Hitting up on the serve

[gzhpcu]

Is a high elbow position after impact the prime indication that you are truly hitting up and not forward on the serve?
Thanks

[johnyandell]

It's a good question but I think no, the high elbow is related to the racket path. You can see it pretty clearly in these two clips. Both players have perfect extension.

But Pete's ball toss is further left and his racket path is more directly forward and less left to right. I think if your arm is really relaxed with that toss and motion the elbow position just happens.

The racket tip going more forward will naturally cause the bend--that's not going to be so much the case when the path is more to the right.

[Fingers]

Is a high elbow position after impact the prime indication that you are truly hitting up and not forward on the serve?
Thanks

No.

Proof by Counter Example:

One can stand relatively rigid, toss a ball perfectly, and serve with almost all arm, and end with a "high elbow position after impact" and simply swat that ball into the service box without hitting up on the ball much at all, if at all.

QED

I believe the primary indication that one is hitting up on the ball is indicated by the motion of the lower body. If one acclerates their lower body skyward via their legs you will almost invariably hit "up" on a ball because your entire body will be accelerating upward, uncoiling while accelerating upward, hitting up on the ball.

I believe the elbow position just after impact should be relatively identical for all serves based on full extension and arm mechanics regardless whether its a flat serve or one with varying amounts of side and top spin.

If you want to hit up on a ball, acclerate your mind and body upward into that ball and allow that arm to fully extend. It wants to, so let it. The legs will assist you greatly in this objective.