Copy John Isner’s Serve (5 Simple Steps)

John Isner has one of the best serves in the world.
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Here are 5 simple tips you can use to make your serve better:
1. Use a continental grip
2. When the toss leaves your hand have the racket tip pointing off to the right of the camera when filming from the back view
3. Begin knee bend when ball leaves your hand/begin upward leg drive when racket hits birthday hat
4. Wear a birthday hat for instant feedback as to whether you’re getting into the proper “trophy position” during your serve
5. Lead with the edge of the racket and pronate just before getting to the ball to maximize racket head speed
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Be sure to follow Essential Tennis: / essentialtennis
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For more ways to improve visit www.2MinuteTennis.net

[@2MinuteTennis]

Copy John Isner's Serve (5 Simple Steps)

[@andersflodmark8724]

Amazing "Internal Shoulder Rotation" => rotates the arm. I feel this (ISR) is a concept very few club coaches/instructors are able to communicate to students. Not sure if it's because it's just natural to them, but it really helps to know about it when learning a proper serve, as you go looking for that right feeling and for that extra 20 mph! There is so much power in this shoulder rotation. Thank you Ryan!

[@savvysamizzles2392]

This analysis of John Isner's serve is awesome. Despite not having the flexibility, I have been using his serve all throughout my years of playing tennis and never had a first serve with a lot of power. Only just last year did I serve with a more power and in fact, gained that confidence to hit serve down the tee. Of course my serve isn't perfect compared to Isner's massive flat serve but with a small tweak in my toss and even more leg drive, I can win more points against stronger opponents with more topspin shots. It has been quite successful when I had my good serving days.

[@drghostpepper1]

I just learned about you recently, Ryan. I'm a beginner and can't serve at all. The birthday hat trick changed everything for me. Although now all I see are birthday hats when watching anyone serve. Thanks for the tip!

[@2MinuteTennis]

Hi Ben. Wow thank you for finding me and trusting me to help you with your game. Thanks for trying the bday hat. It’s awesome! You got this!

[@genipool]

Step 1 - be 2.10m

[@leokovacic707]

Best tennis caching video I have ever seen in my 15 years studying the game. That isner pronation is godly and that movement is the heart and soul of a tennis serve , anyone who masters that will serve over 200 kmh regardless of being 6 or 7 ft.

[@glenross9163]

Fantastic - Clear - Helpful - Professional. Thanks for your teaching style!

[@2MinuteTennis]

So happy you found it helpful Glen. Appreciate you!!

[@weyman4317]

Don’t forget the leg extension surgery so that you are now 6 feet 10 inches tall- it’s a great view from up there!

[@2MinuteTennis]

Haha yes. That would help!!

[@andydavidson5253]

John is great person off court, too. A great model for youth.

[@TikiCat3]

Amazing clarity in terms of leg drive timing and forearm pronation! Thanks Ryan!

[@-Munditimum-]

What a great analysis session. Ryan, your energy is absolutely amazing! Keep up the great coaching and the wonderful videos! Cheers!

[@2MinuteTennis]

Thank you so much! really appreciate the kind words!

[@StanSiiu2046]

Great analysis frame by frame, clearly shows what the serve mechanism actually is. I knew what a pronation is for quite a long time. I had this experience couple times that by telling myself just pronate without concerning hitting the ball outside the court or not, the result was surprisingly pretty good. When I pronated gingerly, the result did not fare well. Now I know what's going on after seeing this video!

[@michael1electricianquiroz338]

Great video! Enjoyed the step by step progressions .. John Isner is a great example to incorporate more pace..

[@aglom69]

It worked!!!! I'm now serving nearly 140mph. And by I nearly I mean 50mph slower than that.

[@2MinuteTennis]

Haha that’s awesome!! Glad to hear! I serve “nearly” 140mph as well! 🎾😊👍

[@donmarrin7702]

Super session Ryan...great video analysis! Thanks for sharing!

[@2MinuteTennis]

thank you so much Don!! appreciate the kind words of support!

