Hi guys! Let me know any kick serve technique questions. I will answer all questions personally. You can also send me your serve video clips to my WhatsApp 914-462-2912. Thanks!
I’m looking at clips for free right now on WhatsApp but we will be rolling out a membership level soon with regular WhatsApp connections for technique review with me. Also, regular consultation is available for people who buy my courses at the online school located at CLTA.teachable.com
Chris, this is truly the "deep dive" as promised. Apart from Salzenstein, it's one of the best instructional segments on the kick serve. Why? Well, first, you do not dismiss or overlook the "ulnar deviation," which, to me, almost concludes the kinetic chain on the serve. It's an essential component of any good serve, at least from my perspective. Next, when you think about it, it's difficult to bend the elbow on the service motion and not activate the tricep. Sure, I'll entertain a discussion on the degree or the amount of tricep involvement in the motion, but I will not discount it entirely from the conversation. Simply put, I believe your "deep dive" is spot on. I would add that we need a similar deep dive on the flat and slice serves. I hope you can fill that void too. Many thanks!
It would seem counterintuitive that the triceps is not activating during the serve but Brian Gordon PhD has argued that it has little activation due to factors of the stretch shortening cycle in the shoulder
I feel like so many sport instructors on youtube these days are just in it for the money. So glad to find out that you actually own a club and know what you're talking about ! Thank you so much, I signed my daughter up for your camp! 😊
Chris, I appreciate all your help! Staying sideways has already advanced my kick. But I want more “jump” on it. I’m convinced the eastern backhand grip will move me in that direction. Weather here has turned sour, so can’t send a video now but in California in January, so I’ll send you one then. It’s awesome that you offer this! Many thanks.
Chris, excellent as always! I’m trying to switch to an eastern backhand grip, but man, it feels awkward. Right now, I’m getting too little solid contact. So I guess the brushing action is probably working. Any further suggestions about how to progress with getting comfortable with the backhand grip? I’m determined to stick with it, for however long it takes!
Thanks! Yeah. It’s super tough. It’s going to feel bad for awhile. The key is ulnar movement and a whipping wrist. Try to practice that movement. Stick with it. DONT go back to the old grip. Send me video to my WhatsApp and I can give you more precise guidance. I have to see the serve motion to help. 914-462-2912 is my WhatsApp. Getting too little solid hit is awesome. That’s a start. Work from there rather than from the opposite end of the spectrum-too much solid flat hit.
It’s an interesting device. I have not tried it. It looks promising. Have you tried it? A feedback device for racquet speed and topspin is a good concept. But I’m saying that you can listen for the actual scraping sound and friction of the strings. You may not need a device like this. I would like to demo this device. I like technology applied to sports. I’m studying this in kinesiology school.
The real interesting mystery of the forehand for example is how spin is generated in the different swing types and how much if any wrist involvement there is!!! Same mystery on the serve!
Professional and inspirational! This really makes me want to come back to the world’s best sport, tennis!!! With every kick shot you make, I think of my childhood, when my uncle raised me up playing tennis. Your topspin is simply majestic, that beautiful form and smooth voice explaining every detail will surely help create the new generation of top athletes. Thank you for being such an amazing coach in the world of tennis social media.🎉
Thank you my friend. I’m not sure I understand the question. Maybe you can rephrase it. The racquet is tilted to the side when hitting a kick serve near impact. Hope that helps
There is usually pronation on high speed slice serves of the pros. High speed video research supports this. But I never teach pronation when teaching the slice.
@ChrisLewit Yes he does have a very good kick, but if I copy the way his arm finishes, I can't do that without hurting, whereas, it's natural to finish like Edberg and Sampras, with bent elbow.
