Wrist Action During Serve

[TimothyO]

In another thread on forehands there's talk that using wrist action during a forehand swing can cause injury. That makes sense to me.

A new tennis pro we're trying out said that for a proper serve once the arm is fully extended upwards the wrist "snaps" or rotates almost down and into the ball. That seemed dangerous to me from an arm health perspective. On the other hand, it made hitting a serve well really easy.

Is snapping the wrist at contact during a serve standard for some? Dangers? Advantages?

I'm a tennis noob and we're trying out different pros and the disparity in technique is fascinating. Sometimes tennis technique seems as varied as theology!

 

[only4theweak187]

He's using the interchangable term "snap" in reference to fluidly and loosely pronating.

No, you will never and should never forcibly push or "snap" the wrist onto any stroke including serve.

it's all about being loose.

you will f up your wrist.

 

[TimothyO]

He's using the interchangable term "snap" in reference to fluidly and loosely pronating.

No, you will never and should never forcibly push or "snap" the wrist onto any stroke including serve.

it's all about being loose.

you will f up your wrist.

Yes, that's the term! He did say to keep it super relaxed loose.

But when he had my arm fully extended up and at contact he took my hand and flexed it at the wrist in a downward motion. So while super loose he also clearly wanted me to bend at the wrist at contact.

Holding my arm and bending my hand at the wrist he hit a few balls from that position using only wrist action to demonstrate what he wanted at contact. Obviously there's still a full arm swing so this was part of his process to breakdown the swing into different components.

 

[only4theweak187]

He's not explaining properly, you just must be loose and make the arm loosely kind of like a rope into the ball. no forcible use of any arm, shoulder, wrist, or hand at all heh.

i did this when i first started playing tennis, wrist hurt terrible.

 

[TimothyO]

He's not explaining properly, you just must be loose and make the arm loosely kind of like a rope into the ball. no forcible use of any arm, shoulder, wrist, or hand at all heh.

i did this when i first started playing tennis, wrist hurt terrible.

Hmmm...does that mean no bend at the wrist at contact in your opinion? Is follow through limited to bending at the elbow and shoulder?

 

[only4theweak187]

watch slow-mo of FYB2007's videos of any pro's serve.

i'm having a hard time explaining what i mean.

during pronation in the serve the wrist will yes be "bent", but i'm not sure what in your head at what point you're talking about the wrist being bent

 

[TimothyO]

watch slow-mo of FYB2007's videos of any pro's serve.

i'm having a hard time explaining what i mean.

during pronation in the serve the wrist will yes be "bent", but i'm not sure what in your head at what point you're talking about the wrist being bent

Will do! I really enjoyed their series on forehands when they compared pro form to various levels of rec players. Very informative!

 

[LeeD]

Don't snap your wrist with concious forearm muscles.
Instead, your wrist gets rotated thru shoulder, elbow, and body muscles.