To improve my flat tennis serve, I recorded it with my GoPro 4 Silver during my regular serve practice and shared the footage with my coach.
The service is broken into 8 phases. I have marked the errors I observed in red.
- Grip: Continental
- Initial Stance: Platform
- First Move (turn away from the target)
- Ball Toss (using fingertips)
- Trophy Pose
- Serve Stroke
- During the stroke, I should approach the ball with the edge of my tennis racket - not with an open tennis racket. This is causing a "push" stroke. The racket should open at the very last moment - during pronation.
- Contact
- I was releasing the pinkie finger on my tennis hand before contact. Need to correct this error!
- Completion
Tennis Serve Fundamentals
1.
Grip
1.
Use Continental Grip (2) loosely (with just the ring and pinkie fingers
to allow for a snap).
2.
Use Boris Becker's grip (2.5) for more slice
2.
Initial Stance
1.
Stand a few inches behind the baseline, 3 feet from the center stripe
(separating ad and deuce portions of the court)
2. The left foot is pointing at the rightmost net post (a few inches behind
the baseline) to allow for an easier rotation
3.
Right foot is behind the heel ofthe left foot, shoulder-width
apart (heel-to-toe alignment), to allow the shoulders to load up
5.
Hold the tennis ball with 2 fingers (thumb, middle),
like an ice cream cone, to minimize ball spin during the ball
toss.
6.
Lean forward until all of the weight is on your left foot (the right
foot's toe should come up slightly)
7.
The racket is placed in front of your body with the ball right at the
throat of the racket
8.
Turn your head and look where the ball will be when tossed
(this will prevent additional head movement during the serve). Do not
move your head for the whole duration of the serve
3.
First Move - Turn away from the target
1.
With the weight on the left leg and the tossing arm and racket
together, turn your shoulders clockwise and separate the arms (as soon
as the back ankle hits the ground on the back foot).
2.
The left tossing arm is straight and releases the ball when it reaches
eyeball height. You are placing the ball on the spot where you expect it
to land (if not hit). The tossing arm should move smoothly and not too
fast. Only the shoulder is used, and the arm must not be bent. The left
arm follows the ball as if the ball never left (pretend they are
magnetically attracted to each other)
3.
All your weight is transferred from the front foot to the back foot.
(The heel of your left foot should come up)
4.
Your head should not turn
during the ball toss
5.
Your right arm moves slowly down
4.
Ball Toss
1.
The left arm releases the ball when it reaches eyeball height to place
it at 12:30 (12 o'clock being your head) for a 1st or
12:00 for a 2nd serve. Once the ball is released, the left
arm continues to track the ball.
2.
The left arm keeps pointing straight up at the ball with the palm
facing the tossed ball. Spread the fingers on the tossing hand!
3.
Keep your face pointing at the ball (the chin should be close to the
left arm), and the body should not jerk during the toss.
4.
Look at where the ball is going to be released, then switch focus to
the ball
5.
Trophy Pose
1.
The body should be leaning backward (tilting) with the knees bent, the
left shoulder way above the right shoulder, and the left arm pointing
straight at the tossed ball.
2.
The right arm moves slowly back (straight, palm down,
without any elbow bend) until it reaches shoulder height, at which point
the elbow starts to bend.
3.
Your body should be tilted slightly to the left
1.
When the ball reaches maximum height, you push off with your right foot
and drive with your hips while also uncoiling your shoulder
2.
Bend your right elbow to move the right arm from right to left, behind
your head, with the left edge of the racket gently touching your scalp.
3.
When the elbow is pointing at the ball, and the racket butt cap is
pointing at the sky (behind your right shoulder), release the right
arm
4.
The right arm never stops moving to ensure a smooth and powerful
stroke
6.
When hitting the ball, the right arm pronates (rotates
counter-clockwise) to hit the ball flat (while the lungs breathe out).
The thumb edge of the racket should be pointing down (for correct
pronation)
7.
Contact
1.
You should try to hit the ball at its peak (this is when the ball is
moving slowest), above your head (on the inside)
2.
The right arm should be fully extended (not bent) during contact
3.
After contact, the right arm bends immediately
4.
The right arm lands on the left side of the body, and then the left arm
catches the racket
5.
Your head should stay still, pointing at the ball (not where
it's going)
8.
Completion
1.
After the serve, you should land on your left foot a few feet inside
the baseline
2.
Your right arm should have your thumb down (for full pronation)
9.
Refinement
1.
To hit a topspin
serve (2nd serve), toss the ball to 12 o'clock. Your body
should finish more on the right side.
2. Toss the ball to 1 o'clock to hit a flat serve. The body should finish
facing forward (the net)
3.
To hit a slice serve, toss the ball to 2 o'clock (low and to the
right)
10. Pro Tips
1.
Make sure your head does not turn to look at where the ball is headed;
always look at where it will be tossed, and do not move it.
2.
The secret
to the serve is to imagine it as a ball throw shifted upwards. The
throwing arm and shoulder should all be in a line.
4.
Think of a serve as a baseball throw.
5.
The wrist should be very loose (for training, hold the racket with just
three fingers)
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