What does serve preparation tell us?
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Tenez
legendkillar
bogbrush
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What does serve preparation tell us?
Watching Jo Konta and her hideous service routine I got thinking about other service styles and wondered what they told me about the nature of the tennis player.
My prejudice going in was that the more contrived the routine, the less natural and gifted the player. The logic being that someone who walks up and just does it is likely to be comfortable striking a ball as they wish whereas anyone with a mad ritual must be trying to eliminate all sorts of defects. I speculate that if Konta tried to hit a serve like Federer she'd spray it all over the place.
I'm not certain but I think this holds water. Berdych is stiff as Hell, Tsonga not. Raonic robotic, Stan not. Fed obviously like water.
Have we ever seen a genius level with a robotic serve? I don't count McEnroe as his wasn't robotic, it was just weird.
Anyone got any thoughts even from personal experience?
My prejudice going in was that the more contrived the routine, the less natural and gifted the player. The logic being that someone who walks up and just does it is likely to be comfortable striking a ball as they wish whereas anyone with a mad ritual must be trying to eliminate all sorts of defects. I speculate that if Konta tried to hit a serve like Federer she'd spray it all over the place.
I'm not certain but I think this holds water. Berdych is stiff as Hell, Tsonga not. Raonic robotic, Stan not. Fed obviously like water.
Have we ever seen a genius level with a robotic serve? I don't count McEnroe as his wasn't robotic, it was just weird.
Anyone got any thoughts even from personal experience?
bogbrush- Posts : 3052
Join date : 2015-03-30
Location : England
Re: What does serve preparation tell us?
I find a player's serve prep tells us everything. With Konta, Nadal, Djokovic, Sharapova, Williams reeks of insecurity. Too much focus on the routine rather than execution.
Murray's looks laboured. Henman's used to make wonder how he didn't break his neck given how spring like it looked.
Goran looked like he was coming over the net with the ball!
I am more of throw the ball in the air and whack it. None of this ball bouncing nonsense. Angers me when playing people that spend an age fiddling with shoes or racquet before serving. Even called a few players out before at a change of ends.
Murray's looks laboured. Henman's used to make wonder how he didn't break his neck given how spring like it looked.
Goran looked like he was coming over the net with the ball!
I am more of throw the ball in the air and whack it. None of this ball bouncing nonsense. Angers me when playing people that spend an age fiddling with shoes or racquet before serving. Even called a few players out before at a change of ends.
legendkillar- Posts : 3266
Join date : 2012-10-02
Re: What does serve preparation tell us?
Makes sense to me. I have said here before that all talented player have a good serve (not all great servers have talent).
A serve should look effortless, it's about timing like a golf drive.
A serve should look effortless, it's about timing like a golf drive.
Tenez- Posts : 21050
Join date : 2012-06-18
Re: What does serve preparation tell us?
But very important to gauge talent also is the difference of pace between 1st and 2nd. The more talented players have a narrower pace difference.
Tenez- Posts : 21050
Join date : 2012-06-18
Re: What does serve preparation tell us?
I also bounced once & hit it and my 1st serve was a beast, very fast and accurate with a strong slice if I wanted it. Lot of aces, lot of opponents not even moving.
My 2nd was crap until I got coached a bit and learned to get the right topspin on it. Then it just became usable but I failed the Tenez 1st / 2nd test while passing the legendkiller one.
My 2nd was crap until I got coached a bit and learned to get the right topspin on it. Then it just became usable but I failed the Tenez 1st / 2nd test while passing the legendkiller one.
bogbrush- Posts : 3052
Join date : 2015-03-30
Location : England
Re: What does serve preparation tell us?
I love a good serve up the middle. I find that more satisfying than a kick serve or serve out wide.
Strangely BB I did model my serving action on McEnroe because to me it was the only action that kept my body stable when going through the serving motion
Strangely BB I did model my serving action on McEnroe because to me it was the only action that kept my body stable when going through the serving motion
legendkillar- Posts : 3266
Join date : 2012-10-02
Re: What does serve preparation tell us?
That actually probably usually means less talent - willing to take a risk on the second serve because the player doesn't have the ability to match their opponent if a rally develops.Tenez wrote:But very important to gauge talent also is the difference of pace between 1st and 2nd. The more talented players have a narrower pace difference.
Slippy- Posts : 517
Join date : 2016-10-23
Re: What does serve preparation tell us?
If it's a chancer, yes, but not if it's because they have such a strong ability. Pete Sampras wasn't hit & hope 2nd serve and he'd plonk it in the corners. Federer has a very strong 2nd serve.
bogbrush- Posts : 3052
Join date : 2015-03-30
Location : England
Re: What does serve preparation tell us?
Yes, you don't have hit and hope players at the top of the game. They would have to be very lucky.
Tenez- Posts : 21050
Join date : 2012-06-18
Re: What does serve preparation tell us?
Now i look at it: Raonic' serve prep is inspired by Andes Jarryd isn't it?
Plain ugly.
Raonic must be very proud to be on the same court as Federer. Cause he shouldn't really
Plain ugly.
Raonic must be very proud to be on the same court as Federer. Cause he shouldn't really
gallery play- Posts : 2620
Join date : 2012-09-05
Re: What does serve preparation tell us?
gallery play wrote:Now i look at it: Raonic' serve prep is inspired by Andes Jarryd isn't it?
Plain ugly.
Raonic must be very proud to be on the same court as Federer. Cause he shouldn't really
Federer didn't really earn his talent did he?
I wonder what his serve motion would've been like had he been handed Raonic's genes...
Humility is more precious than any tennis talent.
noleisthebest- Posts : 27907
Join date : 2012-06-18
Re: What does serve preparation tell us?
ah, not so much in the mood of jokes, now you're back to the dark side eh?... wrote:gallery play wrote:Now i look at it: Raonic' serve prep is inspired by Andes Jarryd isn't it?
Plain ugly.
Raonic must be very proud to be on the same court as Federer. Cause he shouldn't really
Federer didn't really earn his talent did he?
I wonder what his serve motion would've been like had he been handed Raonic's genes...
Humility is more precious than any tennis talent.
You know you're an open book to me nitb
gallery play- Posts : 2620
Join date : 2012-09-05
Re: What does serve preparation tell us?
See if I care about your or anyone's book...gallery play wrote:ah, not so much in the mood of jokes, now you're back to the dark side eh?... wrote:gallery play wrote:Now i look at it: Raonic' serve prep is inspired by Andes Jarryd isn't it?
Plain ugly.
Raonic must be very proud to be on the same court as Federer. Cause he shouldn't really
Federer didn't really earn his talent did he?
I wonder what his serve motion would've been like had he been handed Raonic's genes...
Humility is more precious than any tennis talent.
You know you're an open book to me nitb
noleisthebest- Posts : 27907
Join date : 2012-06-18
Re: What does serve preparation tell us?
LOL. I don't even disagree but still it is funny how it just comes from sheer bitterness.... wrote:Federer didn't really earn his talent did he?
I wonder what his serve motion would've been like had he been handed Raonic's genes...
Humility is more precious than any tennis talent.
I thought you were no longer rooting for Djoko and were now a Fed fan? Looks like something has gone wrong with that transition.
summerblues- Posts : 5068
Join date : 2012-05-19
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