| This is a question usually asked by beginning tennis | | | | Once you've done this a few times, head out to the |
| players, but there are a couple of dynamics that can | | | | courts and give'er a go. Don't worry about |
| change the answer to this question, so I'll start at the | | | | incorporating the swing into your entire service motion |
| beginning - and if you stick around, you'll also get some | | | | just yet, and don't 'over do it'. In the above mentioned |
| sneaky 'bonus' tips that just may help you out with the | | | | exercises, you are going through the motion with your |
| more advanced serving techniques I teach my | | | | racket in hand, but propelling the racket using your arm |
| students. | | | | only; if you 'go nuts' with this exercise, you could injure |
| First of all, the grip that most beginning tennis players | | | | yourself by putting too much pressure on your rotator |
| use (unless taught properly when they start) is the | | | | cuff (it's way deep down in your shoulder, folks, and |
| 'frying pan' or 'fly swatter' (Full Western) grip. They hold | | | | something you won't want to injure). Just getting the |
| the racket like they would a fly swatter and take | | | | 'feel' for the pronation of your forearm and wrist is |
| whack at the tennis ball. This makes perfect sense to | | | | what you're after at this point. By serving a few tennis |
| them, as they are yet unaware of the relationship | | | | balls with your racket while using the Continental grip, |
| between loading, twisting, unloading, acceleration, | | | | and eventually incorporating your entire service motion |
| pronation and follow-through. They just want to hit the | | | | into the process, you will get the 'feel' of pronation, and |
| ball! As these players start to improve their technique | | | | at the same time you'll lessen the chances of using too |
| through proper instruction, they are weaned off of the | | | | much 'arm' and injuring yourself. |
| Full Western grip and toward the Continental grip. This | | | | Now as for the sneaky 'bonus' section here, I offer this |
| is the primary grip used for the serve. There are two | | | | up only as a way for advanced players to get a little |
| reasons we use this grip: Power and Spin. We'll get | | | | more 'pop' and extra spin on their second serves, and |
| into those in a minute; but let's first take a closer look | | | | as a way for 'serve-and-volley' tennis players to get a |
| at the grip itself and how we actually make contact | | | | strong, controlled first serve they can follow to the net. |
| with the tennis ball using the Continental grip. | | | | If you have not mastered the basics of serving, this is |
| The Continental grip is achieved by 'shaking hands' with | | | | not something you should attempt. I know that even |
| the racket grip, with the tennis racket being | | | | after having said that, some of you who are not ready |
| perpendicular to the ground. There is 'V' shape formed | | | | will try it anyway; fair enough, that's human nature. But |
| by your hand when you 'shake hands' with the tennis | | | | if you're not ready for this and try it, you just may think |
| racket. Picture an imaginary line running from the | | | | it's impossible; that' okay. Get your 2nd serve to the |
| center of the 'V' formed by your hand, and extend | | | | point where you can hit 20 serves in a row into the far |
| that line up to the edge of the tennis racket. Now you | | | | right corner of the 'ad' court, using what I taught you |
| are holding the tennis racket with a Continental grip. If a | | | | above, and then come back here and read this. |
| player were to swing the racket with a Continental grip | | | | Okay, so let's say you're a player who's got a pretty |
| the same way they did with a Full Western grip, they | | | | good first serve, and a reliable second serve that you |
| would hit the tennis ball with the edge of their racket. | | | | can pretty much put wherever you want in your |
| Great. Now what? Well, now this player must now | | | | opponent's service box, deuce and ad court alike. But |
| learn the proper way to get the ball onto the strings of | | | | you want to be able to 'swing out', full force, and hit |
| the racket while using the Continental grip. This is done | | | | your second serve harder than you can right now, but |
| through 'pronation'. Pronation is the act of turning the | | | | you don't want to sacrifice accuracy either. That |
| forearm and hand inward from a neutral position (think | | | | would be a pretty good deal, right? Well, here's how |
| 'hand shake'), to a position where the inner forearm | | | | you do it: |
| and palm are facing down. An easy way to | | | | Move your grip toward the Eastern Backhand side of |
| demonstrate this to yourself is this:o Sit at a tableo | | | | the handle (about ¼" to the 'left' of center from |
| Extend your serving hand out onto the table as if you | | | | your continental grip if you are a right-handed player) |
| were offering a hand shake.o This is your hand and | | | | and hit your normal second serve. What you will |
| arm's 'neutral position.o Now turn your hand so that it's | | | | discover is that you have taken a lot of speed off the |
| flat on the table. | | | | the ball, and increased the spin. This gives you a higher |
| You have now just pronated your forearm and wrist. | | | | flying ball that clears the net by a higher distance than |
| Here's another exercise that shows you how to | | | | normal, and drops faster into the court, thereby |
| pronate your forearm and wrist that you'll be more | | | | increasing your chance of actually having the ball land |
| easily be able to relate to a tennis serving motion:o | | | | in your opponent's service box. |
| Place your serving hand flat against your ear. This is | | | | But what do you do about the loss of power? Simple: |
| your 'start' position for this exercise.o Keeping your | | | | Just swing as hard as you would on your first serve, |
| elbow in position, extend your hand up until your | | | | and pronate your forearm and wrist as fast and a 'far' |
| fingertips are pointing directly at the ceiling.o Still keeping | | | | as you can. This will impart not only massive spin to |
| your elbow in position, extend your forearm forward, | | | | the ball, but will add power as well, the result of faster |
| while at the same time turning your palm toward the | | | | pronation and exaggerated follow through of the |
| ground. Continue until your palm is facing down and | | | | forearm and wrist. |
| your forearm in parallel to the ground.o Repeat this | | | | If you find yourself hitting the ball short (into the net) or |
| motion several times.o Now repeat the exercise with a | | | | long (past the service line), simply adjust your toss to |
| tennis racket in your hand.o Instead of placing your | | | | compensate, tossing closer to your body if you've |
| serving hand against your ear, you will now be holding | | | | been hitting the net, or slightly farther out in front of |
| your tennis racket with a continental grip, so that your | | | | your body if you've been hitting long. |
| fingernails on your serving hand are right next to or | | | | In summary, remember: the basics never change. |
| touching your ear.o Again, keep your elbow in position | | | | Learning to serve properly with a Continental grip and |
| and extend your arm and racket up unitl the racket is | | | | executing the fundamentals will give you a firm |
| pointing straight up-and-down. (You should be imitating | | | | foundation on which to build an outstanding serve. The |
| the Statue of Liberty at this point).o Continue extending | | | | advanced techniques shown in the second half of this |
| your serving arm forward while turning your palm | | | | article are just that; advanced techniques that, once |
| inward, until the face of the racket is parallel with the | | | | you have built a solid serve, will help you get an 'edge' |
| ground.o Repeat this motion several times, and really | | | | on the court - where it counts! |
| try to get a 'feel' for the swing. | | | | |