|
Serving- The first skill is learning to toss the ball to the ideal contact point. There are many ways to do this, as every player finds a method that works for them. Every pro does it a bit differently, but there are cetain basics that are universal: It is more of a lift from the shoulder than a hand flip, the hand and arm continue up under the ball after release, the arm continues up to a vertical follow thru for an instant.
You can toss directly to the net post (45 degrees into the court) or bring it around in an arc into the court. Watch 4 pros and you'll see 4 different movements; it is the end result that matters.
The timing can be toss arm first, racket arm movement first, both together or any combination of the two. Individual variation is a feel, a choice of style more than function. Experiment and see what works for you.
You can hold the ball in the fingers, with the palm under, the hand sideways or down, or gently rest the ball lower in the palm (like a birds nest) with minimal finger use. The main thing is to use large muscle groups, not fine motor muscles(i.e. the fingers), and feel like you are lifting with the legs and shoulder. Make it automatic, not too deliberate.
The ideal toss height will set the rhytmn of the serve so about 6 inches over contact usually gives time for a full body-coil without too much pause. High tosses have servers time/ hit a falling ball, give too much time to lose balance and are weak in the wind.
Placement of the toss is into the balance point off the right (front)shoulder, into the court about four to eight inches in front of the front foot.
As 80% of the energy in the serve is upward, with 20% forward, a coordinated toss and wind up allows the player to uncoil upward. We want to hit up vertically to get over the net, and pronate out sideways to get spin to pull the ball down. Hit up and out, with a loose continental grip.
The serve is a full body throw, the longest and loosest swing in the game, so make a full-out arc. The harder you serve the more spin you need to control it. Learn to make the ball bend and arc into the court, getting easy power from a natural unwinding of body segments.
Tennis: the game for Lifetime Fitness, for the young and old.
Zen-Tennis Tip of The Month- Let it disappear
Learn to not watch the ball......going back that is. Watch it and focus as the ball comes into the racket, not out. Everything follows the eyes; if you watch your outgoing ball go back ,you pull your head up, your weight up, your racket off the contact zone. Get in the habit of keeping your vision on the contact point by looking at your racket edge, not the outgoing shot, after contact. You can have the best practice stroke in the world but you have to discipline yourself to be still in the split second of contact. Keep your eye off the ball. Make your head turn part of the stroke, all the way in. It is the last 3-4 feet where you have to let your eyes focus in the short range, not use periphial vision. Keep your eye on the blur. Let the ball disappear when you hit and not reappear until your opponnent hits it. See the seams rotating. Watch the ball off the court to measure the height of the bounce to get under it enough .................let it disappear as you exhale and extend out to a full range follow through.
Master TIP-Simplify Your Targets
Use the centerstrap as an axis, a compass for all your shots; you can hit 80% of your shots either at or within FOUR FEET of the center strap, no exaggeration. This includes serving and returning. Don't play the player- play the ball within the dimensions of the court and let the player be third in importance; Play the ball first (concentration), play within the court(shot selection). Only after you master this will you avoid beating yourself through unforced errors. Then you can begin to look at strategy and tactics, but it all still happens within 4 or 5 feet of the center strap.
Customsports MORE TENNIS LESSONS |
