Serving with level shoulders

[uspta2331024484]

Why are there so many players, especially on the womens tour, who serve with their shoulders horizontal like a baseball pitcher. Are there coaches out there who believe this is better or just as good as the the serve most of us teach, which is directing the shoulders upward toward the ball?

[johnyandell]

Who is an example of this that's maybe in the Stroke Archive?

[uspta2331024484]

Follow-up, serving with almost-level shoulders

Here are a couple.

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/strokearchive/pro_woman/martina_hingis/mh_serve/mh_arm_action/mh_arm_action.html?MH1stSDeuceArmActionCourtLevelS ide2.mov

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/...DeuceSide3.mov

Now many of the players I looked at had some angle but it looks like it is just the result of the tossing arm going up it doesn't appear they are firing upward to the ball but more out and up. Is that just as good or is the 5:00-11:00 angle still the most efficient and powerful position?

Thanks,

Ed

[BrianGordon]

Ed-

His trunk (shoulder) lean (Canas via link) in the side view looks pretty typical - it would seem the back view is more telling about the extent to which the hitting shoulder drives upward - or maybe I don't get it? - Brian

[johnyandell]

What factors, Brian, if any, would restricts the shoulder angle? Extension of the tossing arm? Knee bend? Others?

[BrianGordon]

What factors, Brian, if any, would restricts the shoulder angle? Extension of the tossing arm? Knee bend? Others?

Ok - so we are talking about the backward lean at the end of the wind up?? - if so, the physical limiting factors would be back hip range of motion (abduction) and/or spinal flexibility (sideways or lateral bending) - the limiting practical factor is that the lean (shoulder angle) contradicts the goal of forward position of the center of mass - so a fine line exists. The more interesting question is what is the significance the of lean or angle to the overall goals of serve execution - this answer would allow determination of where said fine line should be placed. Interested to hear what the participants think - Brian