Real Tennis Players - Like You! - Asking For, and Offering, Advice on the Sport They Love
Player to Player is USTA.com’s regular 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. PLAYER TO PLAYER DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT YOUR QUESTIONS, so please send any queries you’d like answered, or responses to other players' questions, to Player@USTA.com.
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READ OTHER PLAYERS' ADVICE
Last week’s question from Chris:
(Please note: There's no need to send additional responses to this question)
"I think my serve is flirting around the 90- to 100-mph range. I am a junior, so hopefully there is still room for improvement. I see guys like Roddick and Federer bangin' the ball in at 130 on average. I was just wondering how to improve my serve and make it go faster. Is it in the knee bend or in bicep size, back bend or jumping into the serve - or maybe all of the above? Help!"
PLAYER RESPONSES:
From Dick B., Morrisville, VT:
Most players have trouble with the ball toss because they allow their tossing arm to go too low, and the release is from a low point that causes the player to bend at the wrist when tossing. Try releasing the ball at a higher point in the toss to avoid bending the wrist and have a more accurate toss. The arm can go way down, but release the ball at a higher point and into the court.
From Eric R., Santa Rosa, CA:
Technique and NOT bigger biceps will improve your serve. Racquet-head speed delivered at the proper point of maximum impact is a product of a Kinetic Chain of Movement. Go to the Tennis magazine archives to watch in slow motion the serves of Sampras and Federer. Copying Roddick is much harder, and he does have a massive physique that allows his style to work.
No matter what your body type, a whip-like motion that originates in the largest muscle groups of the legs and torso are what will whip the end of the chain, your racquet, into a 130-mph ace. Conditioning helps, of course, but technique is king.
Also look at Arthur Ashe who died of AIDS from a tragic bad blood transfusion. Ashe had very skinny arms but a dynamic Wimbledon and US Open winning serve. You may find some old films of Ashe to be very helpful. Pancho Gonzales had the best serve of the decade before Ashe. Copy only the greats of serving.
No matter how you perfect your motion, if you do not have an accurate toss, your serve will go into the toilet. So practice that until it hits the strike zone on your command.
From Coach Poppie, Palm Bay, FL:
Chris,
Ask five pros, and you can expect five different answers. All can do something to your serve.
Start by getting someone to videotape your serve from many angles. Hit five or six in slow motion, ½ speed, ¾ speed and all out.
Here is a checklist:
- Is my toss consistent, or am I chasing it?
- Am I pronating through the contact, or am I slinging away flat?
- Am I accelerating to maximum head speed through the contact point?
- Am I moving in the same direction as the ball, or am I falling off to one side?
- Am I completing my follow through?
- Am I still balanced?
Here is a little drill to increase racket head speed:
First, find a batting cage in your area with a speed gun. At courtside from the baseline, practice hitting your serve as a line drive to the far fence. Once you can hit 25 so they hit 7 or 8 feet high, start serving up and through, accelerating all the way. Do this every other day for 15 days. Then get your speed checked again. Anything less is like driving a car with a loud muffler – you may think you are going faster, but without a speed gun, you’re just guessing.
Play on!
From Steve M., Atlanta, GA:
Improving the speed of your serve is best accomplished with the combination of having your upper body as relaxed as possible, with your shoulders being very limp, sort of loose as spaghetti. As you go through your swing, pay attention to your wrist action. Your speed will come from the proper wrist action and not from the strength of your arms. Once you master the wrist action, you'll achieve much greater speed in your serve.
From Dennis B., Rocky Mount, NC:
Possessing a huge serve can be an advantage if the serve is extremely consistent. However, the serve you currently have can be made better by placement, as opposed to power. Using ABC (Alley, Body, Center) placement together with speed and spin will make your service multi-dimensional and leave your opponent always guessing.
From Serena U.:
Well, Chris, both your swing power and height matters. You should bend your knees for height of the ball, and when you need the swing power, you start to go a little faster with your arm when you bring it around.
From Dragan N., OH:
Hit the ball over your straightened tossing hand. Keeping your tossing hand straight up until you hit the ball will guarantee a consistent contact point every time.
*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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