The service motion is most similar too...

[hacker_101]

Baseball?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlPVdppfYGs

Football?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c06ToXPyJYA
http://www.sportskool.com/videos/fine-tuning-your-serve

Cricket?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowler_%28cricket%29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Anw6E8mLi9E

In my mind, I always thought football or baseball, but lately I have imagining the bowling action of cricket and my serve gained a lot of speed. I think it's the first time I ever understood the cartwheel (shoulder over shoulder) action.

Thoughts?

 

[LeeD]

You can use any analogy you want.
Since we're talking about tennis serves here, why not use a tennis serve as you model?

 

[charliefedererer]

In the following video, Pat Dougherty (Bollettieri's "Serve Doctor") makes the analogy that the controlled posture and balance of the core is similar to that of a baseball pitcher or quarterback, and as is their live, loose arms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c06ToXPyJYA

 

[DrpShot!]

IMO the pronation is more similar to a football throw than a baseball pitch.

 

[r2473]

In the following video, Pat Dougherty (Bollettieri's "Serve Doctor") makes the analogy that the controlled posture and balance of the core is similar to that of a baseball pitcher or quarterback, and as is their live, loose arms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c06ToXPyJYA

I learned my serve from him (for some reason I can't find this on TW):

http://www.amazon.com/Nick-Bollettieris-Stroke-Instruction-Sonic/dp/B0019KDUPW

 

[charliefedererer]

I learned my serve from him (for some reason I can't find this on TW):

http://www.amazon.com/Nick-Bollettieris-Stroke-Instruction-Sonic/dp/B0019KDUPW

That is a great video set for learning to serve, with many little hints thrown in.

 

[skiracer55]

Throwing a javelin...

.......check out some track and field athletes, and you'll see what I'm talking about...

 

[ManuGinobili]

You're all wrong

THIS is the ultimate answer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRyDcB7qQFo

 

[ManuGinobili]

oops repeated post

 

[mtommer]

I would say volleyball is the closest.

 

[BullDogTennis]

football motion is SUPOSE to be really condensed, if you've watched much espn before the draft you'd see how hard they worked to get tebows motion shorter.

my votes baseball

 

[mike53]

I always like thinking of throwing a tomahawk, like an old western movie or Last of the Mohegans. Helps me get the grip right.

And check out this guy, he's got a forehand and a serve. I'm afraid to ask about his backhand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7EdhnReYH0&feature=related

This guy's not bad either:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prl3YFep7TE&NR=1

 

[xr3fgb]

Why the heck is it that a pitcher can only throw 100 pitches every 5 days but a tennis player can hit about 1,000 serves every other day?

 

[r2473]

Why the heck is it that a pitcher can only throw 100 pitches every 5 days but a tennis player can hit about 1,000 serves every other day?

Probably because tennis players are awesome and baseball players aren't even really athletes