Serve "drill" that helped me A LOT

[HunterST]

I'm not sure if you can call this a drill, but it helped my serve dramatically. I go the idea from the documentary Unstrung.

I set up a tire in a tree, so that the middle of the tire is about the height of a ball when you hit the serve. Then, I got a hammer.

This is the important part: I didn't even think about mimicking the serve motion. I just thought "I'm going to bang that tire with this hammer as hard as I possibly can." What I found was that I got set into a much more explosive and natural trophy pose.

I realized that I was just trying to look like Federer when I got into the trophy pose. I bent my knees back and arched my back, but I didn't ever consider its purpose TO LOAD MY MUSCLES. What's more, when I just focused on banging the tire, I found that my wind up DID look very similar to Federer's.

This is also a great strength/explosiveness exercise.

 

[fleabitten]

So, let me picture this: You're banging on an old tire hanging from a tree with a hammer. Sounds exhausting, like it's time to head back into your trailer for a Mike's Hard Lemonade and some Jerry Springer.

 

[HunterST]

So, let me picture this: You're banging on an old tire hanging from a tree with a hammer. Sounds exhausting, like it's time to head back into your trailer for a Mike's Hard Lemonade and some Jerry Springer.

hahaha, yeah right man. It's Busch Light and Larry the Cable Guy.

The idea came from Clancy Shields who lived out in the country and had no real coach. Most of his training was things like the tire in the tree and chopping fire wood.

 

[GetBetterer]

It seems because of the heavy hammer, you subconsciously attempt to give it as much power as you would with a regular serve, but because of the weight of the hammer, you have to swing faster in order to achieve a similar speed with the racket.

Then, when you do it on the court with your racket, you remember how fast you hit with the hammer, so you swing just as fast with the hammer as you do with the lighter object, your racket.

I can't remember the article, but I do remember that several college students at a university were given heavy rackets, with lead weights to practice on, and when they used their regular, lighter rackets they started hitting harder.

I'm thinking they're similar applications, but you found an easier way to do so. Very nice.

 

[LeeD]

If it works for you, then go do it!

 

[Donny0627]

Well make sure that when you do this you do it in a backyard with a tall fence cause otherwise bystanders will think your an idiot...

 

[HunterST]

Well make sure that when you do this you do it in a backyard with a tall fence cause otherwise bystanders will think your an idiot...

It's pretty obvious that I'm an idiot even when I'm not doing this.

 

[SirSweetSpot]

hahaha, yeah right man. It's Busch Light and Larry the Cable Guy.

The idea came from Clancy Shields who lived out in the country and had no real coach. Most of his training was things like the tire in the tree and chopping fire wood.

I love Shields' tennis..isn't he the head coach now at Boise State? Assistant?

 

[RealFight]

Jerry Springer, LMAO!
It's a vivid picture.

So, let me picture this: You're banging on an old tire hanging from a tree with a hammer. Sounds exhausting, like it's time to head back into your trailer for a Mike's Hard Lemonade and some Jerry Springer.

 

[ProgressoR]

hey sounds great. know where I can order a tree and rope and tyre and hammer from? It is not possible to find all this equipment handy in real life, of course, in a location that suits you.

Honestly it sounds good, and working for you, but i am one of those guys that would probably love to try it but just the unusualness and potential embarassment factor if i was seen will prevent me doing this.

 

[SirSweetSpot]

I like to use a racquet, a court, and a bucket o' balls...but thats just me.

 

[RealFight]

I saw a bollettieri tennis video before and they are teaching the student to hit the tennis fence with a racquet in a serving motion. It's the same thing, and yours are better because it won't incur potential repair fees for the fence.

I'm not sure if you can call this a drill, but it helped my serve dramatically. I go the idea from the documentary Unstrung.

I set up a tire in a tree, so that the middle of the tire is about the height of a ball when you hit the serve. Then, I got a hammer.

This is the important part: I didn't even think about mimicking the serve motion. I just thought "I'm going to bang that tire with this hammer as hard as I possibly can." What I found was that I got set into a much more explosive and natural trophy pose.

I realized that I was just trying to look like Federer when I got into the trophy pose. I bent my knees back and arched my back, but I didn't ever consider its purpose TO LOAD MY MUSCLES. What's more, when I just focused on banging the tire, I found that my wind up DID look very similar to Federer's.

This is also a great strength/explosiveness exercise.

 

[Xenakis]

I'm not sure if you can call this a drill, but it helped my serve dramatically. I go the idea from the documentary Unstrung.

I set up a tire in a tree, so that the middle of the tire is about the height of a ball when you hit the serve. Then, I got a hammer.

This is the important part: I didn't even think about mimicking the serve motion. I just thought "I'm going to bang that tire with this hammer as hard as I possibly can." What I found was that I got set into a much more explosive and natural trophy pose.

