How to Accelerate The Serve for Maximum Power | Tennis Serve Lesson

[@IntuitiveTennis]

The numbers on pronation into the contact and continuing pronation are slightly off, because I did not have the exact frames per second. It is actually an even shorter time span. Regardless of the exact time frame we can see how incredibly fast the racquet accelerates and this is something that every player needs to be aware of when practicing serves. This acceleration is indispensable when it comes to producing quality serves. Learn the fundamentals 💪💪

[@Explainmerandom]

I study this in order to learn how to punch harder in boxing (to get a maximum power and efficiency strike). I know from boxing that punches are faster than 0.25 seconds and so it makes sense to me that the motion is about 0.35 because you have a weight in your hand which slows it a bit. What seems to be highly complicated compared to the punch is the wrist motion. The torque on the wrist could go very wrong with that kind of weight and leverage in your hand. From physics f=mv, the forces in the serve are at least equal or greater than your total body weight, so you are in essence controlling your entire weight around the motion of the wrist and arm. I've also looked into shotput for this and similarly the upwards force you can put on a shot has similar body weight transfer. The same is true of Javelin. As I've tried to learn this motion (trying to shortcut my way to it, by having advanced boxing motions which are similar to tennis) I've noted that the entire body motion has to be synchronised with this action in several ways or the kinetic chain breaks down. First is weight transfer, if this goes wrong there will be only an arm action. Second is the rhythm, and without this torque forces act on the joints and not on the racket. Third is the contact point, if this is off or out of sync with the rhythm and motion all of the kinetic chain shortcuts itself and deforms at the weakest point in the chain. Fourth is the muscle memory of the arm and wrist motion. Fifth is where the forces go, so in shotput the weight causes a person to spin. Basically any great velocity will create an effective mass that will need to be counter balanced or stepped into and the follow through controls this. Back in the day I was a pretty decent golfer, and what we focused on there was pronation too, and the key was that the rear forearm had to point back as far as it could into impact, so that elbow had to really tuck into the rib cage (and similarly if you did this wrong you could damage joints). This was because to get more lag in the wrist , you can't bend it more than 90 degrees, to get more lag comes from forearm position. So from my attempts to break this down and do it from scratch, I realised the speed of pronation is dictated by the capacity to control the forces on the body, improving the flexibility, dynamic strength, bracing, and correct timing for each sequence in the chain of events, is necessary for this control. Further... common errors are dangerous at higher speeds. I practice slow, and I noted poor contact points can stress the shoulder, poor timing can stress the wrist, too much power for what you can control can even put stress on the thumb and individual forearm muscles. What makes that even harder is you can't work on these parts of the serve in isolation. Timing, contact point, rhythm, space for the kinetic chain, control, balance. If the combination is off by a little, it all goes out of control. To a skilled tennis player like yourself, you need not fear literally throwing yourself off balance with a serve, but this IS entirely possible (and something I've experienced, it reminded me of whiffing a gymnastic or capoeira move, not fun). This now brings me to cats, and acrobatics. We all know that equal and opposites balance out, but cats right themselves in freefall... How? Its a seperation of top half of the body and lower half with alternating velocities and angles. So, while you do the kinetic chain, (timing, contact point, rhythm, space, control, balance) its all done rotating in perfect control in space. While this is complex, it is STILL just a punch though at its heart. But holding a racket adds these "bridging" stresses as you go through the contact point. Another idea is impulse vs impact, where you maximise the use of impulse on the ball rather than just making an impact. I've been trying to find a way to understand that "bridge" to better control of the forces that I described above and your videos are the most helpful I have seen, because as a fellow sportsman I can relate to the feel and practice and muscle memory advice you give. I know how the story from zero to great goes in that way, and it is full of unexpected purpose for certain previously unclear motions. Presumably it is these revelations that order the kinetic chain. The closer I get to understanding the serve, the harder my maximum power in a punch is. So that is why I break it down like this, because hidden in the power of a punch is also, timing, contact point, rhythm, space, control, balance. Minor rotations in