Serve: platform or pinpoint

Orion3

Orion3

Semi-Pro
I'm after some advice.

I've always been a platform server but am finding age creeping up on me (45 next birthday) and am finding it physically more difficult. My question is this - would I find a pinpoint stance gentler on my body?

Would the motion of the pinpoint stance make the overall action (knee bend etc) easier? Or would it make no difference.....and will age win either way!! Ultimately, age always wins, but I'm just after a way to postpone it as long as I can.

Thanks in advance.
 
Oh, to be 45 again! I've got about 15 years on you. Can serve either platform or pinpoint. I don't really notice one being gentler on the body than the other. Some players may find that balance is a bit more of a challenge with the PP stance -- I do not.
 
Another 45 year old here and I haven't found one sort of stance to be an advantage over the other. The most punishing thing about my serve is when my motion is too rushed. If my toss is delayed enough, I can get good and loaded up with a strong, easy release through the ball.

I also learned to get my heels up off the court when I serve so that I get less torque in my knees. This also seems to give me a more active kinetic chain in my motion, but I haven't analyzed it on video or anything like that.
 
mightyrick said:
Man, it warms my heart when you older guys say this. I'm almost 41... reading this literally made my day. When I'm 60... I'm going to pass on the favor.
Click to expand...

Lol!

Found this thread today

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?p=5874516
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgdXawklcZk&feature=related

Found it quite interesting and then had a look at his other (serve doctor) videos on YouTube. Definitely some things here that I'm going to try out. Not sure if they will work for me, but I've got another 15 years to try them out :0)
 
I think you can follow the Serve Doctors advice on hitting above your chest from a platform or pin point stance.

Here's Cilic with a platform stance and working above his chest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYFgHooyVKM
notice he bends at the knee and not the back to keep the ball above his chest. Federer does this too.

Here's Murray with a PP serve (he pulls back foot up into PP) and he also works above his chest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GFkqD7GBZQ
Roddick keeps his feet close together but he also works above his chest.

I think the Serve Doctors' point is to arch backward (not "back") at the knees to keep ball out front and above chest to get chest musles involved. You can do this with either platform or PP stance. Sometimes I practice balancing my butt over my heels with a straight line from my knees to my shoulders. This gets the ball above my chest.

I am 54 and use platform stance. No problems but occassionally mess around with PP. Seem to get more power from PP but more consistency and accuracy from platform. PP may cause me to put the ball farther out front but platform has less moving parts during wind-up resulting in better accuracy.

I don't think one is significantly easier than the other for older players. Maybe slight edge to platform as it has less moving parts and may require less balance and flexibility. But, try both and use the one you like.
 
Add on to post above:

I am American but lived in Sydney Australia for a year and played at the Rosedale Tennis Club. I was playing one day and heard a nice "thump" sound that immediately made me think someone knows what they are doing. I turned around and the "thump" was a guy that looked to be in late 60s or early seventies hitting serves about 100-110 MPH that were striking the base of the back fence on the fly. The guy was tall, lanky and still in good shape. He had a fluid, easy motion that looked effortless. I think he used a PP pulling up the back foot but it has been about 15 years. But, I do remember how the "old guy" was absolutely thumping the ball with a stroke as smooth as a pro. So, there is hope for the old guys.
 
TennisCJC said:
I think you can follow the Serve Doctors advice on hitting above your chest from a platform or pin point stance.

Here's Cilic with a platform stance and working above his chest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYFgHooyVKM
notice he bends at the knee and not the back to keep the ball above his chest. Federer does this too.

Here's Murray with a PP serve (he pulls back foot up into PP) and he also works above his chest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GFkqD7GBZQ
Roddick keeps his feet close together but he also works above his chest.

I think the Serve Doctors' point is to arch backward (not "back") at the knees to keep ball out front and above chest to get chest musles involved. You can do this with either platform or PP stance. Sometimes I practice balancing my butt over my heels with a straight line from my knees to my shoulders. This gets the ball above my chest.

I am 54 and use platform stance. No problems but occassionally mess around with PP. Seem to get more power from PP but more consistency and accuracy from platform. PP may cause me to put the ball farther out front but platform has less moving parts during wind-up resulting in better accuracy.

I don't think one is significantly easier than the other for older players. Maybe slight edge to platform as it has less moving parts and may require less balance and flexibility. But, try both and use the one you like.
Click to expand...


I've never used platform, but the text highlighted in red makes sense to me.
 
TennisCJC said:
Add on to post above:

I am American but lived in Sydney Australia for a year and played at the Rosedale Tennis Club. I was playing one day and heard a nice "thump" sound that immediately made me think someone knows what they are doing. I turned around and the "thump" was a guy that looked to be in late 60s or early seventies hitting serves about 100-110 MPH that were striking the base of the back fence on the fly. The guy was tall, lanky and still in good shape. He had a fluid, easy motion that looked effortless. I think he used a PP pulling up the back foot but it has been about 15 years. But, I do remember how the "old guy" was absolutely thumping the ball with a stroke as smooth as a pro. So, there is hope for the old guys.
Click to expand...

DId u talk to him? I bet he has been playing all his life. But being 45 is not too late to learn a new serve.
 
I'm 48 and I use the platform. I don't think it's any harder or easier on my body than pinpoint, though admittedly it's difficult to compare. I changed from pinpoint about 12-ish years ago. My motive for changing wasn't age, it was to try to simplify my motion so I could improve my toss consistancy and my location.

I hit my serve hard - I'm definitely going after the ball. I've never had my serve clocked, but my first serves down the T in the duece court will hit the back fence on the first bounce about five feet up. I don't feel any strain or pain when I'm hitting my serve. I do have to be careful to keep my back stretched (I'm 6 ft), and I can feel it a bit the next day if I've been serving a lot. Knees and shoulder are fine, and I do try to get a good knee bend on my serve.
 
