Lew Hoad's service action

[stotty]

First time I've seen this clip. It's a decent side view of the great man's serve. The elbow looks low/dropped but in keeping with this style of action, which I've seen before. A boy at my club (uncoached) has this type of arm action. He's the hardest server we have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8yZ-PUvz74

Thoughts anyone?

[10splayer]

First time I've seen this clip. It's a decent side view of the great man's serve. The elbow looks low/dropped but in keeping with this style of action, which I've seen before. A boy at my club (uncoached) has this type of arm action. He's the hardest server we have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8yZ-PUvz74

Thoughts anyone?

Yeah Stotty, I agree it's quite low, and would cause most a whole world of trouble.

If you've read Brian G's masterpiece on the serve, the importance of the 90 degree angle of the upper arm to torso is important as it makes it much easier to cooridinate the arm progressions with the leg drive. I don't think most could tie the two together well from this position.

[julian1]

Was Hoad limited by a two feet on the ground rule?

First time I've seen this clip. It's a decent side view of the great man's serve. The elbow looks low/dropped but in keeping with this style of action, which I've seen before. A boy at my club (uncoached) has this type of arm action. He's the hardest server we have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8yZ-PUvz74

Thoughts anyone?

Was Hoad limited by a two feet on the ground rule?
Probably NOT

[tennis_chiro]

shoulders are pretty steep

I agree the elbow is too close to the body, but it's not as bad as it looks because he has such a steep tilt to the shoulders, much like Sampras.

don

[stotty]

No rocking...

Great observations...

What stands out for me is his weight transfer. No rocking back then forwards. He seems to transfer weight another way...by stepping forwards a tad with the left foot to make his weight fall into the serve...coordinated really well with the commencement of the swing.

Anyone see this differently?

[julian1]

Horizontal vs vertical movement

Great observations...

What stands out for me is his weight transfer. No rocking back then forwards. He seems to transfer weight another way...by stepping forwards a tad with the left foot to make his weight fall into the serve...coordinated really well with the commencement of the swing.

Anyone see this differently?

Hi,
I would say much more horizontal than vertical movement
To some extent my short post #3 ABOVE is related to it.

One may compare with Tsonga shown at

http://www.tennisplayer.net/bulletin/showthread.php?t=2262

NOT obvious whether "YOUR" video describes a part of a SERVE and VOLLEY combo

Regards,
Julian W.Mielniczuk

[julian1]

Toss of Hoad

https://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/380883/No._27_Stroke_Production_in_Tennis.pdf

quotes that the height of a toss of Hoad was between 15-22 centimeters