@tomsd8656 I tend to agree with you. I do the dirty diaper finish as Jeff Salzenstein recommends too. But some coaches focus on the straighter arm finish.
the biggest problem is that most people change the motion for a first and second serve and thats were they loose a lot of speed. the motion of first and second is the same but without rotation !! thats why you see alot of pronation with a good second serve!! the 2 differences ( lets call them that ) is the toss position and bodyrotation
@@ChrisLewit the swing path may not be so different as you think , it all depends on how you look at it !! If you look at direction then yes but if you look at the movement itself ( the throwing action ) then not so much . In both serves the elbow kicks inside but one with and the other without body turn 🤔🤔 think about that and let me know if you understand were I’m going at
@@ChrisLewit the difference with grip is that you get into the ball from another angle which will create that kick ( to the right ) and makes you make more pronation
That’s a great question. I believe the high speed video research shows that some high level players, especially some pro females do not pronate on the kick serve. ATP men at high speed typically do pronate but not all of them. If there is pronation before the impact, my view is it’s minimal. The pronation that you see in high speed video is most pronounced post impact. You have keyed in on one of those tennis mystery questions. My main point is that you shouldn’t think about pronation when learning the whip and brushing action. Let the pronation happen if it does at all. Same thing on a slice serve. Some pros pronate after a slice, but I never think about that or teach that to students.
@@ChrisLewit ok. I asked because both Samantha Stosur and Roger Federer pronate when they kick . I do too because the speed of my serve is better when I fully pronate after contact (flat, slice or kick).
@johnlamarck2504 Thanks. Do you mean the speed of your serve is better when you think about pronating on the finish? I will check Stosur and Fed. From my memory I think you are right.
Good video, Chris. Although your talk is easy to follow and all makes sense I think it might be worthwhile shortening your videos with less talking. People usually don’t watch long videos.
Thanks for the feedback. We are doing a drill here lately with a double hop on the left foot landing so sometimes people are saying that looks unbalanced. But that’s a specific technical exercise we do a lot here and I have been demoing it to all my students. When I play for real, that double hop exaggeration goes away and I think my body opens up slightly more than the exaggeration closed for demonstration purposes. Keep that in mind. Do you mean painful for the back or shoulder? I have been lucky to avoid any back or shoulder injuries. I do a lot of injury prevention and mobility work and I recommend that to anyone who wants to kick serve and stay healthy.
I hate to be harsh but this is one of the worst kick serve vids ive seen. I can tell you why your student struggle if this is the advice they get! I just do not understand why tennis instruction includes going over the ball, around the ball, keeping your racket on the ball as long as possible ..... NONE OF THAT HAPPENS. The mechanics of the kick are very simple. Racket head speed is key. 31 minutes for 5 minutes of advice.
Never once in this video did I say go over the ball around the ball or hold the ball on your strings. Not once have I said that. The mechanics of the kick serve are not simple and it’s the hardest shot in tennis to learn.
I don’t wear a wrist brace. I have a wrap to keep my wrist warm. That’s all. I don’t have any wrist problems or injuries. And even if I did, my personal medical condition has no bearing on my recommendations based on years working with thousands of players and research studies.
Hi guys! Let me know any kick serve technique questions. I will answer all questions personally. You can also send me your serve video clips to my WhatsApp 914-462-2912.
Thanks!
@@ChrisLewit this is local telephone number , from other countries you need to put a country number in front ( which one ?? )
Usually plus 1
I’m looking at clips for free right now on WhatsApp but we will be rolling out a membership level soon with regular WhatsApp connections for technique review with me. Also, regular consultation is available for people who buy my courses at the online school located at CLTA.teachable.com
Chris, this is truly the "deep dive" as promised. Apart from Salzenstein, it's one of the best instructional segments on the kick serve. Why? Well, first, you do not dismiss or overlook the "ulnar deviation," which, to me, almost concludes the kinetic chain on the serve. It's an essential component of any good serve, at least from my perspective. Next, when you think about it, it's difficult to bend the elbow on the service motion and not activate the tricep. Sure, I'll entertain a discussion on the degree or the amount of tricep involvement in the motion, but I will not discount it entirely from the conversation. Simply put, I believe your "deep dive" is spot on. I would add that we need a similar deep dive on the flat and slice serves. I hope you can fill that void too. Many thanks!
Thanks for this. Yes actually I would like to make a slice serve video soon
It would seem counterintuitive that the triceps is not activating during the serve but Brian Gordon PhD has argued that it has little activation due to factors of the stretch shortening cycle in the shoulder
Thank you for the tips, helps me a lot👏
Thank you my friend!
This helped me fix my serve!!
Thank you!
