Get More Power on Your Serve With the Djokovic Elbow Snap!

This video will help you understand how to generate more power on your serve by generating more racket speed. Bending the elbow and pronating the arm like Novak Djokovic will allow you to bring the racket head through faster.
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[@andrewfinkelsteintennis1915]

Feel and real baby! A huge factor in amateurs trying to learn good technique. If you're an amateur who wants to improve you have to grasp this. Video yourself!

[@aojajena]

The most valuable for me was the secret to keep the butt cap as still as possible, i.e. rotate around it in the air. Going to practice that!

[@jimpoole6037]

72 yo tournament player, excellent on stopping using butt cap!! Thanks, love your videos

[@92edro]

youre the goat tom. thanks for being out there

[@anitaru2001]

What a beautiful and efficient serve you have, sir! This is great content and literally no one else talked about(after watching hundreds of how to serve videos) I’m eager to give it a try next time when I hit the court!

[@watcher687]

Yes Tom throwing the whole arm forward is the intuitive culprit here and I’d noticed that was my problem, too. Also realised that similar to your tip ‘keep the buttcap still’, you should also keep the elbow still for a moment for a good combination of pronation and internal shoulder rotation. Best example once again is Sampras of course.

[@barisay7244]

This reminds me of the stone-skipping analogy Tom gives in an earlier video for the forehand.

[@kevinfed668]

Question for you, I have a partial tear of the rotator cuff with significant time out of the game, how do I pronate without reinjuring my shoulder or aggravating it in the future ? Please respond whenever you have a moment. Thanks. Appreciate it. 👏🏻

[@Osnosis]

Unfortunately (you lose some power), but keeping the elbow closer to your chest will put less strain on the rotator cuff. Instead of that L-shaped (right angle) approach to contact, the elbow will travel across your chest (‘inwards’) and the forearm will do the majority of the pronation, rather than the shoulder joint.

[@meditationman415]

So good, I see myself not stopping., and it explains my feeling of dissatisfaction (bordering on despair 😅) . Fantastic to know what I am supposed to do. 🙏

[@jerome_morrow]

It’s the same principle for every sport that uses a throwing motion. The tip of the club/racquet/fishing rod lags at the initiation of forward motion, then needs to catch up and pass the hand(s) if the kinetic sequence/chain is performed correctly for maximum efficiency of energy transfer. Most people understand this to a greater or lesser degree. However, getting the message across so they execute correctly is what makes someone like you a teaching pro. Great content as always.

[@TomAllsopp]

Thank you. Much appreciated. Good comment. Most things in sport are actions people are familiar with to some degree. Or at least they can start to understand it without needing a racket. This certainly helps to learn the fundamentals of the game better.

[@drbonesshow1]

The neutral wrist is the fastest wrist.

[@TomAllsopp]

@@drbonesshow1 my wrist is neutral the whole time.

[@drbonesshow1]

@@TomAllsopp You are anatomy-ignorant.

[@johnscpmg4862]

Isn't this the same idea as well for the forehand and backhand to some extent? That's why it's important that the racket releases into the shot, imo.

[@Johnstage]

Great tip. Keeping the butt cap still!

[@laurencecorray]

Spot on! I keep thinking of whip effect!

[@royolarn3623]

I went out and tried your tip of ‘keeping the butt cap still’ before the racquet actually made contact with the ball and found myself instantly hitting my serves with quicker racquet head speeds. Essentially, trying to incorporate your tip in my serves resulted in a significant improvement in the timing of my pronation. In other words, I don’t think the kinetic chain or my swing paths were necessarily different but better results came from me being able to more efficiently use pronation in my swing by timing it better. At least, this is how about my ‘new’ serves. Thank you so much for the incredible tip, Tom!

[@TomAllsopp]

Great. Thanks for the feedback.

[@s2lai]

@@TomAllsopp hi Tom, how should we reconcile pronation with “hitting up”? To me it feels like if I am pronating, then I am hitting “down”?

[@s2lai]

@@TomAllsopp does this contradict the a recent video where you mention there is no wrist movement? It looks like if I need to stop the butcap and allow racquet to folllow I need to flex the wrist? Or am I misinterpreting?

[@TomAllsopp]

@@s2lai I am not using my wrist to execute this move. The wrist stays neutral

[@s2lai]

@@TomAllsopp this is super interesting! When you say the wrist is neutral, I guess it means that you don’t flex nor extend the wrist, and that it’s the pronation happening in the shoulder/arm which causes the racquet head to move faster than the hand/Butt cap, is that how I can interpret it?

[@FOOTBALL_love7801]

Tom.. thanks a lot .. i improved as my first serve of the day right on 🎯 💕 u

[@crosscourtrabbitcompletetennis]

Excellent analysis.

[@baronbaronov760]

simple and clear, thanks.

[@gabrielalcocer8051]

As always, love the vid.

[@MrCat852]

"Holding the butt cap not moving"...I shall remember this. Thanks!

[@gregyang3770]

Great video! Very useful! Thank you!

[@TNToncourt]

Great tips! Thank you.

