Serve contest

[OnTheLine]

A year ago I had my serve radar gunned and it came in about where I would expect it at around 70-75mph

Now a year later (and a lot of work) had it clocked again.

Came it at 84mph!

I was very well warmed up overall, having already played about 90 minutes of clinics. But did not have the serve warmed up at all ... we were allowed a total of 4 warm up serves before 2 serves with the radar gun.

Group was 3.5-4.0 men and women. Any woman over 70mph got a prize (starbucks card) and any man over 90mph. Serve had to be in.

Of the 6 women only 2 of us over 70 .. other was at 77 but I think when warmed up and dialed, hers would be much faster than mine.

Of the 5 men, only 1 clocked over 90 and he came it at 98 for his best.

Majority of the women were in the low 60s, majority of the men in the high 70s low 80s.

Of note: nearly everyone was shocked at how slowly they were serving. Some of the men were certain they served well above 100, most of the women were certain they were serving in the 80s-90s

We followed up with a precision contest ... knock over the cone at the T or in the wide corner, get a new can of balls (US Opens, so not the cheap ones).

A little surprising to me. I do this kind of thing in my own practice time, so in my two serves "for the money" scored on both and walked away with 2 cans of balls.

Only one other can of balls was given away ... to a 4.0 lady. People weren't even close to those cones.

 

[travlerajm]

A year ago I had my serve radar gunned and it came in about where I would expect it at around 70-75mph

Now a year later (and a lot of work) had it clocked again.

Came it at 84mph!

I was very well warmed up overall, having already played about 90 minutes of clinics. But did not have the serve warmed up at all ... we were allowed a total of 4 warm up serves before 2 serves with the radar gun.

Group was 3.5-4.0 men and women. Any woman over 70mph got a prize (starbucks card) and any man over 90mph. Serve had to be in.

Of the 6 women only 2 of us over 70 .. other was at 77 but I think when warmed up and dialed, hers would be much faster than mine.

Of the 5 men, only 1 clocked over 90 and he came it at 98 for his best.

Majority of the women were in the low 60s, majority of the men in the high 70s low 80s.

Of note: nearly everyone was shocked at how slowly they were serving. Some of the men were certain they served well above 100, most of the women were certain they were serving in the 80s-90s

We followed up with a precision contest ... knock over the cone at the T or in the wide corner, get a new can of balls (US Opens, so not the cheap ones).

A little surprising to me. I do this kind of thing in my own practice time, so in my two serves "for the money" scored on both and walked away with 2 cans of balls.

Only one other can of balls was given away ... to a 4.0 lady. People weren't even close to those cones.

I like playing mixed with a partner that can hit her spots.

 

[Shroud]

A year ago I had my serve radar gunned and it came in about where I would expect it at around 70-75mph

Now a year later (and a lot of work) had it clocked again.

Came it at 84mph!

I was very well warmed up overall, having already played about 90 minutes of clinics. But did not have the serve warmed up at all ... we were allowed a total of 4 warm up serves before 2 serves with the radar gun.

Group was 3.5-4.0 men and women. Any woman over 70mph got a prize (starbucks card) and any man over 90mph. Serve had to be in.

Of the 6 women only 2 of us over 70 .. other was at 77 but I think when warmed up and dialed, hers would be much faster than mine.

Of the 5 men, only 1 clocked over 90 and he came it at 98 for his best.

Majority of the women were in the low 60s, majority of the men in the high 70s low 80s.

Of note: nearly everyone was shocked at how slowly they were serving. Some of the men were certain they served well above 100, most of the women were certain they were serving in the 80s-90s

We followed up with a precision contest ... knock over the cone at the T or in the wide corner, get a new can of balls (US Opens, so not the cheap ones).

A little surprising to me. I do this kind of thing in my own practice time, so in my two serves "for the money" scored on both and walked away with 2 cans of balls.

Only one other can of balls was given away ... to a 4.0 lady. People weren't even close to those cones.

Congrats!!! Thats some great serving!!

Tt adds about 20-30mph so 114mph what your shirt should say!!!

 

[Curious]

I am happy to hear that tennis after 70 is still possible. I was honestly feeling quite anxious that I didn't have much left at age 52.

 

[Pete Player]

@OnTheLine puts us teens in the shadows. Congrats!


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On pain meds - all contributed matter and anti-matter subject to disclaimer

 

[Pete Player]

@OnTheLine puts us teens in the shadows. Congrats!


——————————
On pain meds - all contributed matter and anti-matter subject to disclaimer

 

[Znak]

I am happy to hear that tennis after 70 is still possible. I was honestly feeling quite anxious that I didn't have much left at age 52.

I think she meant mph

 

[Curious]

I think she meant mph

Oh snap! Its gotta be pretty hard for someone aged over 70 to serve over 70mph.

 

[OnTheLine]

It is the next day, and I am still thrilled.

