Originally posted by johncraig
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Originally posted by johncraig
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Without getting into a discussion of where we agree or disagree let me outline a bit of my interpretation of the serve and the toss. I have written some to pvchen regarding his service motion so this might even help him to tie things together even further. pvchen posted his service motion on the forum and several of the coaches here participated in giving him some good advice regards how to go forwards and improve his motion. The last look we had was very encouraging.
Looking at your video you are a perfect example to work with. I tell the student that first we must have a perfect setup position. Once we have a perfect setup position it is possible to execute a perfect backswing. If we set ourselves up to go forwards with a perfect backswing then it is guaranteed that we can make a perfect forwards motion...if we toss the ball in the same perfect spot on a consistent basis.
I emphasize that serving is a process of aiming...much like a golf swing. The first thing that I do with a student is set them up in a position where they are aiming at a specific target. I start with the corner near the sideline in the deuce court. First I have the student line up by creating a line at the ends of their toes that goes to the target. Next I have them set their racquet about six inches in front of them pointing the racquet tip directly at the target. This line that is six inches in front of the line of their feet extends all the way to the target and all the way back to the wall behind them...or the fence. All of my instruction now is related to this line and focused on aiming at the target.
This line that is in front of the students feet becomes the backswing line. I am going to limit my explanation regarding this line to the toss. In your set up position you have positioned the ball precisely above this line. When you bounce the ball in your preserve ritual you bounce the ball on that line. The point where you bounce that ball becomes the target for your ball toss (if you were to let the ball bounce). So the goal of the student is to toss that ball straight above the target to a point above that line where their forward service motion will meet the ball with the racquet face. In other words...the target for the toss is a point above that line as high as they can reach with their racquet. With me so far?
With both hands dropping together the ball toss hand comes straight to the front thigh and then as the hands GO OUT TOGETHER the hand reaches and passes through the point that it was at in the set up position. At this time the shoulders have rotated and are approximately on line with the feet and therefore aiming at the target. The racquet is at the top of the backswing and the racquet head is also still on this backswing line...never allowing the racquet to get behind the body until it falls behind.
The toss should land inside the court about a foot in front of the baseline. I also teach my students to step towards the target with the motion initially...naturally on the line towards the target. I try to emphasize this line to direct as much energy towards the target...it is all a process of aiming. The motion is an moving aiming process.
I describe the motion as a track for a rollercoaster...thus the use of the line. Initially the track is in front of the student where the backswing descends and then rises in the upwards backswing...all the while staying "on track". Once the backswing reaches the top of the track, the racquet head (the rollercoaster car) falls freefall speed behind the student and goes into "the loop" of the rollercoaster where it comes out of the loop with terrific speed...just like a rollercoaster. The track returns to the line where the racquet meets the ball aimed at the target. The step towards the target emphasizes this aiming process further and I eventually have the student continue motoring to the net for a volley. I believe that the service motions of the past were superior to the modern players as the motions were designed to go forwards...to the net!
Thanks again John and I can really appreciate your stress on fundamentals. The three rules of tennis coaching being...fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. Looking forwards to your further contributions. One of the stand out points that you made in your video was the raising of the back heel. Very interesting.
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