Serve problem

tex123

Hall of Fame
Hi,

I've always been frustrated with consistency on my serve. But I managed to build my serve using the Wawrinka/Tomic model. They both use a high elbow and face the net during preparation. The high elbow (higher than shoulder) naturally allows heavy top spin (smooth drop from high position and up to contact point) and serve goes in with plenty of top spin.

It was going well until I started experiencing problems with stiffness/pain in upper back, shoulder blade and neck. This type of serve places a huge amount of strain on the upper back.

So I'm back to the drawing board and started to build my serve using Kevin Anderson/Richard Krajicek model. They have very similar serves except Krajicek's toes point away. Hips point at the ball, back facing the opponent and then uncoil. The trouble is that I don't have any consistency. When it goes in, it is fast. I need a way to impart top spin to keep it in just as I used to do with Wawrinka/Tomic model. But with a lower elbow (relatively), I can't build that loop to contact point. It is more of archer's bow (hips) uncoiling.

Really struggling. Any advice?
 

WildVolley

Legend
I've always been frustrated with consistency on my serve. But I managed to build my serve using the Wawrinka/Tomic model. They both use a high elbow and face the net during preparation. The high elbow (higher than shoulder) naturally allows heavy top spin (smooth drop from high position and up to contact point) and serve goes in with plenty of top spin.

You are mistaken in thinking the high elbow at trophy generates a lot of heavy topspin. Sampras didn't use a high elbow at trophy and I'd guess he hit more topspin than Wawrinka/Tomic.

Also, Wawrinka pulls his elbow down before moving to the forward swing. Tomic has an OK serve, but he's almost 6'6" tall and I believe it should be better. He's improved the form over the years, but I think the high elbow is harming his motion.

Almost all tennis coaches will suggest you have the elbow roughly in line with the shoulders at trophy position.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
Have to agree with the other replies here. Tomic's high elbow is not something that should be copied. It can put undue stress on the shoulder (and rotator cuff). This may eventually take its toll on Tomic's shoulder. I don't believe that this high elbow position is responsible for greater topspin on the serve either.

OUCH!
zx7eiq.png

While Wawrinka is not quite this high, I still wouldn't use his trophy as a model either. I don't believe that anyone got more topspin on 1st serves or 2nd serves than Sampras. Federer also manages a good deal of topspin on his kick serves with the elbow position shown below.

FedPeteTrophyElbow.png
 

shindemac

Hall of Fame
Interesting styles between fed and pete. Fed is wearing white head band with matching white wrist bands. Plus his grip and racket are white. Pete is superbly balanced and more loaded than fed.
 
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