I feel like so many sport instructors on youtube these days are just in it for the money. So glad to find out that you actually own a club and know what you're talking about ! Thank you so much, I signed my daughter up for your camp! 😊
Thank you. I appreciate these comments. We try to keep it REAL!
@@ChrisLewit Rebecca Lewit signed her daughter up to Chris Lewit's tennis camp.😊
Now I finally get why I couldn't master the kick serve!! Loved your video!
Thank you. Let me know any questions.
awesome video
Thank you!
great video
Deep dive!
Chris, I appreciate all your help! Staying sideways has already advanced my kick. But I want more “jump” on it. I’m convinced the eastern backhand grip will move me in that direction. Weather here has turned sour, so can’t send a video now but in California in January, so I’ll send you one then. It’s awesome that you offer this! Many thanks.
Just trying to help. It’s a really hard serve that most people fail to learn fully. Staying sideways is a huge element. So important.
Grip also really really important.
Great in-depth look at the kick serve!
Thank you very much! Let me know any questions my friend.
really helpful tips on how to fix my kick serve
Yes!
Thank you for the tips!
Thank you so much
Very helpful video thank you
I just subscribed. I like your teaching style. Thanks.
Thank you my brother!
Thanks Chris. Very informative.. appreciate the detail and for sharing your thinking on the why..
Thanks very much. Let me know any questions.
Chris, excellent as always! I’m trying to switch to an eastern backhand grip, but man, it feels awkward. Right now, I’m getting too little solid contact. So I guess the brushing action is probably working. Any further suggestions about how to progress with getting comfortable with the backhand grip? I’m determined to stick with it, for however long it takes!
Thanks! Yeah. It’s super tough. It’s going to feel bad for awhile. The key is ulnar movement and a whipping wrist. Try to practice that movement. Stick with it. DONT go back to the old grip. Send me video to my WhatsApp and I can give you more precise guidance. I have to see the serve motion to help. 914-462-2912 is my WhatsApp.
Getting too little solid hit is awesome. That’s a start. Work from there rather than from the opposite end of the spectrum-too much solid flat hit.
Do that practice drill I showed where you hold the ball up with left hand and practice the wrist movement.
thanks Chris, good job, a lot of secrets for free.👍
Thank you my friend.
Really helpful! 😀
Thank you. Hope it helps you a lot
Thanks for your video. What do you think of the spivo whistle to train on top spin?
It’s an interesting device. I have not tried it. It looks promising. Have you tried it? A feedback device for racquet speed and topspin is a good concept. But I’m saying that you can listen for the actual scraping sound and friction of the strings. You may not need a device like this. I would like to demo this device. I like technology applied to sports. I’m studying this in kinesiology school.
The real interesting mystery of the forehand for example is how spin is generated in the different swing types and how much if any wrist involvement there is!!! Same mystery on the serve!
Professional and inspirational! This really makes me want to come back to the world’s best sport, tennis!!! With every kick shot you make, I think of my childhood, when my uncle raised me up playing tennis. Your topspin is simply majestic, that beautiful form and smooth voice explaining every detail will surely help create the new generation of top athletes. Thank you for being such an amazing coach in the world of tennis social media.🎉
Really appreciate this. Thanks!
Chris, the ball must be hit behind or at the top. When the racket hits the ball, is it perpendicular or tilted? Thanks Pino
Thank you my friend. I’m not sure I understand the question. Maybe you can rephrase it. The racquet is tilted to the side when hitting a kick serve near impact. Hope that helps
Less talk & more demo , get straight to the topic , action speaks louder than words !😊
I hear that brother but this is also a deep dive into some important biomechanical and technical nuances. Sorry for that.
Is it better to record from behind or from the side?
I like from the chest side.
For slice and flat we don't need bevel 1 and no pronation, right? just normal continental (2) and full pronation?
There is pronation on the slice and flat. You can use bevel 2 or between 1/2
There is usually pronation on high speed slice serves of the pros. High speed video research supports this. But I never teach pronation when teaching the slice.
Looking at Federer, it's hard to understand how he did his kick serve. I learned from Edberg and later Sampras. They were around my generation.
