Bouncing the ball before the serve ...

[hockeyscout]

Can someone explain to me why this is done? I know it is a ridiculous question, however, I am kind of curious on everyone's own individual reasons as they may be radically different.

[gzhpcu]

Well, Laver bounced the ball only once before serving, Rosewall didn't bounce the ball at all...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCsIEx7ykDY

Hoad and Seixas didn't bounce the ball prior to the serve. Just walked up to the baseline, paused and served... Years later, Hoad bounced the ball twice...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMEIiFzGDG8

They didn't waste time between points as they do today...

[gzhpcu]

Edberg bounced the ball twice... As time goes on, the bounces get longer..

Sampras bounced once... Agassi lots more...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lrZDRvrZpg

[hockeyscout]

Edberg bounced the ball twice... As time goes on, the bounces get longer..

Sampras bounced once... Agassi lots more...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lrZDRvrZpg

These old players did so much right fundamentally. Okay, so what is the end reason for the ball bounces?

[klacr]

I bounce three times. no more no less. Just a rhythm thing. I can serve adequately with one or no bounce but just gets me mentally prepped to explosde. 1...2...3...Go.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[GeoffWilliams]

I vary and sometimes go to a no bounce routine, to throw off returners rhythm, as they get very used to your routine very quickly.

[don_budge]

ABC...As easy as one, two, three...

I bounce three times. no more no less. Just a rhythm thing. I can serve adequately with one or no bounce but just gets me mentally prepped to explosde. 1...2...3...Go.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

One for the money...two for the show...three to get ready. Go...cat...go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9hQIrsHaS4

[hockeyscout]

Never the usual old ABC stuff from you guys!

I vary and sometimes go to a no bounce routine, to throw off returners rhythm, as they get very used to your routine very quickly.

I am experimenting with the two hitting partners. The young one is watching closely, and the results have been very good.

I was thinking no bounce (I have some very technical reasons for this of course), and, you can do a count as you are looking to where you want to deliver the ball in your head. So, from what I am gathering their is no technical reason. It is more or less something you just do for you, to suit yourself and that is that.

Very good Geoff! Smart stuff as usual. Not your usual ABC stuff ever from you! You're a hidden gem! You should be working somewhere on the pro tour, however, I guess that's tough when you own a successful business.
I need to talk to a NFL QB or a top end sprinting coach and look more into this I think as I am sure it's all a science.

Maybe a basketball coach can shed light on it (where the eyes need to go). I remember a coach at the University of Calgary did a ton of research on this with eye tracking software tools, and I will try and find it again as she improved free throws by a ridiculous amount with their woman's team.

Geoff, gzhpcu, I think we will look at Rosewall and and klacr, thanks, you kind of took me to the next level of thinking (the next, balanced after serve). Never the usual ABC stuff from you guys.

[gzhpcu]

Of course, you could bounce the ball 29 times before serving like Djokovic did here, and hope that the opponent falls to sleep...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I72qi_tAwL4

[GeoffWilliams]

The Djoker bounce rule is coming. As long as the server is into his bounce routine, they don't call the time violation, but Djoker takes it to a new level past Niemenen/Agassi gamemanship bs.

The no bounce routine is deadly to some returners who are normally dead on their shots. Takes them by surprise, and isn't this game all about surprise?