Serve Tip: Avoid Overrotation

[@stevemitcham4683]

Superb instruction. This guy really knows his stuff and puts it across so clearly.

[@benyblancs]

Great video, this is a big issue for me on the serve. I’ve never seen it break down like this, thank you!

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Awesome! thanks for the feedback Beny :)

[@andyhan3271]

Very helpful. I know I over rotate but I don't know what caused it and how to fix it for years. After watching this video I found it is caused by shifting my head too early. I record myself serving and watched over and over again. I never thought it is caused by looking forward too early. I tried on the court today and record again, seems this is the root cause and my serve got improved. Thanks so much!

[@geraldohara5613]

Excellent progression. Love the way you simplify the progressions. It still requires PRACTICE. Thanks

[@gregoryphillips3969]

You are a superb instructor. Rick Macci, yourself, and Jeff Salzenstien are the best I have seen. Great job.

[@RasoulMojtahedzadeh]

I just came back from a practice session and for the first time I felt my serves with consistency. Don't know how to thank you for this great serve lesson video. 👏👏👏🎾

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Awesome Rasoul! Thanks for the feedback :)

[@dennisthegreek5336]

I think those tips are very helpful only for the kick serve and bad for the slice serve, where you MUST overrotate your dominant shoulder during the follow through. The "exaggeration" term may seem OK, but it may well add the worse habit of no-torso rotation, that's going to cost you the ability to aim targets consistently and powerfully.

[@xltian4368]

This is the most exactlly what I have been going through and struggling with at the moment! Thank you so much!!!

[@jerrygoodman1969]

Very well explained and demonstrated. Love OTI

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks for the feedback Jerry!! :)

[@allboutthemojo]

Great tips. The tip about keeping the tossing arm up and then tucking it in is the key. You mentioned the head turning to see where the serve is going as the number 1 reason for the body opening up too soon but I disagree with that. It's the tossing arm dropping too soon and dropping violently away from the body that pulls the hitting arm down and out of its proper strike zone. With club players, this is easily visible because the tossing arm drops at almost twice the speed of the hitting arm ( exactly the opposite of how it should be)

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks for your feedback :) Yes that's an excellent point...it's a very common problem for players when they drop the tossing arm too early. Some club players try and force this movement since they see players like Thiem and Murray completely opened up at the end of their motion with the non hitting hand released behind them. But as mentioned in the video, since they swing with so much racket head speed...it's virtually impossible to see how the tossing arm remains tucked into the body throughout contact. Once again, thank you for your great feedback

[@indirajayaraman4758]

Nice idea not to check too early where the ball lands and ensure the arms cross after service. Thank you

[@andrewwells6533]

Great video, thank u. I have been struggling for a while with overrating & serving into the net, so these tips should help me to resolve my issues🤞🏻

[@nabeenhussain524]

You need to make more videos ! Every one has been so helpful. Thanks so much.

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thank you Nabeen! :) much appreciated!

[@sueb376]

This is a huge help, James! I really wish I’d learned this earlier. Opening up is a big problem for me - WAY too many of my serves end up in the middle part of the net 😩 Doing this drill reinforces keeping my head up and tossing arm tucked into my body. Great stuff! Thanks.

[@mhhillman]

Excellent tips James-good seeing you!

[@stratguitarman7831]

This is my problem excellent lesson!

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thank you for your feedback :)

[@brigitteblanc-brude4802]

Excellent tip !! pointing out role of the head as crutial as well as the non dominant arm which are both falling down too early at a recreational level Thanks a lot

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Yes exactly Brigitte! It's very common at the recreational levels of the game. Thank you for your feedback :)

[@dariomiranda59]

I liked this lesson very much. It was explained with great clarity and demonstrated with good examples. Thank you. Definitely, OTI is for sure the best tennis instruction on the web

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

thank you very much for the feedback Dario!! :) Much appreciated

[@arqromero3877]

clever drill - I am going to try this middle court exercise - thanks

[@espressodawn4000]

I tried this and I'm seeing improvements in my overrotation! Thank you!!

[@jquest99]

These serve videos from James are great. Nice, actionable tips.

[@meafordmichael]

Excellent, James, as always; much appreciated …..

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

thanks Michael :)

[@myungjuncho6911]

Today, while watching the video of my service, I doubt the problem of mine is over rotation. Your explanation shows what I wonder. Thank you very much.

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

That's great to hear :) we're happy this video helped you

[@kg-tp2ti]

Thanks Coach James! Your tips are the best! Keep them coming!

