Just added one video on the “Being Loose” misconception. We want a loose arm and wrist throughout the backswing phase but not when we actually accelerate into pronation. Check this video article too: https://www.feeltennis.net/serve-wrist-snap/
I’m afraid I can’t watch or download this video (The “Being Loose” Clarification).
The same happens with the following videos recently added to your courses:
Topspin Swing Path Explanation (2nd serve)
When Backswing Is Too Big (fh)
Biomechanical Backhand (bh)
5 Tips For Better Ball Control (bh)
Hi Tomaz, its taken me 59 years, and of course your instruction, to have a serve I like. I’m getting trajectory, aim, some reasonable power. How can i get more power? In this video you explain the muscle comes in at the pronation and thats definitely my expereince. The more I practice hitting hard or fast at the pronation step the faster my serve. If i stop practicing hitting hard at the pronation step for a while, my serve is less fast. How can I develop those pronation muscles aside from pronation exercises with and without the ball. Is there a way tennis players use by adding a little weight somehow? Thanks Dan
How to get more power on the serve is a bit beyond the scope of this course because you need a conditioning expert to work on different muscle groups.
Maximum power comes from connecting many body parts where EACH generates its own contribution to the final power.
Legs are the key because legs INITIATE the energy upward. The more explosive the legs drive upwards, the FASTER the “wave of energy” moves upwards.
If that wave is fast, then other body parts can “ride it”, like in surfing.
Then comes very explosive hip rotation and upward drive of the hips, core rotation that pulls the shoulders around and then the arm works.
LEGS -> HIPS -> CORE -> UPPER BODY -> SHOULDER (to move arm) -> PRONATION (to move forarm) – WRIST
So to get more power on the serve you need to do exercises for EACH of the body part that works in the kinetic chain PLUS exercises that CONNECT all body parts together (mostly throwing).
I do hope to create a course on that but I need a tennis conditioning expert to help me put together the exercises.
The simplest plan at the moment is this:
– make sure you are really well warmed up so that you don’t injure yourself and do not do any drill at 100% effort at first.
Repeat twice a week, wait 2 months, observe the results. Make sure to listen to your body for any signals of pain or injury and if there is a signal, immediately back off and stop.
Wait a few days until you don’t feel anything, then do exercises again but at lower intensity, maybe at 60%. Progress slowly, always listening to your body.
Hi Tomaz, I can’t find the video you made but you made a video on shadow swinging for the slice serve. It is very effective. Are there shadow swing drills you can recommend for the flat and the topspin serve, or is this slice shadow swing good for them too?
Hi Dan, I actually don’t know which video you have in mind for slice serve shadow swings… But yes, all serves have the same foundation. By the way, have you signed up yet for the free serve challenge, there are many more drills in it: https://www.feeltennis.net/serve-challenge/
I found it, its in the second serve mastery under slice serve, video called Feel for Slice. I shadow swinged the exercise because thats what i remembered (just watched it again and it seems that you meant it to be done with a ball), and yes , super effective, now my best serve. Can get the ball to skid out wide on the deuce side. I signed up for the free serve challenge , thanks
9 Comments
Tomaz
January 7, 2023Just added one video on the “Being Loose” misconception. We want a loose arm and wrist throughout the backswing phase but not when we actually accelerate into pronation. Check this video article too: https://www.feeltennis.net/serve-wrist-snap/
Vincent Arnaud
May 14, 2023Very interesting. Thank you for adding it to the module’s course.
Juan Macias
February 18, 2024Hello Tomaz,
I’m afraid I can’t watch or download this video (The “Being Loose” Clarification).
The same happens with the following videos recently added to your courses:
Topspin Swing Path Explanation (2nd serve)
When Backswing Is Too Big (fh)
Biomechanical Backhand (bh)
5 Tips For Better Ball Control (bh)
Thanks in advance.
Dan
March 22, 2024Hi Tomaz, its taken me 59 years, and of course your instruction, to have a serve I like. I’m getting trajectory, aim, some reasonable power. How can i get more power? In this video you explain the muscle comes in at the pronation and thats definitely my expereince. The more I practice hitting hard or fast at the pronation step the faster my serve. If i stop practicing hitting hard at the pronation step for a while, my serve is less fast. How can I develop those pronation muscles aside from pronation exercises with and without the ball. Is there a way tennis players use by adding a little weight somehow? Thanks Dan
Tomaz
March 24, 2024Great to hear you’re on the right track, Dan!
How to get more power on the serve is a bit beyond the scope of this course because you need a conditioning expert to work on different muscle groups.
Maximum power comes from connecting many body parts where EACH generates its own contribution to the final power.
Legs are the key because legs INITIATE the energy upward. The more explosive the legs drive upwards, the FASTER the “wave of energy” moves upwards.
If that wave is fast, then other body parts can “ride it”, like in surfing.
Then comes very explosive hip rotation and upward drive of the hips, core rotation that pulls the shoulders around and then the arm works.
LEGS -> HIPS -> CORE -> UPPER BODY -> SHOULDER (to move arm) -> PRONATION (to move forarm) – WRIST
So to get more power on the serve you need to do exercises for EACH of the body part that works in the kinetic chain PLUS exercises that CONNECT all body parts together (mostly throwing).
I do hope to create a course on that but I need a tennis conditioning expert to help me put together the exercises.
The simplest plan at the moment is this:
– make sure you are really well warmed up so that you don’t injure yourself and do not do any drill at 100% effort at first.
https://member.feeltennis.net/serveunlocked/serve-biomechanics/warm-up-serve/
– do everything at 75% effort
– throw 2kg medicine ball into the ball while trying to engage the whole body, from legs to arms – maybe 3-4 sets of 10-15 throws – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoVlCmfkwOI
– throw 0.5kg medicine ball as far as you can – 20-30 throws – these ones are perfect: https://www.amazon.com/GoSports-Weighted-Training-Baseballs-Mechanics/dp/B07RJZLQY7/ref=sr_1_5?
– throw old rackets upward at 45 degree angle, use whole body – 20-30 throws
-smack some balls with pronation over the fence from outside the court: https://youtube.com/shorts/-tfWssKSzI0
Repeat twice a week, wait 2 months, observe the results. Make sure to listen to your body for any signals of pain or injury and if there is a signal, immediately back off and stop.
Wait a few days until you don’t feel anything, then do exercises again but at lower intensity, maybe at 60%. Progress slowly, always listening to your body.
Dan
March 24, 2024Very good, thank you, this makes a lot of sense. Fun for the summer once this rain stops !
Dan
October 24, 2024Hi Tomaz, I can’t find the video you made but you made a video on shadow swinging for the slice serve. It is very effective. Are there shadow swing drills you can recommend for the flat and the topspin serve, or is this slice shadow swing good for them too?
Tomaz
October 25, 2024Hi Dan, I actually don’t know which video you have in mind for slice serve shadow swings… But yes, all serves have the same foundation. By the way, have you signed up yet for the free serve challenge, there are many more drills in it: https://www.feeltennis.net/serve-challenge/
Dan
October 25, 2024I found it, its in the second serve mastery under slice serve, video called Feel for Slice. I shadow swinged the exercise because thats what i remembered (just watched it again and it seems that you meant it to be done with a ball), and yes , super effective, now my best serve. Can get the ball to skid out wide on the deuce side. I signed up for the free serve challenge , thanks