Fed had a very good kick. Ed berg was one of my favorite players and he had a kick technique very similar to what I am advocating
@ChrisLewit Yes he does have a very good kick, but if I copy the way his arm finishes, I can't do that without hurting, whereas, it's natural to finish like Edberg and Sampras, with bent elbow.
@tomsd8656 I tend to agree with you. I do the dirty diaper finish as Jeff Salzenstein recommends too. But some coaches focus on the straighter arm finish.
the biggest problem is that most people change the motion for a first and second serve and thats were they loose a lot of speed. the motion of first and second is the same but without rotation !! thats why you see alot of pronation with a good second serve!! the 2 differences ( lets call them that ) is the toss position and bodyrotation
Thanks. The swing path is different. Sometimes the grip is different too
The acceleration is really important as you mentioned.
@@ChrisLewit the swing path may not be so different as you think , it all depends on how you look at it !! If you look at direction then yes but if you look at the movement itself ( the throwing action ) then not so much .
In both serves the elbow kicks inside but one with and the other without body turn 🤔🤔 think about that and let me know if you understand were I’m going at
@@ChrisLewit the difference with grip is that you get into the ball from another angle which will create that kick ( to the right ) and makes you make more pronation
@foxyonthrottle690 ok brother I will think about it!
Is there any pronation with the kick serve ? Because it seems there's not with yours.
That’s a great question. I believe the high speed video research shows that some high level players, especially some pro females do not pronate on the kick serve. ATP men at high speed typically do pronate but not all of them. If there is pronation before the impact, my view is it’s minimal. The pronation that you see in high speed video is most pronounced post impact. You have keyed in on one of those tennis mystery questions. My main point is that you shouldn’t think about pronation when learning the whip and brushing action. Let the pronation happen if it does at all. Same thing on a slice serve. Some pros pronate after a slice, but I never think about that or teach that to students.
At my max swing speed I may pronate more. Presumably as we get older and our swing speeds reduce naturally pronation post- impact may decrease.
@@ChrisLewit ok. I asked because both Samantha Stosur and Roger Federer pronate when they kick . I do too because the speed of my serve is better when I fully pronate after contact (flat, slice or kick).
@johnlamarck2504 Thanks. Do you mean the speed of your serve is better when you think about pronating on the finish? I will check Stosur and Fed. From my memory I think you are right.
So it's "grip it and whip it" 😃😃😃😃
Yes. Vamos!
hense same as pronation
Thanks for sharing.
Good video, Chris. Although your talk is easy to follow and all makes sense I think it might be worthwhile shortening your videos with less talking. People usually don’t watch long videos.
Thank you my friend. My son tells me the same advice. Will work on it!
Man, the way you do your kick looks painful man and unbalanced. But hey, I’m just a viewer and not a creator.
Thanks for the feedback. We are doing a drill here lately with a double hop on the left foot landing so sometimes people are saying that looks unbalanced. But that’s a specific technical exercise we do a lot here and I have been demoing it to all my students. When I play for real, that double hop exaggeration goes away and I think my body opens up slightly more than the exaggeration closed for demonstration purposes. Keep that in mind. Do you mean painful for the back or shoulder? I have been lucky to avoid any back or shoulder injuries. I do a lot of injury prevention and mobility work and I recommend that to anyone who wants to kick serve and stay healthy.
I hate to be harsh but this is one of the worst kick serve vids ive seen. I can tell you why your student struggle if this is the advice they get! I just do not understand why tennis instruction includes going over the ball, around the ball, keeping your racket on the ball as long as possible ..... NONE OF THAT HAPPENS. The mechanics of the kick are very simple. Racket head speed is key. 31 minutes for 5 minutes of advice.
Never once in this video did I say go over the ball around the ball or hold the ball on your strings. Not once have I said that. The mechanics of the kick serve are not simple and it’s the hardest shot in tennis to learn.
Why would I take instructions on the wrist snap from someone wearing the mother of all wrist braces 🫤. Thank you, but no.
I don’t wear a wrist brace. I have a wrap to keep my wrist warm. That’s all. I don’t have any wrist problems or injuries. And even if I did, my personal medical condition has no bearing on my recommendations based on years working with thousands of players and research studies.
Very helpful, thank you!
Thank you!