Roddick155mph
New User
How far can you throw a tennis ball?
How fast can you serve?
How fast can you serve?
tennis ball throw
- Thread starter Roddick155mph
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SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
I throw righty but serve (primarily) lefty -- so very little corelation.
First of all, don't try to throw a tennis ball far. It's too light and you will throw out your arm. +, arc of the throw determines how far, so some people can't find the right trajectory even if they have good arms.
I'd say, at 59 + 11 months, I can throw a football 55 yards, and serve right around 110 or so. Last time I threw a baseball, g/f's son's practice, right around 230', waay less than I thought I could, mid 90's.
I'd say, at 59 + 11 months, I can throw a football 55 yards, and serve right around 110 or so. Last time I threw a baseball, g/f's son's practice, right around 230', waay less than I thought I could, mid 90's.
Jackie T. Stephens
Professional
I toss mine pretty high and jump into the serve with my body for more power.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
An attempt at humor? :?
If not, the OP is not talking about the ball toss as all. He is apparently trying to correlate the ability to throw a ball far (with the dominant arm) to the ability to serve fast.
Roddick155mph
New User
I have difficulty throwing the ball beyond 60 feet[service line] and I can only serve flat at about 65 mph max. My kick serve does not have enough pace to clear the net[ under 30 mph].
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
It could be technique, timing, or a preponderance of slow-twitch muscle fibers (over fast-twitch fibers).
princemidplus
Semi-Pro
how old are you riddick155mph? just wondering as age may have something to do with it.
i have never timed my serve but it is fairly quick and i can throw a tennis ball about 50m or so. find it too light to throw any further without doing an injury to myself.
throwing and serving are slightly different techniques. i remember watching a documentary on the Williams sisters being coached by their father. He made them practice using a serve motion to throw old tennis racquets (wooden, metal, all types really). The difference was that the used the tennis service motion but had to release the racquet at about 1 o' clock of so and try to get the racquet to go in a high arc as far as they could.
hope this gives a bit to think about.
i have never timed my serve but it is fairly quick and i can throw a tennis ball about 50m or so. find it too light to throw any further without doing an injury to myself.
throwing and serving are slightly different techniques. i remember watching a documentary on the Williams sisters being coached by their father. He made them practice using a serve motion to throw old tennis racquets (wooden, metal, all types really). The difference was that the used the tennis service motion but had to release the racquet at about 1 o' clock of so and try to get the racquet to go in a high arc as far as they could.
hope this gives a bit to think about.
Roddick155mph
New User
Can anyone suggest a good exercise to increase the ability to move my arm faster, please. Can weightlifting help or do I just have to learn the technique?
Try throwing rocks, balls, or anything to get the timing of the motion.
Starts with your stance, your feet, your leg drive, your torso turn, your takeback, your shoulder rotation and then up to your arm.
Just throw lots.
Then when your arm moves fast, rethink into trying to whip the rackethead fast, NOT concentrating on your armspeed, which you now already have.
Starts with your stance, your feet, your leg drive, your torso turn, your takeback, your shoulder rotation and then up to your arm.
Just throw lots.
Then when your arm moves fast, rethink into trying to whip the rackethead fast, NOT concentrating on your armspeed, which you now already have.
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
Note that the power for throwing and for serving is not just about muscle strength in your arm. Power (speed strength) will come more efficiently thru use of your legs, hip rotation, torso rotation as well as the shoulder & arm links -- a good kinetic chain.
Weightlifting exercises that develop your legs, arms (& shoulders) and your core muscles can help. However, you should also do some "power training" -- medicine ball work and other plyometric exercises to develop the fast-twitch muscles.
The racket-throwing, as PrinceMP suggests above, is a very good idea. As I see it, the service motion is a blend of 2 throwing actions. The first throwing action is almost straight up. The 2nd action is both up and forward (like throwing at a 45 degree angle or so). Try executing both throws with the racket. The first throwing action should help you to achieve a better racket drop ("scratch position"). Will H has a video on this on his FYB site.
lawlaw
Rookie
I haven't measured the distance of my throw but when we are at the beach we back up as far as possible to where we can barely hear each other and throw as high and as far as possible. Helps keep the arms nice and loose.
The fastest serve I have hit that was timed was timed on a court was 143mph. I would say I serve 128mph -135mph consistently. Anything over that makes my first volley tough or you get passed if the guy gets on the return well.
The fastest serve I have hit that was timed was timed on a court was 143mph. I would say I serve 128mph -135mph consistently. Anything over that makes my first volley tough or you get passed if the guy gets on the return well.
Roddick155mph
New User
My god, what NTRP level are you? 143 mph is very uncommon for average players. Only the pros like And Roddick can serve that fast.
Yeah, 130's is pretty fast.
In all of the SanFranciscoBayArea, my 4 serves (out of 7 tries) at 129.4 got me second overall in the Amateur Division, about 14th out of 20 pros, two of which were midgets (Dibbs and Solomon).
That's fast enough. Now what's your excuse for not going 4 rounds in SateliteTour events and Opens? (I have a whole book of excuses)
In all of the SanFranciscoBayArea, my 4 serves (out of 7 tries) at 129.4 got me second overall in the Amateur Division, about 14th out of 20 pros, two of which were midgets (Dibbs and Solomon).
That's fast enough. Now what's your excuse for not going 4 rounds in SateliteTour events and Opens? (I have a whole book of excuses)
lawlaw
Rookie
I have no idea as to NTRP level. I was world ranked at one point in time.
Here is a clip of me doing my best to kill the ball:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twRlrEfgnSA
Here is a clip of me doing my best to kill the ball:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twRlrEfgnSA
lawlaw
Rookie
My one regret was the ability (or lack of) to focus on one thing. That and working in the fashion world were perhaps the ingredients to not fulfilling my potential on tour.
I intend to play some events and hopefully pick up a few points and sneak into some ATP qualies this year but the dedication and time required to be at the top really takes over normal life (if there is such a thing).
My stats are:
Height: 190/6.3"
Weight: 182 (184lbs max)
Plays: Right handed (Single BH, the only way)
Style: Dedicated serve and volley
I intend to play some events and hopefully pick up a few points and sneak into some ATP qualies this year but the dedication and time required to be at the top really takes over normal life (if there is such a thing).
My stats are:
Height: 190/6.3"
Weight: 182 (184lbs max)
Plays: Right handed (Single BH, the only way)
Style: Dedicated serve and volley
Sorry to slight you on the height. I watched once and made the decision.
Good to have you on the forums !!!!
I hope the other guys take a long, hard look at your physique, your game, your size and speed, and your serve, and sit back and think about it.
Back in like 1979, JohnLucas asked me to string some rackets for him. Yes, the basketball swingman for the Warriors (California). He was the most athletic person I knew then, and actually cracked the top 50 in the world the following year.
Just shows that professional PLAYER in tennis is a real tough thing to achieve, and more work and dedication than most anyone could possibly imagine is more than required. Luck, financial state, life, all take away our chances.
Good luck, I hope you stay on these forums.
Good to have you on the forums !!!!
I hope the other guys take a long, hard look at your physique, your game, your size and speed, and your serve, and sit back and think about it.
Back in like 1979, JohnLucas asked me to string some rackets for him. Yes, the basketball swingman for the Warriors (California). He was the most athletic person I knew then, and actually cracked the top 50 in the world the following year.
Just shows that professional PLAYER in tennis is a real tough thing to achieve, and more work and dedication than most anyone could possibly imagine is more than required. Luck, financial state, life, all take away our chances.
Good luck, I hope you stay on these forums.
