Serving my best at age 58

[GrandSlam45]

Well here's a weird one. For the last couple of years I've been watching YouTube videos to improve my serve, and I think it finally happened. I've always measured my serve speed/spin on where the ball lands on the back fence. My entire life I've only been able to make it land about 1 foot on the back fence. But now it's landing about 2 - 3 feet on the fence, which is kind of mind blowing for my age -- I didn't think it was ever possible. A good case that technique is more important than age and strength. I even worked with a coach about 10 years ago who said I would never be able to hit over 100mph because of my body mechanics. I'm glad to have proved him wrong.

 

[LuckyR]

Hey kudos to you. I'm in the process of adding ISR to my already well grooved, serve at 65. Basically, I've lost enough muscular pop over the decades where I need a more optimal technique to make up the difference.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Congrats. My best serving was happening in my late 40s thru my early / mid 50s. Unfortunately by 58, my L hip, L shoulder and other body parts were succumbing to numerous old injuries.

My L (serving) shoulder had been damaged by volleyball (spiking) and 2 auto accidents in my 30s and 40s.

 

[cha cha]

And now you've jinxed yourself.

 

[travlerajm]

And now you've jinxed yourself.

There are worse things than peaking at 58.

 

[sureshs]

Well here's a weird one. For the last couple of years I've been watching YouTube videos to improve my serve, and I think it finally happened. I've always measured my serve speed/spin on where the ball lands on the back fence. My entire life I've only been able to make it land about 1 foot on the back fence. But now it's landing about 2 - 3 feet on the fence, which is kind of mind blowing for my age -- I didn't think it was ever possible. A good case that technique is more important than age and strength. I even worked with a coach about 10 years ago who said I would never be able to hit over 100mph because of my body mechanics. I'm glad to have proved him wrong.

What is the speed of your serve?

 

[liimey86]

Slightly hijacking the thread ..

Does anyone subscribe to the (1/t * 49) approximation for off-the-racquet speed, (for serves that lands close to service line)?

 

[GrandSlam45]

What is the speed of your serve?

Not sure of my current speed (with the improvement) As I said, I can only measure it by how high the ball bounces on the back fence. I played on a PlaySight court a few years ago and the fastest I ever served was 95mph. But most of my serves were in the 80s. I'm not sure if the higher bounce is a bump in speed or better spin/kick -- but either way I'll take it!

 

[GrandSlammer]

Slightly hijacking the thread ..

Does anyone subscribe to the (1/t * 49) approximation for off-the-racquet speed, (for serves that lands close to service line)?

The below has been tested, and of all the formulas out there it is imo the only one that comes close to what you see on TV. You need accurate inputs, so recording at the right angle in slow motion would be beneficial.

Calculating serve speed from frame count in digital video

 

[liimey86]

The below has been tested, and of all the formulas out there it is imo the only one that comes close to what you see on TV. You need accurate inputs, so recording at the right angle in slow motion would be beneficial.

Calculating serve speed from frame count in digital video

I tried out 0.4s, 0.5s, 0.55s, 0.6s with an assumed distance of 60ft, and the off-the-racquet mph calc of your link came out quite close to the 1/t * 49 approximation.

What do you think? Since an approx height of 10' as contact point only changes the distance through air from baseline to service line by maybe a foot, and with another say 10' laterally for contact to landing in middle of service line, say another foot, this simple formula (assuming the serve lands near the service line) seems pretty decent ballparking?

 

[Chas Tennis]

You can measure speed with a video camera viewing from the side.

The ball diameter could be used for a scale as long as the ball has stopped vibrating from impact. Measure height of ball diameter and not in direction of travel. Or you can video a scale before or after the serve. A wide angle lens, as on many smart phones may require measuring the ball diameter across the field of view. Post if you intend to do with a wide angle lens and measure the ball diameter. A scale works to calibrate length across the camera's frame, even with a wide angle lens.

V = D/t

V - ball velocity
D- distance traveled
t - time between frames.

Useful conversion - 100 MPH = 1760 inches per second, at 30 fps a ball travels 1760/30 = 58.6", 60 fps 29.3"

Measurement should be close after impact as is done for official pro ball speeds. Camera viewing the first several feet of the trajectory and viewing perpendicular to the trajectory.

The Principle. Stop on a ball and single frame to see it cross the frame.

To single frame on Vimeo, click V, go full screen, HOLD DOWN the SHIFT KEY and use the ARROW KEYS. The Vimeo may be skipping a frame when you press the ARROW KEYS?

I have a radar gun, it works very well.

Your time has a $ value.

Bounce. For a kick serve, the bounce height depends on the bounce angle down into the court.

 

[Chas Tennis]

Baseball often leads the way in research.

This video shows some baseball research. At 17:55 they show how they measured the baseball speed.

Watch on Youtube. To single frame use the period & comma keys.

I'd recommend viewing the entire video.

 

[GrandSlammer]

I tried out 0.4s, 0.5s, 0.55s, 0.6s with an assumed distance of 60ft, and the off-the-racquet mph calc of your link came out quite close to the 1/t * 49 approximation.

What do you think? Since an approx height of 10' as contact point only changes the distance through air from baseline to service line by maybe a foot, and with another say 10' laterally for contact to landing in middle of service line, say another foot, this simple formula (assuming the serve lands near the service line) seems pretty decent ballparking?

If you find it accurate then go for it! I only know the donthireddy formula has been well tested and from time to time use it.

 

[cha cha]

Boys, a cheap radar gun is 100 dollars.
It's good enough for our purposes.

Just beware, you're not gonna be impressed by the numbers.
I was recently humbled by a 15-year-old girl.

 

[liimey86]

Boys, a cheap radar gun is 100 dollars.
It's good enough for our purposes.

Just beware, you're not gonna be impressed by the numbers.
I was recently humbled by a 15-year-old girl.

Would be great to get an accurate radar reading for a handful of serves, despite that the number will likely be underwhelming/humbling. Good to know.

I wonder if the $100 ones are accurate enough to be within a few MPH? If not, too bad expensive ones aren't easy to rent. Kind of a once a year type thing, would be nice, at least while on a serve learning curve.