[@eboostie]

Thanks. I’ll give it a go.

[@samwong5399]

Great explanation!!

[@alexandern48]

fantastic tip - thanks very much for this

[@AppeltVortex]

Great lesson, thanks!!

[@fingersm]

Always gold.

[@TomAllsopp]

Haha thanks

[@DianaS-eo7nc]

But holding on with thumb and 2 fingers helps to lead with the edge if you’re opening up. It increases racket head speed too.

[@solrosenthal7359]

Great stuff

[@lethedan]

Thank you for a great lesson again. Your wrist looks rather "straight" not to relaxed (bend) to help the "snap" of the wrist - correct? Thanks

[@TomAllsopp]

Yes I keep a very neutral wrist the whole time. Easy to pronate for me. Thanks!

[@glennwilliams4441]

So simple! Thanks 😊

[@billycasas133]

Beast man.

[@KubiCash-pi5sy]

Amazing

[@brenhugh]

Bloody Hell, Tom, not sure you should be working so close to that mini-electric power station. Talk about glow in the dark. Great tip on the serve though. Thanks.

[@TomAllsopp]

It gives me energy!

[@shahbazchoudhry5151]

dear , please guide me such technique will happen when there is slight bend in elbow before contact??? because when arm is full extended before contact , such technique could not be achieved.. thanks.

[@TomAllsopp]

Your arm should never be locked while hitting a tennis shot. Always a slight bend

[@giuseppeflachi5956]

Good

[@cracacola]

Great content as always! Thank Tom. How are those Diadem racquets? I play with Head speed Pro. Any Diadem models comparable? Do they send demos? Do u have a referral code if i buy 1? Holla holla holla!!!!

[@TomAllsopp]

I haven't hit with the Head Speed Pro but I am liking the Diadem rackets. See if you can get a tester.

[@cracacola]

@@TomAllsopp looked at website only one close to same weight and specs is the Elevate Tour ill see if i can try 1

[@Leight4Dinner]

Can’t wait to try this. Do you use this technique when attempting a flat serve only or does the same technique apply to a topspin and kick serve?

[@TomAllsopp]

It’s the same. Check out the link to my kick serve video in the description.

[@Leight4Dinner]

Will give it a try. Your content is fantastic! Especially helpful for me is your explanation of the forehand …sidearm throwing motion and role of the wrist/forearm internal rotation. Helped me see it in a new way. Much appreciated!!

[@jackspradlin4183]

I have great racket drop shadow swings, next to no racket drop when I do real serve, good toss, not perfect, elbow doesnt come forward like it does during shadow swing, when serving do not grip racket tight, wish you could make a video?

[@TomAllsopp]

I would have to see it on camera...

[@mowghlee]

Too good

[@oz969]

Thanks Tom. Do you ever find with students that this pronation/internal shoulder rotation can aggravate the shoulder? I'm thinking for those of us who suffer from shoulder impingement

[@kurtjohnston6620]

Throwing motion in general going to aggravate impingement. Would get to see a good sports physiotherapist that can show the correct exercises and some manual therapy so that the pain goes and performance much easier.

[@TomAllsopp]

Yes I think that is an issue. Like I said in the video I think coming to a sudden stop is the main issue. But it’s tough for some players to move smoothly through these positions. Id emphasize smoothness and efficiency movements over any of the other technical nuances.

[@Johnstage]

I’m a physician. If you already have acute rotator cuff (RC) inflammation you can make it worse even without impingement by practicing serves. Impingement is caused in this case by your humeral head pushing the RC against the underside of the acromion. However, to reduce compression of the RC between the acromion and humeral head you need to try to keep the distance between the humeral head and acromion as normal as possible - it’s already a tight squeeze as most patients I see have an acromial humeral head distance of less than 10mm! Lower your opposite shoulder so the clavicles align more with the humerus of your serving arm and you need to rotate your torso into the serve. If you stay sideways too much as you might do for a second serve the impingement will be worse as you’re compressing the RC. Thus, again, to maintain the acromial humeral (AH) space and reduce chances of impingement don’t stay completely sideways on your second serve, rotate maybe 45 degrees. This is why flat & slice serves aren’t as guilty of impingement nearly as much. Right after contact in your second serve complete the rotation of your hitting shoulder forwards to keep the AH distance normal.

[@MartynCollins]

@@Johnstage Incredibly astute observation. From the context you know most pros are recommending players stay sideways longer for better service. So for optimal health have to give up some of that sideways positioning on the second serve?

[@Johnstage]

@@MartynCollins Thx. I think different players will indeed have different biomechanics due to technical preferences and anatomic issues (like aging and osteoarthritis which pinches the RC even more). Also, at least for me, staying completely sideways meant I had no margin for error when I swung left to right (I’m right handed) during my second serve. Want it or not I found there is the inevitable back to front component of the swing. It’s never completely parallel to the baseline. I would recommend not staying perpendicular but rotating a bit forward. It also has the added benefit of more power. Tsonga rotates a bit. But if you can play uninjured staying sideways then that’s what has been taught by better tennis technicians than me.