[@hermanodejesus7264]

Excellent explanation as usual Ryan 🎾

[@juanmontes6701]

Great video, im downloading coach's eye right now!

[@2MinuteTennis]

It's such a great app. Glad you'll be able to analyze your own technique with it!!

[@amdplus1]

One of the best server on the ATP and great family man

[@miketang7533]

Great serving tips👍🙏🎾

[@2MinuteTennis]

Thanks Mike! Appreciate your support!!

[@hmq9052]

Great job. Thanks

[@2MinuteTennis]

Thanks so much TS!!

[@omhunjan1743]

Hey Ryan, you should collab with Rick Macci. If you don’t know him, he’s one of the best tennis coaches in the world. He has coached 5 world athletes on the pro tour and his Tennis Academy is in Florida. You’re such a good coach too and a collab with Rick Macci would be the best!!

[@2MinuteTennis]

Hi Om. Yes I’m very aware of Rick Macci. 😊 thanks for the support and suggestion!! Appreciate you!!

[@Aleksey_Pimenov]

Wonderful video!!! Please pay more attention to pronation. Maybe you can provide us with some tips to make pronation a natural movement. Thanks in advance.

[@coffeedude2024]

Hi Ryan awesome analysis of Isners serve! Isner has the best serve on tour and his kick serve is unplayable but he gets a big advantage with his height and long levers. Could you do a video of how the body uncoils during the acceleration phase? I trully think that so many players over rotate their torso when going up to contact that they are face on when hitting the ball. I think players need to fire their back hip up so you go vertically up and shoulder over shoulder and hit the ball when the the torso is around 45 degrees to the net. Would be great to get your views on this!

[@jean-christophelelann6308]

incredible video ! Thx !

[@christopherpollak7448]

Hey Ryan. Excellent breakdown of the key components leading to an explosive serve. And as you know, we don't have to be seven feet tall to hit an explosive serve. Anyway, been working on all of these steps for a while. A long while. When practicing...and I practice a lot, including shadow swings indoors in front of a mirror...I get it. It flows. It really pops for me on court. My challenge is taking it to match play. Too often, in matches, I'm not staying on edge long enough...I begin pronating too early, not immediately before contact...any suggestions.

[@2MinuteTennis]

Hi Christopher! Thanks for the message. I would try hitting sidespin serves. That forces your to stay on edge longer. It’s a trick I use with my students to help them hit with their edge leading. Thanks and keep me posted!!!

[@nabeenhussain524]

Great analysis. I want to make sure I heard you correctly that the trophy position represents your lowest point in the serve?

[@2MinuteTennis]

Yes. That’s when your legs are bent the most and begin pushing/exploding up. 😊🎾👍

[@nabeenhussain524]

You really are the best online coach. Accessible, quick responses, passionate. Thank you so much, Coach.

[@9r393]

Should do a video with short players like schwartzman or the japanese female pros to show how they manage to maximize their serve without being so tall.

[@hrabmv]

pls make the same for federer? they have a bit different preparation and timing of trophy

[@2MinuteTennis]

I’ll be sure to make it eventually. Thanks!!

[@t-bone7988]

You forgot to mention the sudden grip switch he does right before the serve take back?

[@2MinuteTennis]

I only mentioned what I wanted people to copy.

[@t-bone7988]

@@2MinuteTennis ok. what do u think about the grip switch though?

[@t-bone7988]

@@2MinuteTennis you dont recommend that? I tried it today and got heaps of easy power

[@ashleyharris5912]

Hi Ryan. I've been looking to implement your tips on the serve in lockdown. Just a couple of questions: is there a disadvantage to bringing the racket over the head slightly higher than what would knock the birthday hat off? I got on the court for the first time in months today. I feel I have the circular motion down but is it normal for it to feel a bit different and lack a bit of pace when you first learn to use it?

[@darrensurrey]

Genuine question - I know what you're aiming for (the kinetic chain whip thing) - is this timing the same for everyone irrespective of body/limb proportions and lengths?