[@reuelray]

Nerds are the best. I felt like this video was done by one of those smart techies who methodically pieced together the most logical way to execute. Going to try this on a fairly new player this evening before they leave town. Of course I'm going to arrive early to work on it for myself. Thank's 'Tennis Techie'.👍🎾

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

haha thank you Reuel :)

[@reuelray]

You're in good company. Back in the day we considered Arthur Ashe a 'square' which later became 'nerd'. 😁 I was a housing project hoodie nerd. That didn't work out well though. Lol😯

[@bobpeterson7176]

Excellent instruction! This is something I've struggles with for years and never seen instruction keying on this aspect of the serve. Thanks

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks for the feedback Bob :)

[@jdmalanga]

Great video, James. I am working on the issue of keeping my head still right now. Trying to break the habit of looking to see where the ball goes is very difficult! It takes a lot of focused repetitions in practice. It’s especially difficult to do in matches. But when I do it, my serves are so much better! Thanks!

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks John :) Yes it's a very difficult one for players. You really have to make a conscious effort on correcting this. However, the more you learn to trust the process...the easier it will become. If you focus on the execution of the new technique, over time the result will take care of itself. You don't need to worry about the result.

[@allenmiller8689]

Great fix! I wish I'd seen this lesson 20 years ago. I might have actually been able to hit the deuce serve up the middle and wide on the ad side!

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks for the feedback Allen! :)

[@ginaann813]

Great tips snd demo. I am opening up to soon. Looking forward to trying this. I usually tell myself to keep my tossing arm up longer when my ball goes into the net. I will focus now on not opening up too soon also. Thank you

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

That's awesome...please keep us updated on your progress :) And yes by controlling your head and upper body...it will allow you to swing up and out more on the serve which gives you more net clearance....so you'll decrease the amount of misses into the net

[@joshua3196]

Thank you for the valuable training idea of holding the head still and monitoring off arm motion. Please consider demonstrating your full serve at the beginning of the video and the end of the video.

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks for the feedback Joshua! Will note that for future videos :)

[@meafordmichael]

Thanks, James; your instruction tips are always well explained and of great value ....

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thank you Michael for your feedback! Much appreciated :)

[@scottleaverton7081]

Excellent teaching points. Loved it!!!

[@chinesefashionmodels]

can you please do a video about rotation in flat and kick serve?

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Yes we will definitely note this for future videos :)

[@antoninus43]

Excellent, clear instruction, thank you James!

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks for the feedback John :)

[@mikhail606]

Now that is perfect delivery. Not a single "um" or "uh". And serving power slices blind like a true Jedi.

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

thank you very much for your feedback...i'm liking the Jedi reference haha :)

[@Arefmshammoud]

I hope to see more videos of you. Thank you

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

thank you for your feedback! much appreciated :)

[@morten2808]

Good video but I really think you should mention that you open up quite a bit more on flat and slice serves than on kick serves. Which serve did you demonstrate?

[@jacksonlar]

30 minutes from now, I am going to try this fantastic drill for training the eyes. Thanks!

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Awesome Jack! Let us know how it goes :)

[@jacksonlar]

@@OnlineTennisInstruction I aligned myself directly behind the deuce side alley and targeted the ad side alley. I found that I had no idea how much I had been over-rotating in the past. You just taught me why I had been missing my down the T serves so often. If I can fix this problem, I should be better able to target all other areas of the box as well. Thanks so much!

[@jacksonlar]

@@OnlineTennisInstruction One more thing.....I think the tram lines were serving as a kind of "guard rail", prodding me not to swerve over the edge of the "road". Much more effective than cones!

[@Better_Call_Raul]

@@jacksonlar I have the opposite problem. All my serves from the deuce go down the T. Can never target the wide deuce. Maybe I am not rotating enough.

[@jacksonlar]

@@Better_Call_Raul Yes, I think that's your problem. Try opening up your stance a little bit (counterclockwise), to compensate for that tendency.

[@noisukaviriya53]

Great tips. Thanks James.

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks for the feedback Noi :)

[@Mr.Puppet_23]

Very important info and great lesson!

[@Mickey_McD]

Great video. I also liked Nadim's earlier video on this topic.

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

thanks Shawn :)

[@steventsang8897]

It,s a sample and practical drill. Thanks

[@chrisbos8116]

Very nice build up, thanx!

[@lynnebuhlig1161]

Excellent progression! I will try it! A question: I have trouble with my toss and noticed that your wrist moves slightly down at the bottom of your tossing motion. Is this something I could emulate? I recognize that your palm is not facing up which would cause the dreaded wrist bending, but facing to the side so the motion is like a windshield wiper. Thanks!

