Video of my Forehand and Serves

[Duzza]

ZP that kick serve 15 hours ago was bloody awesome! He had no idea!

 

[JCo872]

I just looked at your serve from your sig page. As Jlui said, you get that great racket drop and high elbow which allows you to get awesome pronation. I'm not suprised at all that you are getting tons of speed on the serve. Correct pronation from the racket drop to contact and after contact is the heart of serve power.

Pause ZPTennis's serve in the full racket drop position and you will see what I mean. It looks like the Fish pic JLui posted from my website.

Good stuff!

Jeff

 

[Swissv2]

I would love a high quality video of this serve

 

[JCo872]

For anyone interested, I explain why I think ZPTennis has great technique and a big serve here:
http://www.hi-techtennis.com/serve/player_drop.php

Jeff

 

[JCo872]

ZPTennis, nice serve. This is more an analysis of where the power comes from in your serve, and not a critique. Simple put, you have massive shoulder rotation. Most people who post vids don't even turn their bodies 90 degrees sideways, but you do and more. Plus, you have a very good shoulder stretch. Combined, I would say it gives you most of your power.

It looks effortless because you are loose and able to effectively use the kinetic chain to generate all that power. I don't think your legs are generating as much power as others, but that's just my opinion. It would be amazing if you could get into the 140's by harnessing the energy in your legs. Your serve also looks simple because there are no fancy or wasted movements. It looks like there are only 2 things going on: straighten legs and rotate shoulder while keeping loose.

Great analysis!! I couldn't agree more!

I talk about the shoulder rotation in my analysis in the above link and shoulder stretch. Shindemac raises a great point here about the effortless appearance and the kinetic chain. This is why pros look so effortless and average players actually swing a lot more and use a lot more energy without getting much power or pop.

If you want a big serve like ZPTennis, work on stretching out your arm and shoulder. Get in that great racket drop position with a high elbow and fully rotated shoulders and feel the stretch before you launch up to the ball.

 

[Ten_is]

sweet guys. I've learned more about serving in the last month or so then I ever did. Thanks to Jeff and everyone for their .02.

I like Drakulie's serve as well. Any thoughts on his serve?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTYsI6hBrTU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SBNjkWFbzE

 

[JCo872]

sweet guys. I've learned more about serving in the last month or so then I ever did. Thanks to Jeff and everyone for their .02.

I like Drakulie's serve as well. Any thoughts on his serve?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTYsI6hBrTU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SBNjkWFbzE

Sweet! Drakulie is getting great coil in his upper body and shoulders and is throwing that left hip into the court. He gets his tossing up pointed straight up to the sky and holds it for a moment to really store up energy in the body coil. He is getting good pronation as well. I can do a pro comparison if you'd like.

To be honest, I think he should be hitting even harder than 100mph. I'll have to see what else he can do. But man all those great components are there in his serve.

 

[Ten_is]

yes please do a comparison!

throwing that left hip into the court during the toss? (bending back) or after the hit?
Because it seems like his hip rotates due to his left foot turning in it's heel in a way.

I also notice that the shoulders aren't really rotating into the hit and his followthrough seems stiff. Almost like he's not uncoiling fully.. thoughts??

 

[dave333]

yes please do a comparison!

throwing that left hip into the court during the toss? (bending back) or after the hit?
Because it seems like his hip rotates due to his left foot turning in it's heel in a way.

I also notice that the shoulders aren't really rotating into the hit and his followthrough seems stiff. Almost like he's not uncoiling fully.. thoughts??

one of his feet are bruised so he can't have a proper followthru right now.

 

[shindemac]

Well, thoughts on Drakulie's serve should go on his thread. But yes, his power comes from different sources.

 

[drakulie]

Shindemac raises a great point here about the effortless appearance and the kinetic chain. This is why pros look so effortless and average players actually swing a lot more and use a lot more energy without getting much power or pop.

I am so glad you said this, and can't stress this enough. A lot of people think you have to swing hard . I like to say, "swing easy". With good technique, and as you say an "effortless looking swing", you could generate a lot more pace.

ZP's serve is very simple and fluid. Although all the components of a great serve are there, when people watch his motion, they get lost in the leg or knee bend, when what they should be focused on is how effortless and simple his motion is, and the end result.

If you try and actually see his racquet during the upward swing you can't---it is too fast, as a result of his uncoiling of the shoulders and launching of the arm upwards.

Good stuff!

 

[ZPTennis]

For anyone interested, I explain why I think ZPTennis has great technique and a big serve here:
http://www.hi-techtennis.com/serve/player_drop.php

Jeff

thats awesome Jeff. thanks for the analysis! It actually looks like I might have close to the same racquet drop as Malisse. Now i only need to work on the other 2000 things i don't have and i'll be there.