I like the pinpoint, but I have to concentrate on it or I wind up doing the Safin shuffle. I always wondered why females never do the shuffle which Safin, Haas, and many male players can't seem to shake.
 
I asked the same question recently due to my 45 year old knees. Pin point with weight on the balls of my feet and less leg twisting has done the job. Still working on it, but the advice from fellow forum members has been very helpful!
 
I really think its a matter of what you get used to doing. Some (platform and cross-over) are a spec easier if you have balance problems because you have a wider base. I happen to use a PP but it certainly doesn't make it right.

If you having consistency problems go to or stay with your platform stance - fewer moving parts and easier to learn.
 
You serve what you want.
I'm 62, served mostly pinpoint, but did platform when injured for a few years.
Pinpoint more easy power, less consistent.
Platform is better body control.
Always hit the backboard about 3' high on flat firsts. Normal air temps, 55.
On hot days, I can actually bounce the ball maybe 5' high on flat first serves.
WildVolley says my serves go 65-70 mph.
 
I decided to give the PP stance a shot and for the last month have used it exclusively.

My knees seem to be taking to the change quite well, although its not been a massive change to be honest. That said, to bed in the change, I have played/practiced significantly more than normal (up to 3-4 sessions a week).

My shoulder (I tore my rotator cuff a few years ago - and it never seems to have fully healed) is much better though. Part way through my change I tried to adopt some of the Serve Doctors advice; this made a real difference. My back is now (very slightly) more arched and I am convinced that this has helped my shoulder. Unexpectedly this has also helped my serve consistency - as all my serves now seem to be hit with a small amount of extra topspin. It has taken a couple of MPH from my flat first serve, but I am seeing a tad more accuracy and nearly a 10% boost in first serves in.

The change seems to have worked for me. I have lost a little speed (but I still serving at around 105mph) but I seem to be more accurate and consistent AND my body seems to be wearing a little better after a game...especially the day after a game!

Thanks to all of you for your comments and input.
 
My natural service motion for my legs is pinpoint.
I have tried platform but I can never get the timing proper.
For some reason it just feel better and more stable with my feet closer together and "underneath" me.

At one point when I younger, I was convinced that better players were platform servers and tried really hard learn to use a wider stance and balance.
My technique was not very good as I started having back pain with my platform serve but I persisted and soon developed sciatica.
I really couldnt play for over a year and when I went back to pinpoint my back problems disappeared.
I serve pinpoint now and not think I will ever "copy" a platform style, If my stance becomes wider I will let it rather than force it.
 
Orion3 said:
I'm after some advice.

I've always been a platform server but am finding age creeping up on me (45 next birthday) and am finding it physically more difficult. My question is this - would I find a pinpoint stance gentler on my body?

Would the motion of the pinpoint stance make the overall action (knee bend etc) easier? Or would it make no difference.....and will age win either way!! Ultimately, age always wins, but I'm just after a way to postpone it as long as I can.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Pinpoint will put more stress on your front knee because that's where most of your weight has to be in order to move your back foot.
 
Orion3 said:
I'm after some advice.

I've always been a platform server but am finding age creeping up on me (45 next birthday) and am finding it physically more difficult. My question is this - would I find a pinpoint stance gentler on my body?

Would the motion of the pinpoint stance make the overall action (knee bend etc) easier? Or would it make no difference.....and will age win either way!! Ultimately, age always wins, but I'm just after a way to postpone it as long as I can.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

40s are new 20s. :D
 
Pinpoint, your knees work together in concert, so there's less stress, and your body is already moving forwards.
Platform, you can get independent on your leg push, which throws the ballgame off, or you can work in harmony, which gives you great turret consistency.
Neither is better or worse. Do you play with standard length or slightly extended rackets? Hi tops or low tops? White or another color shoes? Loopy backswing or direct takeback? 2hbh or 1 hbh?
All personal preferences.
 
I've been experimenting with both the last year or so, and I'm a big fan of the platform. I just can't get good consistency with the PP serve. Too many moving and extra parts!

-Fuji
 
You'd learn more PP if your game involved only S/V, and your groundie game was as lame as mine.
 
LeeD said:
You'd learn more PP if your game involved only S/V, and your groundie game was as lame as mine.
Click to expand...

I serve and volley quite a bit, but I can get quite a good jump off my platform so it's okay for me. If I was more dedicated to improving my serve and volley, I would for sure learn a more stable PP serve to get there! Off my platform serve, I get about 1.5 feet inside the baseline off the toss. With PP I could probably double it!

-Fuji
 
I love it when I"m thinking S/V, drive 4' into the court on my serve, and for some reason, my body hesitates, the return is deeper than me but off to my side, and I"m choosing between a low volley or a shorthop while retreating..:(:(
 
Platform servers tend to teach a constant ball placement and good platform servers can hit all sorts of spin and wide/down the line serves.
I can't do that.
My serve is very good.
But I vary my toss in front of me to hit it flat and more over my head to spin the ball.
That's where my pinpoint motion helps me .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Platform and pinpoint serve hybrid?
Replies
3
Views
715
PKorda
P
TennsDog
  • Poll Poll
Serve: Platform vs. Pinpoint
Replies
45
Views
27K
dnguyen
D
M
[HELP] Should I use the platform stance or the pinpoint stance for serving?
Replies
41
Views
6K
NedStark
N
S
Help with serve
Replies
19
Views
2K
sstchur
S
Ballinbob
Serve is getting worse from pinpoint stance?
Replies
13
Views
2K
GrandSlammer
GrandSlammer
Back
Top