serve arm coordination

[ralph]

In a few sources I have come across recently the idea that in the serve the tossing arm should be moving faster than the hitting arm has been mentioned. In fact, one source said the tossing arm should be straight up while the hitting hand should only be by the hip. If the leg drive and rotation into the ball starts when one is in the trophy position, what difference does it make how quickly both arms are coordinated, same speed or tossing arm faster?

Ralph

[johnyandell]

Good question!

It's possible this timing could be affecting the speed the arm is moving when it gets to the trophy position. With Roddick he has so far to go that maybe it really does generate speed--but very difficult to pull off if so--see Brian Gordon's articles.

Most of the speed is from the racket drop up to the contact. To me it's about making the racket drop--which so many players don't ever fully reach. That should be the point of the wind up and backswing for most players--not throwing off the timing in the quest for possible and questionable additional hand speed.