forearm, shoulder, torso, hip, ankle, seem to have a huge role in taming the wild chaotic nature of those errors. And these adjustments are so slight it is unlikely that by assuming a position, a person will accomplish the correct application. And this is likely due to the type of tension in the muscles and which ones are being recruited and at what speed, and what efficiency. If one muscle in that chain twitches too slow or recruits inefficient muscle groups around it, say goodbye to the kinetic chain being in harmony! So muscle firing likely has to be so precise that it exceeds reaction time (most peoples reaction time is about 0.2 seconds) this is cause the firing along the kinetic chain moves faster than your racket does. With such precise firing, any cramp or failure to relax a muscle could definately lead to a tear. So a sequence is necessary to fire all at once from the brain, with BOTH contract and relax messages, all of these have different time windows, and different locations. So the brain if it did this alone would have to fire these signals perfectly, however, it doesn't, it delegates much of this off to the muscle memory of the body. I think to account for everything I mentioned here both body and mind need to train in order to get a better sequence. Then these better sequences lead to less strain on the mind n body, which allow you to again strive for a better sequence. This is probably solved by micro adjustments radiating out from core timing structures, and presumably the closer you are to a better timing structure for the sequence the less micro adjustments are needed to get a good alignment of the motions. All I know from all of this is, you can't shortcut (at least not easily). Each node that is required to be in alignment will probably be PULLED out of alignment by neutral muscle tensions. So likely it is similar to an ebb and flow of change and reverting to bad habits as muscle tensions struggle to return to neutral rather than your perfect timing for the sequence. So any average tension could in all likelihood inject itself into the sequence and drag it down. In boxing this is what you use clearing actions for (like shadow boxing), and in golf you use routines and waggles (to rid the neutral tensions from creating drag). So you can't "serve from a resting position" as a noobie cuz your neutral tensions are too strong. All this to say that theoretically... - stay loose and mobile (clearing tension) - balance stress between mind n body (memorise some of the motion, think on another) - seek a better alignment if microadjustments take no effect over enough serves (one or more important nodes might be out of place) - train muscle responsiveness and timings (cadence, and overlaps) - consistent contact point (ball toss) is important to pace the motion (rhythm likely is crucial in this) - weight transfer and balance (must stay within a certain range, and go beyond another) - careful consideration of the joints and angles of the serving positions - elasticity of the muscles - coordination in space - reaction timing And you probably can't do a great serve without all of them working. So no wonder people like to simplify it all down to a pronation ey? But the pronation does create the weight behind the impact. Not by striking through the ball like youd thinl, but through a conversion of velocity and force into momentum. The pronation creates a momentum that is greater than the mass of your body. It can't do this by just rotating anymore than you could lift your body by rotating your wrist. So the force of momentum is orders of magnitude greater than a wrist twist (you can twist maybe 20kg? Where the momentum might be more than 5 times that?). Thing how hard a pullup is, but then how easy is it to JUMP into a pullup. Its easier right? This is cuz you made momentum, but the pronation is the carrier of this momentum, like a storehouse, but it stores it in elastic potential in your tendons, ligaments, and muscle fibres (as well as the motion). So without the motion there is nowhere for the momentum to be stored! So if you were trying to store a gallon of a compressible substance in a coffee cup, you'd need a lot of pressure. The coffee cup and pressure is too small if your action or motion is weak, so it won't hold the force, and so it wont release the force. Most of the momentum is held in the "force" and "motion" and firing of antagonistic muscle groups (as others contract). Note I said stored in, not generated by, as the force reverberates between muscle groups as a store of potential energy. If you don't rotate, you can't store any momentum, sooooo... Kinda cornered into doing the dangerous thing and rotating. Most likely you are also taking advantage of angular momentum and centripetal force. If you aim to hit with the frame and rotate to hit center racket, it should be pivoting on its fastest point of rotation. And centripetal force is doing the rest of the racket positioning. Anyways, its much more complicated than it looks. Cuz you cant store the power of momentum with any of the things above going poorly. And if you try, you'll probably injure yourself...

