The NEW Technique For Creating Power On The Serve

Excellent analysis. 😃

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.

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

nice job buddy

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

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

Good simple breakdown

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.

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

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.

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.

Basically going back to the Andy Roddick serve.

Felinciano??

RODDICK , KARLOVIC older players using this already

Correct! The pendulum always gives me up together down together

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

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

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

I like the simplicity of this new technique

great advice. Thanks.

What would be optimum for wheelchair tennis?

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!

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.

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

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

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.

Very well explained.

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.

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.

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.

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?

A lot of Roddick in this serve technique.

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

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.

There were 7 minutes that I could never get back.

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

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.

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

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.🙂

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.

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.

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

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

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

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?

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.

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