what foot do you land on after serving

[Brian Purdie]

I was reading a book of technique that specifies the best way of gathering your stability (for a right handed player) is to land on your right foot for a better ability to start a sprint to the net. It said that this is the best position for S&V players, despite a controversy in the area. Edberg among other pros landed on the left foot with no apparent fault to their game. Has anyone every switched after reading/hearing this from an instructor? Did it improve your game at all?

 

[Marius_Hancu]

How old is the book?

Becker was doing that (Edberg wasn't), but Kucera as far as I know is the only one doing it from the present pros. Thus, a little bit outdated in my opinion.

 

[Brian Purdie]

copyright 1993

 

[VashTheStampede]

I land on my left (im a righty). Most people and pros alike land on their left foot. Strange since I've never heard this advice by any books/tapes/articles/instructors before. However, I've seen old clips of old timers serve, when they land on their right foot. But, well, they don't really "land", since they never really lift off the ground, it's more of a step. Maybe this is what it meant?

 

[goober]

I remember reading something about in the old days (like 1950s) they had a rule that you had to have a foot touching the ground on your serve when you made contact with the ball. That is why you see the old footage of tennis players stepping across with their right foot on their serves with their left foot on the ground. Almost all pro players today land on their left foot if they are righties.

 

[sinoslav]

I think I've read this in Allen Fox's book "Think to Win". I land on my left foot and I tried
for a while to land on my right instead. But I concluded that it is VERY difficult to train
yourself to land on a different foot than what comes naturally, so I gave it up.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

I think I've read this in Allen Fox's book "Think to Win". I land on my left foot and I tried
for a while to land on my right instead. But I concluded that it is VERY difficult to train
yourself to land on a different foot than what comes naturally, so I gave it up.

Be more optimistic on human capability

I think it comes naturally on both sides, but you have to take appropriate measures. If you want to land on the right foot, the position of the feet line wrt the baseline should be less angled.

Check on Becker, he had a right foot which was closer to the baseline. His rotation was mainly created in his knees, which went very low (helped by his huge quads), and in the upper body.

One of my friends has a natural tendency to land on her right foot, and we presently have to work to un-learn that tendency.

 

[Rickson]

Left foot.

 

[kevhen]

I land on my right foot (my right knee can attest to that) and use an Eastern grip like Becker. I push off to start my forward momentum with my right foot and swing my right leg forward over and into the court as I strike the ball while my left foot pushes me upward. Instructors have told me I shouldn't do this so that I can coil up more energy but I find my timing is much better and it does give me some momentum into the court and my serve is my best weapon (5.0 level, 110mph, while the rest of my game is 4.0, I am 6'4) so I am not planning to change my serve drastically.

 

[Ryoma Kun]

it depends on your serve.

i usually land on my left foot and im a righty that uses a lot of kick on both serves.

someone who uses a slice serve for sidespin will probably land on their right foot due to their body swinging around that way.

 

[papa]

As Ryoma Kun said, it depends on what type of serve you use.

If you're bringing your back foot up to the front foot (pinpoint or trust type serve) and then jumping, your left foot would be first into the court - I've seen players (very good players) who don't even move their rear leg and still bring their left foot into the court first. Generally, better players use this method.

If your using more of a cross-over type stance than your right foot is first into the court - left foot stays still while the right foot turns. Generally used more by intermediate players.

 

[dozu]

since the right arm swing forward at serve, naturally the left foot should be the one going forward and land first. period.

 

[Mahboob Khan]

Myself and almost every ATP/WTA player land in the court with his/her left foot and kick back with the right foot. This is the best way to generate maximum power, balance, and forward movement to the net (if you want to serve and volley).

The book which you have been reading and referring to seems to be outdated.

 

[papa]

Although I agree with MK's conclusions, I see many landing on their right foot - especially women.

 

[Frank Silbermann]

I land on my left (im a righty). Most people and pros alike land on their left foot. Strange since I've never heard this advice by any books/tapes/articles/instructors before. However, I've seen old clips of old timers serve, when they land on their right foot. But, well, they don't really "land", since they never really lift off the ground, it's more of a step. Maybe this is what it meant?

They also had a rule that no foot could cross over the baseline until after the ball had been hit -- not even if the foot is still up in the air.

They should have kept those rules. There might be fewer knee and ankle injuries.

 

[devilish_duke]

left foot. i read oscar wegner's tennis instruction book: do whatever's comfortable.

 

[papa]

since the right arm swing forward at serve, naturally the left foot should be the one going forward and land first. period.

Dozu, your statement might be true for the type of serve your using but its NOT TRUE for those that bring their left foot basically up to the baseline in a crossover manner. In this case, the RIGHT foot enters the court first. Many women use this "crossover" approach so watch a match and you'll see.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Many women use this "crossover" approach

Indeed, they do. I know it from my partners.