Hi James, very good and clear explanation. It helps a lot if you divide into right phase and left phase. This is by far the clearest concept and gives much orientation for players at several levels.
An excellent lesson, well explained, demonstrated and articulated…for me simplicity is the key to improving one’s tennis and this lesson is a perfect example…Very well done James 👍
This is a great video describing the right to left sequence. I always had trouble understanding this concept; however, with the way you broke it down I finally figured it out. It’s going to take me awhile before I can implement this action into my serve because of years of serving incorrectly and wrong muscle memory; but at least I now understand exactly what I’m supposed to do. Thanks James for this amazing video. I have watched many OTI videos and I even subscribed to the OTI serve course; however, this video changed my perspective on the “ right to left “movement.
This was super helpful. I was overcompensating on the "left", i.e. my left was going to far to the left which made the racket drop more behind my back vs. on the right side (I'm right-handed)! Thanks James!
Thanks James for the great video. The right-left concept and your explanation about the role of elbow totally fixed my misconception on how to carry out the serve.
By far the best explanation. Appreciate the idee of dividing the right to left in this two different parts. This make it more clear and easier to replicate.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Probably it will be an immediate game changer for. I serve pretty well, service ist the the last shot I think about. But for 3 months I’ve been struggling with it. After searching on many sites and YT videos I finally found yours. The swing path, you have showed is so enlightening (my natural swing path was front to back!). I tested it today, I had only have couple of shadow swings at home. On the court it felt awkward and I had to think about the motion (no muscle memory yet). But my opponent (I play often against him) was impressed not only by my first, but the second serve as well - and there only my first 2 hours with this technique. I only lost 1 service game (6 aces and many, many half -aces)! Power, precision and natural pronation. I do not know my NTRP ranking, but i suppose 4,5 maybe 5. You gave me on of the best tennis tips ever. Thanks and Happy Christmas.
when the racket head passes behind the head, behind the back and points towards the ground, the forearm has fully rotated (supination). The racket's upward movement then begins, stretching the arm, rotating the forearm (pronation) to touch the ball.
Hallo Florian, tausend Dank für den Tipp "bending the elbow". Ich bin schon immer mit meinem racket trop unzufrieden gewesen und war immer der Meinung, da geht noch mehr. Ich glaube, dieser Tipp ist der Schlüssel, zumindest bei mir. Werde ich gleich morgen ausprobieren. Danke für Euren Einsatz. LG, Z.
Most pros. Internal rotation followed by external rotation. Check Federer and Djokovic they don't go over the head but the side of the body from right to left.
thanks for the feedback Andy! James uses the continental grip for his serve...where his index knuckle and heel pad is on bevel no. 2. And the pronation will begin just before contact, you will pronate the forearm too contact after leading with the edge of the racket and will continue to pronation throughout the follow through and after contact. Any further questions please let us know! :)
Hello James, excellent instructions. I am watching few serve videos from different instructors and one motion I would like to clarify. Does the racket need to go over the head (i.e. hitting the Christmas hat) or does the racket goes behind the head when you are moving the racket from right to left as shown in your video. Thanks
U also got to tell people about two stances. Some can’t hit from a platform stance while others use the pin point. I move my back foot up to the line then finish.
Medvedev does not bend at the elbow. He completes the semi circle by going from right to left where the elbow is stable. He then turns and goes from back (down) to up (front).
Don’t bend the elbow like this. Keep a close to 90 degree angle in the arm and lead with the elbow. This will get the racquet to drop. If the angle in the arm collapses there is little power left. Side note: there is more than one way to serve.
I don’t agree with this isolated “bending at the elbow” concept. If you just bend the elbow from the half serve position, the racket would come into your chest. You are also externally rotating your shoulder.
You're 100% correct in terms of the shoulder externally rotating, and that's happening as the racket enters the racket drop. However, to initiate the right to left action and get the racket moving in the correct direction...you will start by bending the elbow and that will lead into the shoulder externally rotating. Any questions please let us know...thanks for the feedback! :)
In regard to the saluting that James talks about or the hit the party hat over your head by bending elbow. Moving racquet right to left -that other instructors talk about. - Well not all pro servers do this. For instance, Federer has a open faced racquet drop, his elbow comes up as his drops his racquet head as he rotates his shoulder toward court. His racquet is now on edge as he drives up on ball. There are other servers that start with the racquet on edge and not with strings facing down as they raise their elbow and drop racquet - turn shoulder etc. So there are other approaches available. Whatever works is fine.
As a PT, the ER of the shoulder is occurring more than is flexion of the elbow, even initially. They both occur together. It would be incorrect to isolate flexion only. The racket would hit the face if that was the case.
