Short Video : First Serve, Help!

[Jamelsh]

Very short video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/tbVsaw1A-0s

I've been playing tennis now for 10 months and although I feel like i've steadily improved I am struggling for consistency on my first serve.

Both serves in the video were in, but the second one was quicker and more accurate.

Please give me some advice and suggestions on how to to improve my technique.

Thank you.

 

[LeeD]

Darn good even for end of 2nd year.
Try to lower your hitting hand at trophy, so you can finish the swing earlier.
In the same vein, think of throwing a ball HIGH and far, where you arch your back to face upwards, throwing your racket UPWARDS, not outwards.
Look at those vids of Sampras's finish. He hits the ball, the racket goes 180 degrees pointing straight down at the ground, his hand and elbow is STILL higher than his head.
Close your stance much more. Again, look at the feet lineup of most pros, NOT Ivanesivic, who is 6'4" and can do whatever he wants.

 

[Cheetah]

Your contact point is way too low on first 2 serves.

 

[Chas Tennis]

From what I can see of your serve it looks very good after only 10 months of playing.

To improve your video have the person taking the video stand behind you and fill the frame with your image from 10% above your racket tip to 10% below your feet. You frame rate will be too slow to see the motion above but you may be able to tell if you are doing it. Hold the camera high so that you can see if the ball lands in.

This video shows the biggest contribution to the serve, internal shoulder rotation. The motion can be seen by watching the elbow, it rotates very quickly with the racket still at an angle to the semi-straight arm. The upper arm is rotating around its axis.

https://vimeo.com/27528701

This thread and some others by Toly discusses the racket angle -

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=370729

There is also this video on shoulder injuries and conditioning exercises -Detailed Ellenbecker video on shoulder injuries and preventive conditioning. 20 minutes long. Starting at minute 8 he describes proper arm orientation for the serve and the impingement issue.

http://www.tennisresources.com/index...2&ATT=&reso=hi

 

[LeeD]

Upon further review (the closeup vid), it appears your serve is very good, lacking only the closed stance (for more body rotation), and consistent movement forwards while hitting the ball, which is optional depending on where you want to be for the returner's return.

 

[connico]

Keep the head looking up at the contact point longer and let your body naturally bring it down. Tuck that arm left under your chest to stablise your body at contact and also to reduce your wide landing.

Also your motion is too fluid, you need to pause a little more at the top of your trophy.

Otherwise not bad for 10 months work.

 

[Jamelsh]

Thank you very much for your constructive comments. I clearly need to address my stance and 'close' it, is this in itself likely to assist with more internal shoulder rotation because of the need to come across the body more?

I will also work on dropping my hitting arm lower at trophy.

In order to 'pause' at trophy should I be tossing the ball higher?

Keeping my head up longer is a good tip also. Thank you again guys.

http://youtu.be/f6M81uGSKz0

This is the close up video which is actually the one i meant to upload...oops!

 

[Chas Tennis]

..................I clearly need to address my stance and 'close' it, is this in itself likely to assist with more internal shoulder rotation because of the need to come across the body more?
................................................

Search internal shoulder rotation

some visuals

https://www.google.com/search?q=int..._3QB6qm6gGN6K0w&ved=0CGQQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=589

 

[Chas Tennis]

http://youtu.be/f6M81uGSKz0

That is internal shoulder rotation. Now get it perfected with the best racket arm angle making certain not to injure your shoulder as described in the Ellenbecker video.

That is a much, much better video. Still 30% of the foreground is just the court other than that very nice. I guess the camera has to stay clear.

Smart phone cameras will show an effect called Jello Effect which distorts the videos. You can't totally believe the pictures until you understand Jello Effect. If something fast looks a little strange maybe its the Jello Effect.

I understand some pieces of the serve and how to high speed video them. But I am not qualified to tell somebody how to practice the serve.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

... I will also work on dropping my hitting arm lower at trophy.

In order to 'pause' at trophy should I be tossing the ball higher?

Keeping my head up longer is a good tip also. Thank you again guys.

http://youtu.be/f6M81uGSKz0

This is the close up video which is actually the one i meant to upload...oops!

I don't thing that the trophy position is the major issue (would need to see a side view to be certain). It would also be helpful to see some of your serves at a normal (video) speed. You are not getting much of a racket head drop (scratch position) after the trophy. It needs to drop much deeper. The racket head is not going much lower than your shoulder. It should drop much lower than that to a nearly vertical position (pointing downward). Part of the problem is that your arm is not bending much more than 90 degrees after your trophy. Practice throwing balls (or old rackets) upward with you right arm at a steep angle (75-90 degrees). This may help you get a deeper racket head drop on your serve.

You do not need a higher toss and you do not want to pause during the trophy phase. If anything, your toss already seems to be much higher than you need. That could result in timing issues. The racket head does not need to move very fast at the trophy but it should not stop completely -- think of it as a "phase" rather than a trophy "pose".

You leg extension is also a bit late. The legs should start to extend as the racket head drops from the trophy position. They should already be fully extended as the racket head starts to move upward from the scratch position.
.