The NEW Technique For Creating Power On The Serve 

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I’ve tried several serve variations, including the Sampras lag. But you are right…lots of moving parts. And I can never seem to get my toss in the right spot nor high enough. So I tried the method you are demonstrating here and wow it does the trick. I find it easier to get my toss high and into the court and somehow I’m better able to drive my legs. The whipping action, power and consistency are also awesome! At 81 I’m delivering a winning serve against much younger guys. I haven’t got it totally dialed in but things are moving in the right direction! Thank you!

Good to see you guys still around producing content. Hope you're both well into the holiday and thanks for the post.

great advice. Thanks.

I learned tennis in large part by emulating Pistol Pete and others in that era (my era). For me, the Sampras serve is smoother and has fewer moving parts than the current ATP approach. I use both methods now, maybe 50/50, because the “new” method helps me avoid shoulder impingement issues.

I've noticed this change on the ATP, gonna take my ball hopper out of the garage and give it a try. Good video.

Was trying to pattern my serve after Kyrgios. Like this better. Seems to give me more time, and shorter wind-up on the hitting arm.

I've recently abbreviated my serve and it has helped so much. I was trying to do the Sampras/Federer backwards pendulum motion thing and it just wasn't working at all.

Excellent analysis. 😃

Good simple breakdown

Very well explained.

Have had shoulder problems due to serve mechanics, and it included a long pendulum, (like Wavrinka). I noticed that I cannot lock my Scapula well when I bring my arm from all the way back, and I am stretch shortening too much pec muscle, which created too much tension on an unstable shoulder ( this is my theory). If I approach from that angle my shoulder hurts everytime. In the heat of the game I always ignored the pain, but this was a wrong approach for me at least. And it reduced my performance, and it reduced the fun for sure, due to pain. I preferred this ("wrong") approach in the first place because I think I had a small deltoid pain as well, so I avoided a side lift. but avoiding that pain, created more pain in the long run. I worked on the deltoid pain, by strengthening the muscle at that angle, and adding a bit of momentum, and a body assist ( arching my chest back, etc) with the side lift and it helped. Now I am working on a shorter and on the side preperation, (like the video said) focusing on locking the scapula a little earlier, it is more like elbow up then back. I noticed that my racket can drop even lower that way. Somehow, the initial scapular rigidity in the beginning, gave me a more flexible backswing? It makes sense because; the shoulder socket is not compromised, and I can now relax everything else more. , I am working on the new timing, but an immediate improvement, beside less pain of course, is the increased top spin I can generate. I hope I am on the right track. for those who have shoulder pain due to serve mechanics, try this, and think of locking scapula, push elbow back, than let the racket dip in the downward lag.

I think less moving parts is (almost) always a good idea, but here are my thoughts on your Sampras analysis: You gotta take into consideration that Sampras played with an almost 14 oz heavy racquet, so having that "pendulum" type takeback probably helped produce much needed momentum (you can see the same thing in his forehand stroke). Secondly, he had a much bigger coil than players these days; he coiled his shoulders so much that his back was essentially visible to the receiving opponent (similar to McEnroe), so that also plays a role in where his racquet is during the takeback sequence - it'd never look similar to someone like Shelton's. In summary, the "abbreviated" looking serve of Alcaraz, Rune, etc., might not be optimal to copy if you play with a heavier racquet and/or you want to emphasize spin over pace - which is what turning the shoulders ala Sampras does. Good tips, just felt this might be worth pointing out.

Hi it seam like the legs are going with the racket in that upward start just before the drop, is easier for timing.

My serve used to look more like Nick Kryrios. Im 5’5 and use to have a mean flat serve. The more full range i try to serve it i would net the ball. I also don’t serve with a platform stance. My stance is pin point, where my right foot starts back then comes forward. When the ball is up i am already half way there. My success came from hitting fast, flat and i had good placement with my serve.

