Serve starting position

[thereallovebone]

John-
What is your recommendation for the best starting position of your torso when serving. Do you advocate being somewhat bent over like McEnroe used to do or do you prefer a more upright alignment. I know John mentioned that he started doing that to stretch his back out before each serve. Did it have any function beyond that?

[johnyandell]

Good question. Maybe it also had to do with rhythm--the rocking of the racket and arms up and down in that position. Just getting some comfortable kinesthetic. Sampras was a little hunched over too--and did the foot thing. Federer leans a little forward. Roddick sticks his butt out (not attractive). Ivanisevic is really weird looking... Not sure it matters so long as it doesn't get in the way of what happens afterwards.
Everyone seems to be straight up and down from the waist at some point in the tossing motion, before the knee bend starts to incline the torso. that's where the commonality sets in. Nothing wrong with simpler though. This is a politically correct choice, but a good one too: