Biomechanics Serve Itf Coaching

ITF Coaches Education Programme
Biomechanical principles for the serve in tennis
Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007
At the end of this session you will be able to

Understand the mechanical factors which help producing a good serve Understand the theory behind advanced serving mechanics Analyse the service actions from a biomechanical perspective
Speed of serve
1999 Wimbledon
Sampras Rudseski Ivanisevic Henman 218.8 215.6 215.6 214.0 Williams Novotna Serna Graf 201.1 180.2 173.8 17220
Service action main phases

Backswing Forward swing Follow through
Phases of the backswing

Leg drive / foot orientation Trunk and shoulder rotation Upper arm external rotation Storage of elastic energy
Backswing foot up & back techniques

The foot up and foot back techniques are characterised by different considerations
Back foot just behind to allow hip rotation Foot up: Better vertical drive Foot back: Better preparation to the net
Backswing leg drive

The racket should be down behind the back side It is better if the racket is away from the body than too close to it The body moves forward Forward rotation of the trunk Efficiency: If the body is taken off the ground
Backswing leg drive - hitting in the air

An effective leg drive will not only affect the displacement of the racket but also will make hitting in the air Dont teach hitting in the air It is a natural consequence of the leg drive
Backswing
right foot referred to left foot
If, at impact, the back foot comes forward to be positioned in front of the front foot it will not allow the rotation of the trunk It is better to keep the back foot behind the front foot at impact
Backswing shoulder and trunk rotation

Rotation of the body Forward movement of the body Shoulder over shoulder
Backswing rotation of the body

It is the less important of the 3 movements of the body 2 directions:
To the ball Counter rotation
Backswing
forward movement of the body
To impact Rotation forward of the trunk The racket shoulder is moving forward into impact 10-20% of the power of the serve comes from this action
Backswing
shoulder over shoulder movement
Right shoulder over the left shoulder Related to how high the ball toss is and to the location of the ball toss Free arm goes up This movement differentiates good serves from excellent ones
Backswing
link of leg drive and trunk/shoulder rotation Large forward rotation What differences slow vs. fast serves is the cartwheel rotation (shoulder over shoulder)
Backswing trunk and shoulder rotation

Horizontal (rotation) Vertical (shoulder over shoulder) There are movements you need to put the muscles of the arm in stretch
Backswing
external rotated position of the shoulder
Stored energy around the shoulder It is different from the forearm You dont want the hand to be hyperextended because it would create too much stretch on the forearm
Backswing storage of elastic energy

Need to put muscles and tissues of the upper limb and shoulder on stretch Look at if the movements of the trunk allow for this stretch of the shoulder muscles and tissues The body movements should create this stretch
Backswing how to store elastic energy

Take the shoulder back Use muscular effort Plyometric training:
do it better on soft surfaces Box 1/2 metre Amount of force: 4-5 times body weight on 2 legs
Backswing use of elastic energy: timing

If the movement has a delay of 1 sec., 50% of the energy is lost The longer the delay, the more energy is lost This does not mean that there should not be or there is not a pause The pause has to be shorter than 1 sec.
Backswing
benefits of use of elastic energy
Pre-loading of the muscle 20% benefit of external followed by internal rotation I.e. Taking the arm back and then forward 20% increase of power in the serve Reduce 20% the muscular effort in the serve
Phases of the forward swing

1. Co-ordinated action (kinematic chain)) 2. Upper arm internal rotation and arm flexion 3. Ball toss 4. Impact alignment of hitting limb - trunk 5. Racquet trajectory 6. Foot landing sequence
Forward swing co-ordinated swing

Leg Drive + Trunk rotation Upper arm Elevation & flexion Forearm extension + Forearm pronation + Upper arm internal rotation Hand flexion
Shoulder speed
Elbow speed Optimal Racket Speed
Wrist speed
Racket speed
Forward swing co-ordination

Flow together Good rhythm All should take place Is the player using all the segments he can use? Females do not use shoulder over shoulder as much as males do
Forward swing Forearm extension

Gives height Pronation of forearm does not gives power but realigns the racket face It changes the angle
Forward swing upper arm internal rotation

It occurs very lightly It participates completely in the follow through Do not teach to finish the movement across the body It is detrimental to the speed
Forward swing
contributions to racket speed at impact
Leg drive Trunk flexion Internal rotation Hand flexion 10% 20% 30-40% 30%
This does not mean that there are parts which are less important in the serve
Forward swing
Wrist action following internal rotation is wrist flexion Shoulders are almost parallel to the net prior to impact Area of highest speed is just above the area of percussion
Forward swing Ball toss

Should be considered as part of where is the trunk Not isolated, if not, it may be wrong Types:
Forward foot plane (B.Becker) Facing plane (J. Newcombe)
Dont know which is better, easier for beginners to toss in front
Forward swing Ball toss location

On the left foot The upper limb is straight and the racket is tilted This permits a better shoulder rotation (internal rotation of the upper arm) Latissimus dorsi is the one which does much of the work
Forward swing Movement of the free arm

Push the ball into the air No Science involved on it Keep it close to the body when the hand goes down Better movement of inertia
Forward swing Ball impact location

Ball travels forward and left related to left toe It is not hit on the right but on the left side of the body
Forward swing
Impact alignment of the upper limb - trunk
If the shoulders are horizontal to the ground the alignment is incorrect If the shoulders are almost parallel to the ground the alignment is correct
Forward swing Up and out hitting action

Feel like the right shoulder is hitting out This is affected by the leg drive This movement can be helped by using a cue word such as: up and out, drive
Forward swing Use of the whole body

Just swinging with the upper body will not help your serve By using lower body the racket will move up and out to the ball
Forward swing Spins

Slice comes by putting the shoulders parallel to the net With the shoulder over shoulder movement the player can produce more topspin Flat serves do not exist
Forward swing Other aspects

Yandell (1998) found that there is not such thing as a flat serve in professional tennis The hitting action is up and out In the serve you dont hit through the ball Landing foot:
95% Left - left 5% Left - right
Forward swing Other aspects (II)

Dont let the arm swing too far away from the body Apply the same principle as when the kids take the racket from the throat. They can rotate the racket better when the point of contact is closer
Phases of the follow through

Upper arm internal rotation Shoulder orientation
Follow through
Internal rotation plays a very large role It takes the racket out of the body Check shoulder orientation:
Not horizontal Better more vertical
Follow through
Check internal rotation and pronation Check the movement of the racket when it is finished
Serve teaching tips

Beginners:
Rhythm is the most important thing
Intermediate:
Include leg drive, trunk rotation, etc..
Angular momentum in the serve

The body has to develop forward momentum about the X axis (trunk) As the trunk slows down, the arm gains momentum
Appropriate service techniques for a more powerful serve are result of

Increased racket displacement Increased segment rotations Increased use of elastic energy Rhythmical action about a stable base
Summary service mechanics

Get leg drive, trunk rotation, shoulder over shoulder to increase racket displacement Increase segment rotation but not with beginners With advanced players work on trunk extension Increase stretch to pre-load muscles Rhythmical action

Biomechanics Serve Itf Coaching

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ITF Coaches Education Programme

Biomechanical principles for the serve in tennis

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

At the end of this session you will be able to

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Service action main phases

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Phases of the backswing

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing foot up & back techniques

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing leg drive

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing leg drive - hitting in the air

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing shoulder and trunk rotation

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing rotation of the body

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing trunk and shoulder rotation

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing storage of elastic energy

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing how to store elastic energy

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Backswing use of elastic energy: timing

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Phases of the forward swing

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing co-ordinated swing

Elbow speed Optimal Racket Speed

Forward swing co-ordination

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Forearm extension

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing upper arm internal rotation

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Ball toss

Dont know which is better, easier for beginners to toss in front

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Ball toss location

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Movement of the free arm

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Ball impact location

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Up and out hitting action

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Use of the whole body

Coach Education Series Copyright ITF 2007

Forward swing Spins