[@2MinuteTennis]

Thanks for the ? Darren! This timing is true for everyone. No need to be nearly 7 feet tall. Thanks!!!!

[@rafaellozada2544]

@@2MinuteTennis how about timing difference of leg bend based on how high your toss is? Seems like Isner''s is fairly low (i.e. hits the ball at its apex vs on its way down)

[@2MinuteTennis]

The timing may be different for when the legs begin bending (higher toss=later the knees begin bending) but the leg drive up coinciding with the bday hat is the same for any toss. 👍

[@rafaellozada2544]

@@2MinuteTennis yeah that makes total sense. Thanks

[@EricCawaling]

is john isner serve float serve?

[@MomentumTennis]

Making tutorial how to hit one of the best serves in the world with a title "5 simple steps" :D Great video though haha!

[@cagansatc6740]

2 minute tennis have you made a video about how to hit a tweener? If you did can you share the link, but if you didn't can you please do it? I really want to hit a really good hot dog lmao!

[@2MinuteTennis]

haha no not yet but it's easier than you think! I'll be sure to make it in the near future! thanks!

[@cagansatc6740]

@@2MinuteTennis thx very much, appreciate it!

[@kcazzzzz]

hit serve like isner(1 simple step): be 7 foot tall

[@2MinuteTennis]

Haha if only. Thanks!!!

[@WingedLionVE]

Timing is so important...

[@boldizsarforrai3934]

step one: be 210 cm tall

[@vasDcrak]

Step 1: be 6’10”

[@eloakingking9273]

Great video. but, it is like most tennis trainners are talkatives, gosh!

[@2MinuteTennis]

Thanks for watching!!!! Appreciate the support!!

[@nate1593]

Honestly....

[@2MinuteTennis]

??? How can i help Nathaniel? :)

[@cagansatc6740]

First tip: Be 2 meters tall

[@2MinuteTennis]

haha yes that helps too!! thanks!!

[@AIMBOTKATFISH]

literally clicked on this video so I could write this comment lol.

[@the1tfactor]

Step 1: Grow a foot and a half. Oh wait. That’s not a thing. Love the analysis, though!

[@karlheisenberg3595]

Can't copy, it's Big John.

[@2MinuteTennis]

Did you watch the video?

[@karlheisenberg3595]

@@2MinuteTennis Of course It is possible in theory, but much more difficult in practice. I’ve been playing tennis for 15 years, and I tried to copy Isner. But 50% ends up on the net or out. I do better with copying Querrey Sam.

[@kmac33PS5]

And grow a foot taller.

[@aeron1758]

If you want to copy someone's serve go for Federer. Isner is a giant that's why almost every serve is an ace his technique isn't something special.

[@2MinuteTennis]

Ok thanks so much!!!

[@Leo-nc3yx]

Not necessarily, of course the height will bring you advantages in this department ,but the motion and tossing the ball are also significant. As you can see players like Anderson who is about 6’8 , his serve is not even in the top 10 we will think of, as for Del Potro, Berdych , Cilic , who are about 6’6 ,they are also not considered to be great server. Good technique + height advantage are what Isner stands for ,it’s hard to say any player around that height can be as good as him. Player like Pete Sampras , Roger , Roddick are all around the height of 6’1-6’2 , but they are some of the best server tennis have seen. Nick also got monstrous serve and he is about 6’4 , a good height but not giant level.

[@aeron1758]

@@Leo-nc3yx every pro player above 6'8 is a good server but they lose because of other reason if you don't think that's true you are delusional and never played in a competitive league so please don't talk.

[@moviemaen]

​@@aeron1758 The serve doesnt get better with increasing height. Thats a fact! If people above 6´8 are above average servers, its because their high ball hitting point lends itself to work more on the serve in younger years. But height itself doesnt guarantee a good serve, not by a long shot!

[@aeron1758]

@@moviemaen Yes if you never had a proper tennis lesson height doesn't guarantee a good serve. Please stop writing you have no idea about tennis.