I start in the trophy pose. I have never felt any benefit to anything before this point. My serve is very fast - I have no issues with power at all. Issues in the motion or toss can kill power easily - imo these need to be kept an eye closely.

I like the simplicity of this new technique

What your thoughts on Djokovic who uses that strange wrist bend to take it up to that side palm down position. I have tried it and it keeps the wrist very loose. I dont know if it more moving parts. At this point I am struggling so much on whats the best way to start my motion haha

something also to consider is how Bublik, Humbert and Popyrin, all live arms, have truncated their service motions in the last year or so, reducing the shape and making it more efficient.

pete for sure the best server!

I wonder if a small part of it is racquet weight. A growing trend of the new gen using near retail like specs rather than the clubs of the 90s. Less need for momentum. Indeed an abbreviated serve with a heavy racquet would be counter productive for most rec players I imagine.

Correct! The pendulum always gives me up together down together

1) i wish we would talk more about racquet head speed rather than momentum. The conservation of angular momentum is what generates that speed. 2) Do we know yet what these new techniques do to wrist, elbow, and shoulder over time? Could older players with bad shoulders incorporate these techniques to gain RHS with less shoulder strain?

Hi Nate and Scott, I have a question specifically about STRENGTH. Imagine that a tennis player has perfect strokes, footwork, all of it. Imagine that their serve, forehand and backhand look EXACTLY like Federer in his prime, BUT, this player has only 1/2 the muscle strength of Federer. How much would this player's serve speed and groundstroke speed be reduced?

refreshing view

nice job buddy

I tried this long time ago, because Roddick was doing something similar. i could literally feel the power builiding during my serve motion. Now finally someone is understanding what's going on in this mechanic and using it. I abandoned it cause it looked kind of ugly. But i think i will experiment with this again. I think i was just being ignorant in abandoning it cause it doesn't look as pretty.🙂

Could you analyze about kyrigos power serve? I'd like to play like that in our club! 😊😊

Isn’t this all about how you get into the loading position? The loading positions are very similar regardless of pendulum or abbreviated takeback. But I agree if you do the abbreviated takeback there is less to go wrong. Also the takeback shown in this video is different to the two modern examples given, because the takeback occurs before the tossing arm even moves. Interesting video.

Your Last demostration with starting high is how Berrettini and Roddik serve they just touch the ball with the racket at the beginning

What would be optimum for wheelchair tennis?

Sounds like just abbreviating the service motion by just distilling the most important pieces and keeping a loose arm and wrist - Andy Roddick style. Another WTA (retired) player to study is Julia Georges. She was often near the top of most serve metrics while she was on tour.

You really should show alcaraz and sampras from the same angle. I generally agree with the difference in take back you are highlighting, but sampras also has a component of gis serve on the right side. Better to show it so people dont get the wrong impression.

Super duper awesome

Reminds me of Andy Roddick's serve motion...

I think Sinner is the latest example of this tendency. He changed drastically his serve this year. But this classic swingpath is still prezent on Tour - Bashilashvili Dmitrov, or Musetti to name a few There are also many serves thatbare between this 2 techniques lik Paul or van der Zandschlupf. But overally yes - swings are getting more compact.

There r all these people talking about power....accuracy is far more important than power...if u serve at 220-230km into the returner's hitting zone it's alot easier to block back then hitting ur spots at 200km ....give me Sampras serve over Shelton, Rune or Alcaraz 7days a week ...and he was still 210km plus with that pro staff...Sampras best serve ever...he basically has 2 first serves...no second serve

I have trouble with keeping the hitting arm *quiet* and achieving the *LAG!* The hitting arm wants to go up with the tossing arm, instead of lagging the tossing arm. More of an "up together" with little to no lag of the hitting arm relative to tossing arm. ☹ I will try Nate's serve at 5:50 where the hitting arm starts much *higher* than the tossing arm. The exact opposite of a lag. The tossing arm starts really low and is actually lagging the hitting arm. I have never tried that. But maybe starting the motion from that weird position and then moving the hitting arm right to left will ultimately achieve that hitting arm lag later in the motion. 🤔 🎾

For me is Sampras motion easier : Kyrgius,Rosset,Karlovic,Djokovic have simular motion.

