Tennis ServeLindsea VaudtLaura Ruskamp12.7.12

Skill Objectives• Ball over the net and inside the service box• Difficult return or no return• High ball velocity• Ball spin• Score• Fluid rhythm• Energy storage

Special Characteristics• Types of Serves:• Flat: minimum spin, low, straight• Most common• Highest velocity

• Kick: heavy spin (top spin), more net clearance, direction change on landing• Greatest force and torque• Highest injury potential

• Slice: side spin, curves toward or away from receiver• Lowest force and torque

Top Serve SpeedsMen Women1. S. Groth (Australia): 163.4 mph (2012)

1. V. Williams (USA): 129 mph (2007)

2. I. Karlovic (Croatia): 156 mph (2011)

2. S. Williams (USA): 128 mph (2010)

3. M. Raonic (Canada): 155.3 mph (2012)

3. J. Georges (Germany): 126.1 mph (2012)

4. A. Roddick (USA): 155 mph (2004)

4. B. Schultz-McCarthy (Netherlands): 126 mph (2007)

Phases of the Tennis Serve• Phase 1:

• Starting Position• Preparatory Movements

• Phase 2: • Coil• Wind-Up• Backswing

• Phase 3: • Un-Coil• Force Producing Movements• Acceleration

• Phase 4:• Follow-Through• Recovery

*movements occur in all planes of motion

Federer Serve – Slow Motion• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcjZ5r_YHV0

Phase 1: Starting Position• Begins at “ready position” and ends with ball

release from the non-dominant hand

Phase 1: Starting Position• Knee flexion/extension, hip flexion/extension,

shoulder rotation, back flexion/extension • Initiates the storage of potential energy in the

upper limb• Low injury risk• Muscles used:• Rotator Cuff muscles, Quadriceps, Hamstrings,

Gastrocnemius

Phase 2: Coil• From ball release to point of maximal external

rotation of dominant shoulder

Phase 2: Coil• Body twists away from net, knees and hips flex,

back extends and rotates away from net• Helps to store even more potential energy in the

shoulder• Leads to a higher swing velocity

• Injury Risk:• Higher risk• Shoulder bears 40% of body weight• Impingement, anterior labral injuries, musculotendinous

injuries• Muscles used:• Abdominal muscles, rotator cuff muscles, pectoralis major

is most active

Phase 3: Un-Coil/Force Generation

Phase 3: Un-Coil/Force Generation• Power • Flexibility• Range of motion in the shoulder and back

• Racquet drop, “scratching the back”• Racquet parallel to the right side of the body

• Rotation of the trunk and arm (shoulder over shoulder)• Shifts the angular momentum forward

• Whip• hips, torso, shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist and

racquet movements • Shoulders parallel to the net prior to impact• Need to use both upper and lower body

Phase 4: Follow-Through

Phase 4: Follow-Through• Skills following contact with the ball• Racquet arm follows across the body to the center

line• Angular momentum into linear momentum• Body and arm rotation• Rotation of hips and shoulders

• Hip and trunk rotation to get the right leg whipped around

• End low and prepared for the return

Injuries• 2-20 injuries per 1000 hours played• “Violent maneuver which requires power and

acceleration”• High internal forces and repetitive mechanics are

source of injury• Limit serve number, proper physical preparation,

proper technique• Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylitis):• Most common injury

• Shoulder injuries also common

Exercises• Focus:• Back and shoulder strength• Ex: resistance bands, light dumbbell exercises

• External rotator strength• Stress experienced because of imbalance compared to

internal rotators• Pronation and supination of wrist• Abdominal muscles and core strength• Lower limbs• Flexibility - stretching

Summary• Serve one of most important moments in tennis• Small changes have large effect on biomechanics

of the serve and injury potential• Initial phases store potential energy• High potential for injury• Proper technique is key• Caused by high internal forces

References• Abrams, G. D., Sheets, A. L., Andriacchi, T. P., & Safran, M. R. (2011). Review of

tennis serve motion analysis and the biomechanics of three serve types with implications for injury. Sports Biomechanics, 10(4), 378-390.

• Elliot, B. (2006). Biomechanics and tennis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 40, 392-396. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2005.023150

• Eygendaal, D., Rahussen, F. T. G., & Diercks, R. L. (2007). Biomechanics of the elbow joint in tennis players and relation to pathology. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 41, 820-823. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2007.038307

• Goktepe, A., Ak, E., Sogut, M., Karabork, H., & Korkusuz, F. (2009). Joint angles during successful and unsuccessful tennis serves; kinematics of tennis serve. Joint Diseases and Related Surgery, 20(3), 156-160.

• Pro Tennis Internet Network. (2012, September 12). Serve speed leaders. Retrieved from http://www.wtatennis.com/news/20120910/ids-serve-speed-leaders_2256076_1978722Abrams, G. D., Sheets, A. L., Andriacchi, T. P., & Safran, M. R. (2011). Review of tennis serve motion analysis and the biomechanics of three serve types with implications for injury. Sports Biomechanics,10(4), 378-390.

• Reid, M., Whiteside, D., & Elliot, B. (2011). Serving to different locations: Set up, toss, and racket kinematics of the professional tennis serve. Sports Biomechanics, 10(4), 407-414.