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Samantha Stosur and the Kick Serve

Jim McLennan

When asked about his seven Wimbledon titles, Sampras credited what he described as the "Best second serve in the game." And truly I imagine most would think Pete had the best or the biggest serve, but in his mind it was the quality of his second serve. And in your own game, the most difficult situation occurs when serving the second serve at 30-40. Take this further.

The modern game (at professional and now recreational levels) is all about the forehand weapon, and if at all possible you (and I) truly need to get this serve up and into the backhand wing. Enter the kick serve, an undeniable weapon, and when it comes to this serve, there are none better on the women's tour than Samantha Stosur.

Let me quote from a byline in the New York Times written by Marv Salter, “It’s not as rare as a solar eclipse, but it’s getting there….But what should unfold in the fourth-round match between Serena Williams and Samantha Stosur is something you don’t see often nowadays: a match between two women who haven’t been afflicted with the yips when they step up to the baseline to serve. Watching champions like, say, Ana Ivanovic or Maria Sharapova hit second serves is almost painful. …Contrast that with Williams, the top-seeded woman. She, too, used a great serve to help her rise to the top of the sport. And she still has it. Many observers believe it’s the best in the game. As for Stosur, seeded 13th, she’s renowned for having perhaps the best kick serve. So far, she’s leading the tournament in aces and has hit the fastest serve, a 120-mile-an-hour bullet. Of course, any player can have a bad serving day. But don’t look for either of these players to double-fault as if there’s no tomorrow.”

Sam Stosur stands all of 5'7" so don't let anyone suggest you must be tall to serve well (though in John Isner's case it may help). But what Sam brings to the equation is a well developed throwing motion. At the Stanford WTA tournament this past July, some of the pros (including Stosur) volunteered for a research project on serving mechanics and the kick serve.

Sam had the best kick serve in the research project, and truly she is known for the best kicker on tour as well. In discussion with her coach David Taylor as some of the footage was being examined, he mentioned that as a very young girl Sam had the unusual ability to spin the ball on her serve, and even make it kick at the age of 12. Taylor went on to suggest that few if any of the young international players (who will one day be our future
professionals) perfect their serves (read throwing motion) much less their kickers, but rather spend hours honing their ground games. And the hunch from this end is that these same youngsters (Stosur being a notable
exception) have under developed throwing motions.

Extremely deep racquet drop – Stosur doesn't force but rather is loose and lets it drop. The lower the racquet drop at this moment, the more distance the server has to accelerate the racquet head up and into the ball. Sampras was known for an extremely deep racquet drop as is Andy Roddick, two of the best servers of all time.

Before impact the racquet is below the ball and accelerating UP. The brushing action for topspin requires the racquet head to start below the ball as is shown here.

At impact the racquet is off line from the forearm. Much like Sampras, Federer, and all the great servers, the racquet is not extended in a straight line with the forearm at impact, but always off line.

After impact the racquet has continued to accelerate UP. To impart any type of topspin, whether on the forehand or the kick serve, the racquet head must brush up from below the ball and be moving upward against the ball at impact, as we see here.

Throwing is a pulling not a pushing maneuver. Interestingly, because of all the many soccer players in my neck of the woods (both boys and girls) have under developed throwing motions. I check by having them throw balls overhand across the net. Those with weak arms (throws) appear to push their hand and elbow through the release, those with live arms make this look more like a sling.

At the end of the day, loose will be your key. I am sure Samantha had a live arm as a young girl. Revisit the photos and video image above yet one more time, and use your mind’s eye to imagine if not see how she loosely throws the racquet up to the sky in her beautiful kick serve motion.

Your comments are welcome. Let us know what you think about Jim McLennan's article by emailing us here at TennisOne.