[@goggleboy2464]

I'll have to play with this. I was pronating for about 20 years before i ever even heard the term. I always just focused more on getting the left shoulder above the right (tossing) and then the right above the left (swinging) to contact. A dude i played doubles against stopped me on a change over and said i really pronated well and i was like "what the h is this weirdo talking about" lol.

[@TomAllsopp]

Yeah, there’s been a lot of players with great technique without needing to know all the words haha. Actually most pros couldn’t tell you what they actually do.

[@goggleboy2464]

@@TomAllsopp haha 😄

[@NamesAreRandom]

If I do that snap pronation I get more power but loose accuracy (as the racket is only pointing in the correct direction for a tiny fraction of a second so it's easy to catch it slightly early or late). Any tips?

[@TomAllsopp]

Try to find the right balance. Get through the contact for 6 inches or so. Feel how the racket connects with the ball.

[@Johnstage]

I agree with you and I agree with Tom. It’s a matter of degree. Improved with practice but even pros miss their pronation…and regularly at that especially in their first serves.

[@benchan85]

You’re the Marco Pierre White of online tennis instruction.

[@TomAllsopp]

I’ll take it!

[@charleskocun6754]

Was this how Becker served?

[@TomAllsopp]

Yes, but Becker actually had an eastern forehand grip so he had to do it pretty extreme

[@mowghlee]

It can lead to Injury?? Djokovic had probably elbow injury

[@andrewpaige316]

You're using these top pros as a correct model, but they're not. Let me ask you a question. Who is the best server?

[@TomAllsopp]

I never said it was the correct model

[@andrewpaige316]

@@TomAllsopp just answer the question.

[@TomAllsopp]

Sampras. But that’s not the “correct model” either

[@andrewpaige316]

@@TomAllsoppno its me MF 🤣 gotch u lmao. Actually since you brought Sampras up, why isn't he the correct model?

[@andrewpaige316]

@@TomAllsopp The correct model is Federer/Sampras, there is no best server it's a trick question :))

[@at1838]

Flip the tip to let it rip ; )

[@TomAllsopp]

Whoa calm down haha

[@pencilcheck]

Pronation is not helping to be honest, if you are doing the motion as it should, it would always make the ball go into the net. But if you hit late you hurt your wrist and the ball fly too flat and into the fence instead of spinning in. What you demonstrated in the video, is not using the pronation to hit, but your body momentum to hit. esp with the back muscle. You can easily hit the same way without doing pronation at all. When you do that, you are simply doing a volley smash. No pronation is needed.

[@TomAllsopp]

Nonsense

[@mteca5093]

Everyone teaches different kick method...confusing

[@TomAllsopp]

I’ve got some pretty simple explanations on the subject of kick.

[@drbonesshow1]

As I said before this is bogus. Djokovic's serve is weak. Case in point: Wimbledon 2023 where Djokovic loses the final to Alcaraz. Why - because Alcaraz was better? No, because Djokovic had 3 aces in 5-sets. Pathetic. By contrast, in the Wimbledon final 2009 Federer beat Roddick in 5-sets. Roddick the big server had 27 aces. What about Federer? Less aces? No, he had 50 aces!

[@TomAllsopp]

So much knowledge

[@drbonesshow1]

@@TomAllsopp “A little learning is a dangerous thing. Drink deep or taste not the Pierian Spring. There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain and drinking largely sobers us again.” ― Alexander Pope

[@TomAllsopp]

@@drbonesshow1 this would be better for you if I hadn’t watched your videos and seen you play tennis.

[@drbonesshow1]

@@TomAllsopp My motto is: Never be afraid of challenging people who are dumber than you are. And so I challenge tennis instructors like you.

[@TomAllsopp]

Great motto. Maybe challenge yourself to be able to play tennis instead.

[@trungtumai]

Hurt my elbow learning this

[@TomAllsopp]

Yeah, that could happen if you don’t do it correctly

[@drbonesshow1]

This is nonsense. Turning the racket out of the plane of rotation slows it down. Higher racket speeds start with better footwork. If Djokovic adopts the Step-back Platform Stance and swings with a neutral wrist he won't be going down 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 as he did at the 2021 US Open. Concerning tennis instructors: Can physics know-how turn their mentally-constipated frown upside down? Not likely, but I will continue to try as The Nutty Professor of Sports.

[@TomAllsopp]

I’ve seen your serve and you’re all wrist because you don’t pronate. I pronate and my wrist is neutral. Djokovic doesn’t have time for Dunning Kruger tennis coaches.

[@92edro]

You ok there Dr Don 😟?

[@drbonesshow1]

@@92edro Are you in the tweedledum or tweedledee camp? You should spend more time asking introspective questions. I'm okay, but are you?

[@marthawilson7551]

Use of the PhD tells you everything you need to know. As they say those that can’t…

[@drbonesshow1]

@@marthawilson7551 As they say those that can't be George Washington end up as Martha Washington. BTW: I can and I teach and I have Piled it Higher and Deeper because I could. Whereas most can't. Some are Mexican, but most are Mexican't. Your lesson for the day. Now go away you bother me.