Real Tennis Players - Like You! - Asking For, and Offering, Advice on the Sport They Love
Player to Player is USTA.com’s bi-weekly feature in which everyday tennis players are given a forum to ask advice on the sport they love – and their fellow players will dish out advice. We’ll post a number of the best responses we receive to our question of the week. Please send any questions you’d like answered, or responses to other player’s questions, to Player@USTA.com.
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This week’s question from Carlos M. I have a 16 year old cousin who lives in New York and plays tennis for her high school team. Does anyone have recommendations for how she can develop her game even more? Also, what should she be doing to make herself an attractive candidate for college teams?
Please share your advice with Carlos by e-mailing Player@USTA.com with your name and hometown. -------------------------------------------------------------------
Last week’s question from S. Manda
I have my different coaches contradicting each other on this: Is it necessary to keep your elbow down on your serve until the appropriate time, or is it okay to raise your elbow immediately as you toss the ball?
READER RESPONSES
From Tip K. of Midland, Texas
“You can't be serious,” as Mac said! One of your coaches actually said not to raise your elbow up after your toss? I suspect your coach is trying to help you make contact with the ball on time and giving you that advice since your swing is too fast.
The serve is one of the most complicated processes in all of sports. You are not only charged with making a throwing motion with your racket, you are also required to toss the ball up with the other hand -- then make contact with the ball in such a way that your ball lands in a square of relatively small size! The process is much easier for players who have had previous experience with an overhand throwing motion, especially those who have pitched overhand in baseball.
If my guess is true, I would start throwing footballs, tennis balls and baseballs also. It will really help your throwing motion, although the actual motion is slightly different. You can also practice your toss and make sure that it is just a bit over high enough.
Back to the elbow thing: Once you’ve got a good throwing motion and a good toss, you have to lift your elbow off of your back quickly or you will make contact with the ball too late! The key to the serve is common sense. Think what will and will not work.
From Rick Miller PTR, Lugoff, South Carolina
Look at the Mary Pierce sequence on page 104 of "World Class Tennis Technique". All your serve questions will immediately be answered.
From Tucker M. of Waco, Texas
For me, serving is a huge part of my game. I think to increase the speed of your serve by 10 MPH or more, you should keep your elbow bent only until the appropriate moment. If you bend your elbow while you toss, you lose a lot of power that comes from a tight shoulder and elbow. Also, bending your elbow too soon can cause tennis elbow and other kinds of injuries.
*Please note that any advice given out in this forum should in no way be confused with actual medical advice. Before starting any new exercise regimen or altering your existing one, we strongly urge you to consult with your regular physician.
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