|
Juniors Lessons
Head Weight=Bigger Servesby Jack W. Broudy"Snap your wrist for more power on your serve." That is one of the biggest misconceptions in tennis teaching today. Of course, it's a true statement, but it's not the means--it's the end. Most juniors who focus on snapping their wrist on the serve have an unsolid hit at best, and a high percentage of double faults (and plenty of marks on their shin) at worst. What does it mean: "Snap your wrist?" When do you snap it? Where do you snap it? How exactly do you snap it? You'll notice if you focus on this cliche when you serve or hit overheads that you'll end up hitting off the top of your frame a lot. Sometimes you'll even pull completely under the ball and whiff--that is, not make contact at all. Try a method that works. What you really want to do for more power is create more leverage with your racquet when you hit the ball. The same principle behind using a longer or heavier hammer to drive a nail can be applied when hitting the serve. The more weight you can create in the racquet head, the harder you can hit the serve, and the more your wrist will naturally "snap" upon contact. One way to create more head weight is by holding the racquet as low as you can without losing it. Try letting your little finger off the grip, or half off. You won't lose your racquet, although you will probably think that will happen. Don't even swing as hard, and let the racquet head just "klunk" on the "back of the ball." Try not to steer the racquet face--just throw it at the back of the ball--the part of the ball that is facing the fence behind you. Feel the head weight created by holding the racquet so low. You can also try using your imagination. Pretend that the head of your racquet weighs 50 lbs. and the handle and throat are just several ounces--similar to a sledge-hammer. Let the head dangle at the beginning and throughout the serve. Feel how the heavy head trails throughout the serve and then leads and is flung at the ball. Remember, as reckless as I want you to be with the racquet head, make sure you see it hit the back of the ball. Good practice: Find an open field (or a golf course), and throw your racquet as high and far as you can. Do this a few times, really feeling the weight build in the head. Head weight is accountable for at least 80% of your serves power and spin, and it makes more sense than snapping your wrist. The more weight you can create in the head, the harder you can serve. You don't even have to be particularly strong to hit a hard serve. Reminder: Leave your eyes up and see the contact
with the back of the ball. Try to see the actual
hit. In fact, it's best to keep your eyes up past the contact point. Most
players will tighten up and pull their racquet head and their own head down,
causing either a serve to go in the net or a mishit off the top of their
racquet. In fact, "snapping your wrist" also fosters pulling your
eyes and head down and causes you to hit on the downswing. The power comes
from the racquet head weight and speed as it gets to the ball, not after
the ball leaves your strings. So throw your racquet head at the ball with
a heavy head, and your wrist will take care of snapping itself, naturally. Send email to the author We encourage you to email your comments (pro, con, appreciative, whatever)
directly to the author. To send email to Jack Broudy, click
here. Back to TennisONE Home Page webmaster@tennisone.com
|
