great video for recreational players and explains the jump when serving.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

@dascho

As others have mentioned, most servers start in a platform stance. Some will launch from there -- especially some elite ATP servers (Sampras, Federer, etc). Many find the platform stance to be simpler & more stable. Note that Roger gets quite a bit of upward leg drive with his platform serve but does not get as much forward movement into the court as many other elite servers do

Many other servers will transition from the platform to a pinpoint stance. Many ATP servers & most WTA servers employ the pinpoint. For some players, they will get a little bit more leg drive (upward and forward) than with the platform. Some pressure plate studies show a very slight difference.

OTOH, depending on their particular implementation, some players are able to get a little more leg drive and power (racquet head speed) with the more stable platform stance

Note that Andy Roddick, one of the most powerful servers ever, employed something of a hybrid stance. His top speed of 155 mph was a record for quite a while -- before being surpassed by some taller players. Many considered his stance to be a narrow platform (while others saw it as a wide pinpoint). Gael Monfils copied this hybrid stance for quite a while and was able to hit some pretty big serves as well (146 mph).

 

[dascho]

Thank you very much for your answers. I wasn't aware of this platform and pinpoint difference before!

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Thank you very much for your answers. I wasn't aware of this platform and pinpoint difference before!

I would suggest starting off with the platform stance in the beginning. Fewer variables to deal with. You need to focus on the most important elements of the serve first. #1, by far, is a good reliable serve toss.

Along with that, the upward swing is the other, most critical, part of the serve. Best to start off with a continental or semi-continental (Aussie) grip. Note that the upward swing should start with the racket "on edge" -- not with the racket face already open (see waiter's tray error). Later, during the upward swing, the hand & racket face are rotated to present the strings to the ball. This is accomplished with a combination of forearm rotation (pronation) & shoulder rotation (ISR).

Next in importance is moving thru the trophy position and racket drop w/o opening up the racket face -- the dreaded WTE (waiter's tray error). Starting off with a platform stance will make it easier to focus on the more critical elements of the serve.

Jeff Salzenstein is a huge advocate of the platform stance. By his own admission, his serve, while he was playing #1 at Stanford back in the 1990s, was the weakest part of his game. However, as an ATP pro, he developed one of the best & simplest serves on the tour. I strongly suggest learning his simple (semi-abbreviated) serving style to start off with

 

[dascho]

Great video! Really interesting! Thank you! Definitely going to try the platform stance again.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Great video! Really interesting! Thank you! Definitely going to try the platform stance again.

Have you see the serve progression video from High Altitude Tennis? More about hitting spin serves with a simple motion and no WTE. Not so much about stance tho -- but well worth watching.

 

[Chas Tennis]

Stick with your video observations.