Pete is on the other side of the net, leaning back with his left toe up and his racquet slightly cocked.
Pete surveys his empire, and likes what he sees.
Pete's toss looks simple, left side well up, legs relaxed, back turned away from the net.
Here it comes, Pete is deep into his leg drive, left side still well up, back still to the net.
About to hit, the left arm drops as the right elbow rises, and his eyes are perfect on the ball. You will note Pete is not scratching his back with the dropping racquet. Rather, Pete's racquet is dropped back away from his body and over his right shoulder. (As Vic Braden would say, Pete is scratching his neighbor's back.)
Bang. And from the photo I cannot tell you where he served this one. It could have been the wide slice, or the hummer to the "T." This is the classic Sampras photo, showing the crack of the whip at the top of the swing.
Pete leans in on the follow through in case accidentally dribbles the ball back across the net.
Things to "copycat" (as the venerable Don Prince of John Gardiner's Tennis Ranch would say):
Toss slowly and evenly, in order to release the ball at eye level.
Hold the left side up so in fact you can swing up.
Swing loosely to feel the snap at the top of the swing.
This snap (purposely not called a wrist snap because it isn't, it comes more readily from the backhand grip, and as loose a grip and swing as possible.
And finally, remember persistence. For if it were easy to learn this type of serve, then we would all be tennis champions.
Pete is on the other side of the net, leaning back with his left toe up and his racquet slightly cocked.
About to hit, the left arm drops as the right elbow rises, and his eyes are perfect on the ball. You will note Pete is not scratching his back with the dropping racquet. Rather, Pete's racquet is dropped back away from his body and over his right shoulder. (As Vic Braden would say, Pete is scratching his neighbor's back.)
Bang. And from the photo I cannot tell you where he served this one. It could have been the wide slice, or the hummer to the "T." This is the classic Sampras photo, showing the crack of the whip at the top of the swing.
Pete leans in on the follow through in case accidentally dribbles the ball back across the net.