| Everybody knows that the tennis serve is a very | | | | were throwing rackets across the net many years |
| important shot but how many club players have a | | | | ago when most courts were grass and the chances |
| really good tennis serve? | | | | of breaking your racket was minimal and even now |
| Let's be honest if the Roddick tennis serve wasn't a | | | | the Williams sisters throw their old rackets about to |
| very powerful tennis serve, his ranking would be a | | | | practise their serves and they are 2 of the biggest |
| whole lot lower. | | | | servers in the Women's game! |
| But what can you do to improve your tennis serve? | | | | So how good is your throwing? |
| Is there a way to the perfect tennis serve? Is there | | | | Can you throw a tennis ball from one baseline to the |
| a way to get a faster tennis serve? | | | | other or even better into the back fence opposite |
| Well for the people still struggling with their delivery | | | | (with no run up)? |
| there is one main word that they should be looking | | | | If you can't then you need to be working on it |
| to improve - THROW! | | | | because I have 8 year olds that can so it is possible! |
| Yes that's it, there is a direct relationship between | | | | Biggest mistakes/things to get right! The main error I |
| someone's throwing ability and their serving ability and | | | | see is where people try to throw a ball with their |
| that's a fact - do not forget that. | | | | body facing the target, rather than sideways on and |
| The fact remains that far too many people miss this | | | | rotating their hips, trunk and shoulders in order to |
| point and do all the wrong things when trying to | | | | accelerate the ball. The second BIG mistake is when |
| improve and even learn the serve and that includes | | | | the elbow is lower than the shoulder as you bring the |
| many coaches who do all the wrong things when it | | | | arm forward. You must get the elbow higher just like |
| comes to tennis serve coaching | | | | you were carrying a javelin NOT a shot putt! The |
| It has nothing to do with strength, gender and/or | | | | third BIG mistake is when the wrist is behind the |
| muscle size as tennis serve biomechanics are all about | | | | elbow at the release point. Look at any slow-mo of |
| throwing technique to such an extent that I regularly | | | | great servers or even pitchers (same basic action) |
| have my under 9 squad out-throw many of my adult | | | | and you will see that when they release the ball, their |
| squads just to illustrate the point. It causes a few | | | | throwing arm is fully extended and straight from the |
| red faces but everybody leaves with a better | | | | shoulder to the wrist. If you don't have these three |
| understanding. | | | | "factors" in place you will end up with a pushing |
| Also high standard female players can out-serve male | | | | action rather than a chucking/throwing action and a |
| amateurs most of whom are bigger so that just | | | | very ineffective serve. So get those old tennis balls |
| proves the tennis serve technique over muscle or | | | | and get to work - remember you don't have to be a |
| even gender issue. | | | | girl to throw like a girl! |
| This is not some revelation in tennis training as people | | | | |