The Serve

The Serve is different from other shots because the ball is in your hand and you have the opportunity to make the first impression on the point. You can either take charge with a well-struck and well-placed first service or put yourself on the defensive with a poorly hit delivery.

With that in mind, having the proper serving fundamentals in technique can lead you to develop a powerful game and raise your level of play.

Photographic sequences of Justin Henin are included here to illustrate key features of the service action.

1. The weight is more on the back foot as she starts the tossing action.
2. Henin has significant knee flexion. In addition she has good rotation of the hips and shoulders. The tossing arm goes up the side of the body, assisting trunk rotation. Notice how the palm is facing directly toward the sky while releasing the ball in front and marginally to the right of the front foot.
3. This is the "power position" of the service action. She stores elastic energy in the major shoulder muscle groups (good leg drive and trunk rotation) before exploding up after the ball.



4. Extension is the most important thing to notice, and I don't just mean the full extension of the hitting arm, but also the hitting shoulder and the legs. Without extension like this, it's impossible to generate power and spin consistently.
5. There will be a continuation of internal rotation of the upper arm and pronation of the forearm during the early phase of the follow-through.
6. Henin will land on his front foot with excellent balance, which enables her to explode forward to the net. The rear leg will kick back to maintain this balance.

I provide you with some biomechanics findings which are based on serve of a physically mature professional player. How I apply these components as I teach and coach beginners players may, in fact, be different since I also evaluate their physical strength size, and coordination skills.

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