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Serving…Should you start by going up or down?

Dave Kensler – Peter Burwash International (PBI)

There are two basic approaches to how you start your serve. One approach is the classic style, where the racquet and ball tossing hands “go down together and up together.” A second approach is where both hands essentially move upwards to start the motion.

Arguably, the majority of players on the professional tour and general playing public use the first approach. Yet there are players, Nadal and Roddick come to mind immediately, who use the second approach and have very effective serves. Is one approach better than the other just because more players use it? When might someone want to use the second approach?

This comparison begs the question: If the end result is the same or similar then does the start matter? Or in other words, how important is the process to get to the final product?

Let’s begin with what is similar between the two motions

Similarities 

1. All the players begin with their two hands “together” and / or the ball tossing hand supporting the racquet head around the throat area. This helps keep the racquet hand relaxed.
   
   
2. At some point prior to contact, the hitting hand / wrist is bent downward and relaxed. For those who begin their motion by moving their hands down (Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray) this happens at the lowest “dropping point.” For Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick who use an upward motion, this happens at chest or shoulder level with their arms almost parallel to the ground.

3. I think the most interesting similarity prior to contact is that all the players eventually arrive at the classic “tennis trophy” pose with knees bent, ball tossing hand straight up, and tip of the racquet head pointing to the sky. Iin other words, the “U” position. At the point of contact the hitting hand / wrist is relaxed.

This would then lend itself to the argument that the starting motion has little to do with having an effective serve as long as someone is relaxed and arrives at the fundamental positions or reference points.

Note: The relaxation issue is important. There is not a sport I know of or have participated in which can be done well by being physically tense or tight.

Differences (Advantages?) 

Downward: The downward movement has the potential for a more deliberate and “gradual” motion. I use the word “potential” because some tennis players have a very fast start to their serves even when it begins downward. Perhaps it is a little easier to “slow down” with this motion when the serve is not working well. It allows for players to “take their time” when serving.

Upward: The upward motion may create fewer timing problems because the hands are “traveling” shorter distances from the start to the point of contact. An example of this might be serving when it is windy. Also, in theory, the opponent has less time to read and react to the serve. One of Roddick’s advantages (In my opinion) is that his “quick pitch” motion leaves the opponent with little reaction time to return his serve.

What About Power?

The average player may notice a difference with the ball speed of their serves between the two motions yet it is hard to argue for one or the other when analyzing the professionals.

Meaning, on the surface a downward start would seem to allow for more time to build up racquet head speed and thus eventually more power. Yet Roddick’s serve speed (Nadal is not too bad either!) with his upward start neutralizes this issue.

Another segment of the tennis playing population gives credibility to being able to hit a powerful serve while using an upward motion…Those in wheelchairs!

If you have had the good fortune of watching open level players at a wheelchair tennis tournament then you know, even with about half their bodies paralyzed; a lower point of contact due to being in a sitting position and using an upward motion (If they began by going downward their racquets would collide with parts of the wheelchair itself plus the racquet heads would hit the ground), they can still hit their serves over 100 mph!...Which also supports the importance of being relaxed at the point of contact!

When Would Someone Want To Use The Upward Motion?

If overall results with power, placement are negligible then why don’t we see more upward motion oriented serves at every level of play from recreational to the professional tour?

I think the reason has as much to do with “tradition” as anything else. When people first learn how to play tennis, most teaching professionals are going to have them start with the downward motion “because that is the way it has always been done” so to speak.

I do believe the biggest challenge with the upward motion is to keep your hitting hand / wrist relaxed. While I have seen plenty of tense serving motions which begin by going downward, the capacity is there to add relaxation. For the upward motion the tendency can often be for the racquet hand / wrist to become tight once we immediately “lift” or “raise” it to start the serve.

In my teaching career I have suggested the upward motion to students as it relates to two different situations:

1. A few years ago I was teaching a gentleman who experienced significant shoulder pain, to the point where he really was not able to serve, when using the downward motion. After five minutes using the upward motion, he was serving pain-free! Why? I am not claiming the upward motion to be some type of medical miracle but I think in his situation, the upward motion essentially eliminated the circular rotation of the shoulder joint from the “both hands go down together and then up together” approach which in turn eliminated his pain.
   
   

   Click photo: Murray has a nice start to his serve whereby his hitting hand / racquet go down immediately to begin his motion.

   An interesting aside here is the case of Maria Sharapova who, after shoulder surgery to repair a rotator cuff tear, went to the upward motion to alievate some of the stress. However, her serve seemed to suffer and she has since returned to the downward motion and has had better success. Time will tell if the shoulder will hold up.

2. They are frustrated and have reached a point in their thinking where “anything will be better than what they do now.” Some people learn more cautiously or with gradual implementation of a concept. Others are more risk takers and willing to try a new approach with little or no hesitation. Rather than analyze their serve (Which usually has already been done many many times by various teaching professionals) and in part to clear their mind mentally, I will say, “Let’s try a completely different start to your serve and see what happens!” This type of learning resonates with some people. Afterall, as they will remind me, worst case scenario is they can always return to their previous serve. So what does it hurt to try something different for a lesson or two or even a week of playing?

If you are looking to try to improve your serve, maybe how you begin your motion is a good starting point!

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

Dave Kensler has 28-years of teaching experience with Peter Burwash International (PBI), the highly successful international tennis management company. PBI directs tennis programs at exclusive hotels, resorts, and clubs in North America, Europe, Caribbean, Asia, Middle East, Pacific, Central America, Mexico, and the Indian Ocean. Over 3 million people have received instruction from PBI Professionals during the 35-year history of the company. All PBI Tennis Professionals play with PRINCE racquets and wear PRINCE shoes. For information on PBI tennis destinations and employment opportunities please go to www.pbitennis.com.