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks for the feedback Lynne and some great points brought up! :) If you find you're having troubles with your ball toss then the no.1 thing i would recommend working on emulating is the straight tossing arm and lifting that straight arm structure from the shoulder in a smooth manner. That's the real key to developing a consistent ball toss. By maintaining a straight tossing arm structure, you're eliminating the other possible moving joints which would be the elbow and the wrist. Here's a free video on this topic to help you with this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2iak4x-eNWKpac

[@ashleyharris7443]

I tried this yesterday and today my tossing arm shoulder really aches. Is it a case of getting used to it or is the exaggeration of seeing the left hand from behind after you've brought it against the body not needed and I could make it more subtle?

[@NStewF]

IMO, it’s NOT an active tuck. Rather, left arm goes out to the right side after the toss - in line with the right shoulder. Then the body will rotate into the left arm until ball contact. This seems to set everything up in proper sequence. I’ve been actively tucking for years (until recently), and it didn’t work :( My experience has been if something hurts, it’s incorrect. Good luck!

[@RVick-ws1xu]

Great point, much too easy to confuse the orientation of the torso at contact point verses the finish.

[@luiscarlostrotta8119]

muy bueno!!!! ayudan mucho tus consejos!!!!!!!! gracias por compartir!!!!!

[@chavabara.4149]

Great Great lesson, thank you!!

[@FairwayJack]

great stuff

[@mariecantwell7378]

very helpful - thank you!

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

thanks Marie :)

[@mattr4886]

Excellent tip! Thanks.

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks Matt!! :)

[@petertowneya]

Thanks for posting! I'm gonna try this. Could this vid actually be titled: How to avoid premature rotation. Maybe I'm just a stickler for detail 😅

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

haha great point peter :) thanks for the feedback and let us know how it goes

[@kuruptgt]

He's great at explaining the technique. He can work for Essential Tennis Lessons if he needs another job.

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks for the feedback! :)

[@anitaru2001]

Such great content!

[@evandromanaramiletto7523]

Thanks for sharing it. Very helpful.

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

thanks for the feedback Evandro :)

[@hongzhisui]

Huge help!

[@candraanderson]

Good lesson

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks for the feedback Candra :)

[@Kiwistoicist]

Succinct and easy to follow advice

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks for the feedback Larry :)

[@hayrettinaslan5093]

So helpful thanks

[@charleskocun6754]

When I watch your shadow swings I don’t know how you can serve the ball to the forehand on the deuce court because your swing and strings face so far to the right. What am I not seeing?

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

First of all, thanks for your question Charles! :) What we have to ask is what is directing the ball out wide or down the t on the serve? It's the angle of your racket face at contact. So my serve for a wide, body and T in the deuce court will look almost identical....all i will change is the angle of the racket face at contact. So for example if i was serving out wide, i would be contacting more of the right edge of the ball. The rest of the swing will look very similar. What's the benefit of this? It gives you more disguise on your serve....the opponent will have a much harder time reading your serve. If you have any further questions on this Charles please let me know

[@charleskocun6754]

Thank you for your response. Honestly I still can’t picture how you can be that sideways, swing over your head like that and direct the ball out wide to the duets court. Can you make a video demonstrating this? I know you mentioned the angle of the racquet. But what if I wanted no spin and a hard flat serve? Is the answer hitting the ball way out in front?

[@K4R3N]

Exactly my problem

[@Arefmshammoud]

top. many thanks

[@Rick-si2fj]

great lesson, cheers me!

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

thanks for the feedback Rick :)

[@yulin8201]

Is that possible for me to contact you ?

[@paulpellico3797]

seems silly, but true. we want to hit a ball, but tennis players struggle to WATCH the ball. incredible, but true. you would think this a most simple and true procedure. when i was a wrestler back in the old days, we were taught...move your opponent's head. where his face goes...he goes. ditto here. the way we solved this problem with baseball pitchers, and serving is very close, we taught them to slap their glove into their chest as they pitched. it helps contract the chest muscles and increase power. again, ditto here.

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Thanks for your feedback Paul! Yes exactly, where your head goes...the body will follow

[@dr.gerardperlas59]

Aahhaa moments. Great stuff!

[@scotwllm]

I noticed that you and the pros turn your tossing hand palm to the sky. Is that important?

[@frankmcchrystal4029]

1:52 - yup, just like a major league pitcher placing his glove across the mid section

[@OnlineTennisInstruction]

Yes exactly Frank

[@drbonesshow1]

This is nonsense. BTW: pronation is not necessary for a powerful serve. However, tennis instructors do not understand this as pronation is key to the tennis serve dogma that they are served. When one learns of the 6-actions of the wrist, then my statement "pronation is not necessary for a powerful serve" becomes clear to them. Well, maybe for some of them.

[@olafsrensen9578]

Bedst instruktion I ever seen on the serv . ORSOM . Coach from Denmark