[@IntuitiveTennis]

@@Explainmerandom thank you for taking time to share your knowledge

[@muyu69]

Another great one from Intuitive Tennis. I like the creativity here to demonstrate how fast the serve motions are and how impossible to see or be aware of what's happening.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Muyu

[@hungnguyen-ngoc7737]

Thanks!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you 🙏 much appreciated

[@snickaren111]

This is an old video, but such a good one. Not only a lot of tennis knowledge requires to produce this type of content, but also an intelligent mind(scientific). And you manage to explain it in such a simplistic way that everyone can understand. TY Nick!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

I appreciate it thank you

[@ReidVV]

This is another great video, as usual. Where is your video about the dominant shoulder needing to be out front on the forehand? No one else has ever done anything like that, and now I can't find it to watch it again. Thanks for all you do.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thanks so much James. I talk about that in several forehand videos. Here’s the most recent one kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3LUcpanqKaUqrM If this is not the one you are referring to let me know.

[@umutkara739]

Again another usefull video. You are very very scientific. That's what I look for.

[@ripleypipe]

Clever and informative tutorial Nik, thank you. Gordon

[@IntuitiveTennis]

My pleasure Gordon 🙏

[@vivy_xo]

Another good one Nick!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Natachi 🤝🤜🤛🙏

[@jaakko8506]

Great video and info, many thanks. There seems to be various instructional videos circulated with emphasis on details of tertiary importance (at most) or practically irrelevant. Here the focus is on the only thing that matters: speed of the racquet @ contact! As one can easily see there is huge variation in serves even among the top professionals.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Jaakko, my pleasure. Thank you for the comment

[@Ajamila1acbsp]

Great presentation..... Thanks

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Ajamila, 🤜🤛👍🙏

[@manjucs2331]

Excellent information and time statistics. Best coach in the internet tennis world. My serve is gradually improving with good pronation. But I still need to accelerate speed. One day i am sure it will work out. Thanks Guru.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Glad to hear that Manju, thank you 🙏

[@cesarfernandezlopez2209]

GREAT VIDEO , MORE HOMEWORK TO DO , THANK YOU

[@kabirinaganti]

Hey Nick, I think there's a psychological element atleast for me. On the second serve, I'm a little worried that fast acceleration will lead to the ball going out. Especially in a match situation.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Kabir, what you are describing is the number 1 problem rec players face on the second serve. I have a video coming out soon on this exact topic.

[@rharrell1]

Do you feel your body is being pulled up and forward when contacting the ball. I have looked at Raonic and he seems to have this motion I guess a good analogy would be the butterfly stroke in swimming where the body is pulled up and the hands turn out.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

rharrell, maybe a similar loading position with the arching of the back.

[@hansolsson3409]

Nick your videos are just too good, i have become a tennis video addict. No, just kidding but i love this video! Thank you Nick!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Hans

[@ramyg5037]

Very well explained...

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Ramy

[@absolutepowercorruptsabsol1864]

Every word is true. 👍👍👍

[@carolteri3171]

Hello, thank you for the great videos. What is your opinion on serving with an eastern backhand grip? I saw Rick Macci recommend it, and others as well.

[@ron2117]

Hi Nikola, watching your great videos over and over. You mention the fundamentals of the serve. Could you name them in order of importance? Thanks.

[@roslee7]

I have been trying to practise the serve but will never have the racket drop. What should i do?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

roslee, work on the fundamentals Check out my videos on every part of the serve: kzbin.info/aero/PL01q4ywxUNvnT0hR2aspL-r8d4WBLVYK4

[@tmass1]

you should get racket drop.

[@dmitryprivate6558]

Hi Nikola, Very interesting analysis of the speed of the steps involved in the serve. Very! But, on my level of players, when an opponent serves, you can have time for a cup of coffee with a donut, then a call to your wife to find out what's for dinner, and then still have time to return the server (just kidding :) I have a question that maybe you can or cannot answer. Sorry for the question not quite related to the video. I go on courts a couple of times a week just to practice serve. And every time, when I start practicing - actually serving - I feel a great deal of discomfort in my wrist (of course my right hand, dominant hand). Then, after maybe 10 or 20 services, I get more comfortable and the pain goes away (for the most part). What could I be doing wrong in the beginning of the serve practice? (Feel free to ignore my question is this is something not appropriate to ask here).

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Hi Dmitry, I can’t tell you what is causing the pain without seeing the serve and even then I might not be able to tell. You have pain on any other shots or just the serve?

[@dmitryprivate6558]

@@IntuitiveTennis Thank you for your reply, Nikola. I know it is impossible for you to know what causes my pain. And no, I don't feel this pain with any other shot. Most likely the pain I experience is caused by the wrong technique. And the reason, I think, it goes away is because as I serve more I adjust my technique - probably cheating with the grip - and therefore reducing the strain. I will have to record/tape myself at some point and maybe I will see something obvious. Again, thank you for your very helpful videos and your suggestions!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Dmitry, so sorry you are in pain. Unfortunately I don’t know what is causing it. I would suggest to watch my videos and go step by step. Especially the role of the wrist on the serve video. I think it can help you. 🙏🙏

[@dmitryprivate6558]

@@IntuitiveTennis Thank you, Nikola. I will follow your suggestion.

[@grazialberici]

Hi Nick, great videos as always. About the serve, I thought I did it right, but when recording myself I see that at the time of contact I open the racket and make the waiter serve. I've been in class for 2 years and I think I'll never be able to serve properly. I use the continental grip and still can't do it right 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🥺

[@IntuitiveTennis]

It takes time. I address this in an upcoming video

[@mowghlee]

"If you possess correct fundamentals ... " Please elaborate..

[@pacerdave7838]

My friend you have to change the title of this video. You gave no specifics on how to accelerate your serve. “Many fundamentals” What are they?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Dave, I have covered many fundamentals: kzbin.info/aero/PL01q4ywxUNvnT0hR2aspL-r8d4WBLVYK4 This is my serve playlist with 16 videos and more coming in the future...