Interesting take. Thought this was just an abbreviated serve. Can see advantages but for the rec play I think the up and down is perfectly fine and easier(if done correctly of course). You really have to be athletic to do that motion and tap into all core and legs. Adult rec players would have a difficult time

Sampras also played with a weighted swing weight of almost 400g so ya. He needed that full motion swing to wield that sledge hammer of a serve.

I find it hard to get my head around this showing players like Shelton, Rune & Alcaraz. All good servers but they can't hold a candle to Sampras‼Imagine Pete serving today with the racquet & string technology⁉😂😂

Basically going back to the Andy Roddick serve.

It feels like this motion scales your weapon with Strength. Good on characters carrying a Zweihander, like Alcaraz, Rune, Roddick and Shelton. For the more Dexterity build characters I prefer the McEnroe, Sampras, Federer and Kyrgios motions.

Felinciano??

I'm finding simply focusing on elbow back everything else follows naturally

There were 7 minutes that I could never get back.

OK Coach that is the modern serve with less moving parts for better timing and power, Good tip anyway.

No finer example than Roscoe Tanner who was doing it in the 70s lol nothing new

Djokovic has the most effective first serve on the tour period. He doesnt need power. So which is his secret? The side leg, top the lagging relaxed hand, his body turn and his 95 heavy prestige type of racket?

RODDICK , KARLOVIC older players using this already

This obviously works for Rune and Shelton, but I'm less convinced that Carlos' serve motion is exactly right for him. Maybe it is and it's all about execution, but both Rune and Shelton seem much more fluid in their service motions than Carlos is in his...I think he seems really stiff in the trophy position.

The core of the video: 3:29

alcaraz, Rune dont have good servs...shelton has a big serve but could be more efficient

The old way was to accommodate serve and volley tactic. The new way felt not as fluid as the old way.

Those serves look a lot like Andy Roddick serve. Which we all know is mostly genetics

Do not serve like Sampras??? Oh, ok... I'll keep that in mind 😂

The word “especially” does not have an “x” or an “x” sound.

How interesting. Because virtually all of the guys you mention in the video will not have serves that will be held in high regard twenty years from now, bar perhaps Shelton. The players with abbreviated motions tend to not have world class serves and really rely on a very good return game. Alcaraz's serve is not world class and his placement is not good enough. Mainly because his use of slice on his serve is not top notch standard. But if you feel amateurs can duplicate the abbreviated motion better with the lighter frames and larger head size then fair enough. Abbreviated? Yes. Excellence? No.

According to this guy, you don't need to use your legs because he serves like he has no knees.

So stupid as Sampras’ serve was way more deceptive than Sheltons is….

I dont like that wrist positioning on the ”new style”

So I’m supposed to take a video seriously that shows Pete on the cover as a bad example? Clowning much?

A lot of Roddick in this serve technique.

Looking at Alcaraz Mechanics. He really gets the stretch from the hip-hamstring by outstretching his front side - left leg torso back-to-fro. Its also a timing mechanism for him. Then again, he one of the best in the world. Takes flexibility.

This is mostly stylistic differences. And doesn’t impact serve power. And Sampras does not have a pause, as seen in the clip you show. Fed does and it’s a slight flaw. The motion at the bottom actually builds up the momentum longer and more gradually less strain on the arm and you see the abbreviated more now on tour with lighter racquets. Players with heavier racquets like Sampras and fed and Murray and wood era build up momentum longer from the bottom. And Sampras’ serve and motion is way more effortless and 10x more effective than Rune and Alcaraz how can you even compare them that’s blasphemy hahaha