 

[CJ Tennis]

Content not available.

 

[Kevo]

The way the radar is set up can make a big difference. Several years ago when I was trying to get into the 120s I bought a speed trac radar. I was able to get it to register at 115mph sitting in front of the net. My best serves it never actually read. Anything that was coming hard from a high trajectory it missed. That 115mph was hit wide to the corner and low over the net. I'm pretty sure the down the line serves I nailed would have hit 120mph, but I can't prove it.

Maybe a couple of weeks after my 115mph I was at a PGA Tour store and talking with one of the guys there. They had recently done some kind of serve thing and I was asking how they measured. He told me and offered to check my serve speed. My best in the store that day was 98mph. The way they measured was using a baseball pitching radar standing behind the baseline.

Now I'm not sure I was at 115mph form that day, but I did hit some really good ones that I was sure would be over 100mph, but couldn't quite get there on their gun.

Anyway, I think for guys anything close to 100mph is plenty fast if you can control the placement. Not sure what that would equate to for ladies, but even for guys 84 with good placement would get you pretty far, so congrats on that.

Actually now that I think about it, I took my radar to the local high school one day, and some of the boys were telling me that they hit 100+ at some booth thing somewhere. Fastest on my speed trac for them was 89. So it's pretty hard to compare without matching radar setups somehow.

 

[Pete Player]

Of note: nearly everyone was shocked at how slowly they were serving. Some of the men were certain they served well above 100, most of the women were certain they were serving in the 80s-90s

Intresting, you’d say that.

It is the same with driving agolf ball. At the club there is pretty much 100% 25 and over, who claim and brag about hitting big drives, and chorus echoiong them being well over 270 yds. Then again feels funny, when playing with the same boys a senior like myself, 250-300 out on the fairway depending on a day and need to force carry outdrives them on every hole.

Most often they have urge to explain, why they cannot do it today and wonder, how my shots can fly so far, cause I’m not even trying and look too calm to fly the ball that far according to their understanding on how a max effort should look like.


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On pain meds - all contributed matter and anti-matter subject to disclaimer

 

[Pete Player]

Double.

 

[CJ Tennis]

Content not available.

 

[OnTheLine]

Good points @Kevo this was a radar gun, looked like what is used by cops sitting in a speed trap ...

measurer was standing several feet behind me and slightly to my right.

The one that measured 84 I hit flat and to the T from the deuce court. According to the judge standing on the service line, he said it hit the line. According to the line judge (and my eyes) on the hash mark, it was well in the service box.

I have no delusions that my serve is any faster than that, and may in fact be a little slower than this radar gun showed. In terms of how that serve "felt" to me, I do not think it was my fastest ever, but it was solid.

For near 50yo female rec player ... I have always been happy with my serve, and 84mph even if it is not 100% accurate, I am perfectly pleased.

 

[J011yroger]

A 50 year old 3.5 serving 85mph.

What a time to be alive.

J

 

[OnTheLine]

watch it there buddy, near 50. that is key. and 84 not 85

 

[Fxanimator1]

Of note: nearly everyone was shocked at how slowly they were serving. Some of the men were certain they served well above 100, most of the women were certain they were serving in the 80s-90s

Were their serves hitting the back fence in one bounce, or did their serves look different to them on that day, as opposed to any other day that they serve? I guess I'm curious what they were expecting.

 

[v-verb]

I've measured 98 mph tops. Very frustrating to be so close to 100 but not quite. Typically my first serve is around 90 mph, second serve 75. Radared a few big servers at the club - haven't had anyone top 100 yet although there is a monster who I'm sure can top 100 - just haven't radared him yet

 

[OnTheLine]

Were their serves hitting the back fence in one bounce, or did their serves look different to them on that day, as opposed to any other day that they serve? I guess I'm curious what they were expecting.

On some courts it is not that hard even for me to hit the back fence on one bounce (granted the very bottom of the fence)... some courts don't have a lot of depth to the fence and even less to the side fence. For my average returner, on my hard flat serve, if they are at or just behind the baseline, they are hitting that ball at almost shoulder height (female shoulder).

The comments I heard from the men ... well, if it wasn't so cold today, the balls would go faster ... If I had 30 minutes to warm up the serve, it would have been faster. Few comments from the women.

 

[Fxanimator1]

On some courts it is not that hard even for me to hit the back fence on one bounce (granted the very bottom of the fence)... some courts don't have a lot of depth to the fence and even less to the side fence. For my average returner, on my hard flat serve, if they are at or just behind the baseline, they are hitting that ball at almost shoulder height (female shoulder).

The comments I heard from the men ... well, if it wasn't so cold today, the balls would go faster ... If I had 30 minutes to warm up the serve, it would have been faster. Few comments from the women.

Yeah, I was just meaning the standard 21' from baseline to fence. It is always interesting, the excuses heard on public tennis courts regarding practically every stroke.

