Coaching Tip - January 2010

The correct footwork for the serve as with the other tennis strokes is essential to producing consistency and reliability as well as developing a weapon on the court.

Footwork
From the serving stance position (see coaching tip December 2009) there are two basic types of footwork that can be used as part of the serving process:


• Foot up or platform style

The player brings the back foot forward directly behind the front foot as the racquet is reaching up in a throwing action towards the ball as the body weight is transferred to the front foot.
The player is able with this action to maintain a high contact point for the serve with a great vertical force.


• Foot back

In this method the player starts with the feet shoulder width apart and the knees are bent deeply just prior to the racquet reaching up in the throwing action towards the ball. After the point of contact the body weight lands on the front foot inside the court. The player is able to get larger horizontal forces on a serve with this technique.

Practice both techniques to find the footwork style that works for you.

Service delivery
The important things to remember to help improve your serving action or delivery are:

1) Throwing action

• Your racquet should be in the loaded or throwing (trophy) position prior to contact

2) Contact point

• Make contact with the ball at its highest point using a shoulder-over-shoulder trunk (cartwheel) action
• Pull the ball tossing arm down and fold across the stomach or waist slowing down the trunk but creating a "whip" at the top of the action

3) Follow through

• After the wrist snap at contact with the ball continue with the internal rotation of the upper arm as the forearm is pronated
• Ensure the racquet swing path is through the ball and towards the racquet side of the body before moving across to the other side of the body
• This allows the body weight and the player to move into the court landing on the front foot.
• The player remains dynamically balanced as a result of the reaction force created by the kick back of the other leg.

The Biomechanical or the body movement links created from using the correct footwork through to a player's Service action or delivery involving the throwing action, contact point and follow through are vital in the development of a Serve that is not only reliable but becomes a tennis weapon.

Take time to practice your Serve it will pay off.

Variations in Serving to come in future tennis tips.

Contact Steve for further information or to make comment.
steve.james@stevejamestennis.com