I realized that I was just trying to look like Federer when I got into the trophy pose. I bent my knees back and arched my back, but I didn't ever consider its purpose TO LOAD MY MUSCLES. What's more, when I just focused on banging the tire, I found that my wind up DID look very similar to Federer's.

This is also a great strength/explosiveness exercise.

Isn't this in a scene from Deliverance?

 

[SirSweetSpot]

I got the rights to the Fila overalls.

 

[TennisBeginner]

How long did you do this for? I kind of want to try something like this, did you do it every day for a certain amount of time?

 

[HunterST]

hey sounds great. know where I can order a tree and rope and tyre and hammer from? It is not possible to find all this equipment handy in real life, of course, in a location that suits you.

Honestly it sounds good, and working for you, but i am one of those guys that would probably love to try it but just the unusualness and potential embarassment factor if i was seen will prevent me doing this.

I understand being too embarrassed to be seen. I don't really think those are very unusual items though. I mean you don't own a hammer or have a tree in your yard?

I like to use a racquet, a court, and a bucket o' balls...but thats just me.

I do that. Like I said though, too often when actually serving people get caught up in trying to LOOK like the pros.

When I did this, the point was just to think about hitting the tire hard. I tried to disassociate it with the serve as much as possible. The proper trophy pose etc. just fell into place.

 

[HunterST]

How long did you do this for? I kind of want to try something like this, did you do it every day for a certain amount of time?

I just go out and do it whenever I feel like for maybe 5 minutes at a time. I live slightly out of town and have a 3 acre yard so the embarrassment factor doesn't apply to me as much.

 

[EP1998]

What you are doing is really going to help your serve. Here's the clip discussing what they do at IMG:

http://www.youtube.com/user/servedoc#p/u/3/xjXJGsRtm08

If you dont have his DVD you should get it! I think you would really get a lot out of it. It's called MPH.

 

[get it in]

Interesting story. I know Clancy's brother. I'll phone him up and get the scoop.

 

[get it in]

Okay. So I talked to Clancy's brother yesterday. He kind of laughed and confirmed that yes they did do that kind of stuff. It was maybe twice or three times a week. Clancy was coached by his dad. They kind of lived in the country, but not really. It's more like a medium-small city in Colorado. They are plenty of small towns in the United States. I think the difference is that just about everyone played tennis so the environment to get better was there.

I have no problem with unconventional ways of training. Whatever it takes to get better, right? BTW, Clancy and his brother Luke are monster athletes. I played touch football with them once. They could easily outrun everyone. Just throw them the ball long and they'll catch it! Their brother is very athletic too. He's an accomplished mountain climber and alpine skier. Just to give you an idea, he used to do pull-ups with four fingers on the bar. I have a hard enough time with two hands fully on the bar (lol!) As far as tennis goes, those guys simply never miss and that will win you a lot of matches. Cheers.

 

[LeeD]

I'd wear a helmet.
That rebound of the hammer from the tire to your head sometimes hurts.

 

[HunterST]

Okay. So I talked to Clancy's brother yesterday. He kind of laughed and confirmed that yes they did do that kind of stuff. It was maybe twice or three times a week. Clancy was coached by his dad. They kind of lived in the country, but not really. It's more like a medium-small city in Colorado. They are plenty of small towns in the United States. I think the difference is that just about everyone played tennis so the environment to get better was there.

I have no problem with unconventional ways of training. Whatever it takes to get better, right? BTW, Clancy and his brother Luke are monster athletes. I played touch football with them once. They could easily outrun everyone. Just throw them the ball long and they'll catch it! Their brother is very athletic too. He's an accomplished mountain climber and alpine skier. Just to give you an idea, he used to do pull-ups with four fingers on the bar. I have a hard enough time with two hands fully on the bar (lol!) As far as tennis goes, those guys simply never miss and that will win you a lot of matches. Cheers.

Wow, pretty cool that you got to talk to them about it. I heard Clancy was going to try to play collegiate football after he was done with tennis. Do you know what ever came of that?

As far as tennis, I agree that they probably never miss, but Clancy at least hits with some SERIOUS pace.

 

[get it in]

Wow, pretty cool that you got to talk to them about it. I heard Clancy was going to try to play collegiate football after he was done with tennis. Do you know what ever came of that?

As far as tennis, I agree that they probably never miss, but Clancy at least hits with some SERIOUS pace.

I thought the football thing was a joke. Not sure what he's up to now. I know going pro is probably still in the works. It's so tough slogging your way up the ladder. Clancy's brother spent a summer traveling with him for futures tournaments. It was a rough life living out of a van, eating whatever was available, etc. It's probably fun getting to play tennis week in and week out but I can see how there are 1000 ways to make a better living. And yes, Clancy hits with very serious pace. It's a blow you off the court kind of pace. Cheers.