 

[norcal]

A 50 year old 3.5 serving 85mph.

What a time to be alive.

J

This made me

 

[J011yroger]

This made me

Bouncing shoulder height on the returner behind the baseline no less!

J

 

[OnTheLine]

My friend... you keep inflating what I write ...
"almost" shoulder height of a female returner
At or just behind baseline ... not behind baseline. So few women ever stand for ROS actually behind the baseline.

 

[norcal]

I saw Svitolina hit a 56 mph serve at IW and it wasn't a mishit!

Which is why...

So few women ever stand for ROS actually behind the baseline.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Nice work on the serve speed increase.

We always measure behind for accuracy. Love getting mine out for the kids. For the younger kids I switch it to KPH, just to show them serving 80 when they are serving 50's For the high school kids we've done tons of sessions at practice and events. Most decent HS boys are in the 70mph range. Top HS'ers are in the 80's pretty consistently. We had one event that the Div I top players were all 100+, but not sure exactly by how much. My radar gun gets wonky around 110 mph.

My biggest serves are around 90 anymore, but average in the 80's. I have a nice creeping 50+mph kick I love throwing in.

 

[J011yroger]

My friend... you keep inflating what I write ...
"almost" shoulder height of a female returner
At or just behind baseline ... not behind baseline. So few women ever stand for ROS actually behind the baseline.

Very impressive to even be close. Most college girls would like to have such a serve.

J

 

[OnTheLine]

Nice work on the serve speed increase.

We always measure behind for accuracy. Love getting mine out for the kids. For the younger kids I switch it to KPH, just to show them serving 80 when they are serving 50's For the high school kids we've done tons of sessions at practice and events. Most decent HS boys are in the 70mph range. Top HS'ers are in the 80's pretty consistently. We had one event that the Div I top players were all 100+, but not sure exactly by how much. My radar gun gets wonky around 110 mph.

My biggest serves are around 90 anymore, but average in the 80's. I have a nice creeping 50+mph kick I love throwing in.

I have no idea if this radar is accurate, I also don't hit this consistently. I can land it maybe 20% of the time. can usually hit 1 or 2 top speed serves in a match. I don't even attempt it in some service games. My guess is that my average 1st serve (that is in) hits around 70mph and I hit it more like 60%

Very impressive to even be close. Most college girls would like to have such a serve.

J

And then there is the rest of my game ... I have a good serve even my 2nds, I have a good OH. That is all I am willing to be content with.

 

[J011yroger]

I have no idea if this radar is accurate, I also don't hit this consistently. I can land it maybe 20% of the time. can usually hit 1 or 2 top speed serves in a match. I don't even attempt it in some service games. My guess is that my average 1st serve (that is in) hits around 70mph and I hit it more like 60%




And then there is the rest of my game ... I have a good serve even my 2nds, I have a good OH. That is all I am willing to be content with.

Well people on the internet tell me the serve is the most important shot in the game so you picked a good thing to have your best shot be.

J

 

[Kevo]

We set ours up on a tripod 6 feet behind the baseline. It pretty much registers every serve and ground stroke from there.

I was kind of worried about where I put it. I didn't want to nail it with a ball accidentally. I wasn't sure it would survive. There were also notes in the instructions, IIRC, about calibration, and I didn't want to get it out of calibration either.

I also thought about setting up something on film to capture the serve so I could measure frame time between hitting the ball and passing the net. That should give a good speed result, but I never did try to set that up. Eventually I kind of lost interest in serve speed. I find that it's easier to earn free points by mixing up the spin and pace on the serve. Keep the returner guessing and they cough up lots of sitters and mishits.

 

[J011yroger]

I was kind of worried about where I put it.

That's my line!

J

 

[Kevo]

 

[Fxanimator1]

The comments I heard from the men ... well, if it wasn't so cold today, the balls would go faster ... If I had 30 minutes to warm up the serve, it would have been faster. Few comments from the women.

Ya gotta love excuses!

 

[mmk]

I am happy to hear that tennis after 70 is still possible. I was honestly feeling quite anxious that I didn't have much left at age 52.

I occasionally play against a guy who is 72 (singles). He is a former 5.5, now more like a 4.0 based on how he plays against me (61) and a couple other guys in my age range. There is also a guy at the club who I've been told is over 80, and I've seen him destroy a 3.5. As long as my knees hold up, I plan on playing singles in my 70s. I guess I'll have to take up doubles eventually.

OP - I need to talk my club into having a serve contest. We had one member who I'm reasonably certain hit in the 120s, it was scary if he hit a body serve.

 

[OnTheLine]

OP - I need to talk my club into having a serve contest. We had one member who I'm reasonably certain hit in the 120s, it was scary if he hit a body serve.

Definitely set it up, especially if the club needs to do a fundraiser for new nets or something ... charge $10 for 5 serves, you will have the new equipment paid for in no time!

It was fun, sure don't know how accurate though.