Anticipating the Serve

[johnyandell]

Another point--this article is not evaluating the relative amount of forward hand and arm rotation. That's way more important that these backswing differences which are impossible to implement for the average player anyway. Still he probably has made a good distinction--just not as magical as he thinks. He is a sincere passionate guy.

[stotty]

Questions for Machar:

These positions on return of serve, are they taken from the position players take up to receive serve or their position on contact with ball? In other words, are you taking into account Murray's massive lunge step?

As tour players only get a blink of time to return, have you researched other areas? The timing and height of a player's split step must play a big part? How about sheer reflexes, does Djokovic get a millisecond head start on other players? High speed video might reveal this?

I wonder of the Big 4 who has been aced the most over say a 1000 return games. I imagine Djokovic and Murray are the most difficult to ace. But I wonder if there are any stats on that? And does Nadal pay the price on that one with his retreated position?

Stotty

[tennisscience]

This is Machar and here are some of the great questions and my responses from our first article:

The positions on return of serve, are they taken from the position players take up to receive serve or their position on contact with ball? In other words, are you taking into account Murray's massive lunge step?
The positions are taken from the point at which players contact the ball, so yes, Murray’s lunge step is considered.

As tour players only get a blink of time to return, are you aware of research in other areas? The timing and height of a player's split step? How about sheer reflexes, does Djokovic get a millisecond head start on other players?
Exploration of the spatial and temporal relationships between the split step and other facets of the game are relatively under-developed. In the near future, our GIG (Game Insight Group) team, we will be running with a story about the quickest set of “hands-eyes” on return. Unsurprisingly, in the men’s game, the likes of Federer and Benneteau feature prominently.

Of the Big 4 who has been aced the most over say a 1000 return games. I imagine Djokovic and Murray are the most difficult to ace. But I wonder if there are any stats on that? And does Nadal pay the price on that one with his retreated position?
I don’t have that answer immediately at hand (but will have a sniff around!) My sense would be the same as the reader’s though.