![[Tennis]Tips of the serve for not stressing a shoulder - Pro Tennis Lessons](/img/1.gif)
Hi James, very good and clear explanation. It helps a lot if you divide into right phase and left phase. This is by far the clearest concept and gives much orientation for players at several levels.
thank you for the great feedback! :)
An excellent lesson, well explained, demonstrated and articulated…for me simplicity is the key to improving one’s tennis and this lesson is a perfect example…Very well done James 👍
thanks for the kind words!! :)
This is a great video describing the right to left sequence. I always had trouble understanding this concept; however, with the way you broke it down I finally figured it out. It’s going to take me awhile before I can implement this action into my serve because of years of serving incorrectly and wrong muscle memory; but at least I now understand exactly what I’m supposed to do. Thanks James for this amazing video. I have watched many OTI videos and I even subscribed to the OTI serve course; however, this video changed my perspective on the “ right to left “movement.
Excellent video!
thanks for the feedback :)
This was super helpful. I was overcompensating on the "left", i.e. my left was going to far to the left which made the racket drop more behind my back vs. on the right side (I'm right-handed)! Thanks James!
I’m happy to helped you :) thanks for the feedback
thanks for the kind words!
Really helpful ! Thanks so much James - Great advice as always -
thanks Douglas! Much appreciated :)
Thanks James for the great video. The right-left concept and your explanation about the role of elbow totally fixed my misconception on how to carry out the serve.
no worries Taylor! :) thanks for the feedback
Very good lesson. He explained it well and kept it simple.
Thanks for the feedback Bill :)
thanks Bill
Very well put - thank you!
thanks for the feedback :)
By far the best explanation. Appreciate the idee of dividing the right to left in this two different parts. This make it more clear and easier to replicate.
Excellent Serve video James! Very informative and helpful!
Thanks Ross for the feedback :)
thanks Ross!!
Thanks!
no problem :)
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Probably it will be an immediate game changer for. I serve pretty well, service ist the the last shot I think about. But for 3 months I’ve been struggling with it. After searching on many sites and YT videos I finally found yours. The swing path, you have showed is so enlightening (my natural swing path was front to back!). I tested it today, I had only have couple of shadow swings at home. On the court it felt awkward and I had to think about the motion (no muscle memory yet). But my opponent (I play often against him) was impressed not only by my first, but the second serve as well - and there only my first 2 hours with this technique. I only lost 1 service game (6 aces and many, many half -aces)! Power, precision and natural pronation. I do not know my NTRP ranking, but i suppose 4,5 maybe 5.
You gave me on of the best tennis tips ever. Thanks and Happy Christmas.
when the racket head passes behind the head, behind the back and points towards the ground, the forearm has fully rotated (supination). The racket's upward movement then begins, stretching the arm, rotating the forearm (pronation) to touch the ball.
Terrific!. This is so wonderful detailed and explained.
thanks for the kind feedback! :)
Hallo Florian, tausend Dank für den Tipp "bending the elbow". Ich bin schon immer mit meinem racket trop unzufrieden gewesen und war immer der Meinung, da geht noch mehr. Ich glaube, dieser Tipp ist der Schlüssel, zumindest bei mir. Werde ich gleich morgen ausprobieren. Danke für Euren Einsatz. LG, Z.
Danke für die Rückmeldung :)
Thank you very much!! This was very useful for me because I hardly knew how to do a good service.
nice lesson, very helpful!
but in 0:05 you showed 2 swings which is better?
You just saved my tennis serve. Thank you very much
Most pros. Internal rotation followed by external rotation. Check Federer and Djokovic they don't go over the head but the side of the body from right to left.
top coach James !!! 👌👌
You're a good communicator! Question. What grip are you using? Also, where does pronation get involved here?
thanks for the feedback Andy! James uses the continental grip for his serve...where his index knuckle and heel pad is on bevel no. 2. And the pronation will begin just before contact, you will pronate the forearm too contact after leading with the edge of the racket and will continue to pronation throughout the follow through and after contact. Any further questions please let us know! :)
Very well explained! Thank you
Powerful!
thanks for the feedback :)
Great Content🔥🎾❤️🙏🙌💪
thanks for the kind words! :)
Hello James, excellent instructions. I am watching few serve videos from different instructors and one motion I would like to clarify. Does the racket need to go over the head (i.e. hitting the Christmas hat) or does the racket goes behind the head when you are moving the racket from right to left as shown in your video. Thanks
U also got to tell people about two stances. Some can’t hit from a platform stance while others use the pin point. I move my back foot up to the line then finish.
excellent point! We will look into making videos on this
Good cues
thanks for the feedback! :)
That's 10:21 minutes! But it's a big chapter for my upcoming persuasion till I retire? Oh, had I come through this earlier....... Thank you a lot.
Medvedev does not bend at the elbow. He completes the semi circle by going from right to left where the elbow is stable. He then turns and goes from back (down) to up (front).
This is great!
Nice video
Awesome!!!
Don’t bend the elbow like this. Keep a close to 90 degree angle in the arm and lead with the elbow. This will get the racquet to drop. If the angle in the arm collapses there is little power left.
Side note: there is more than one way to serve.
I don’t agree with this isolated “bending at the elbow” concept. If you just bend the elbow from the half serve position, the racket would come into your chest. You are also externally rotating your shoulder.
You're 100% correct in terms of the shoulder externally rotating, and that's happening as the racket enters the racket drop. However, to initiate the right to left action and get the racket moving in the correct direction...you will start by bending the elbow and that will lead into the shoulder externally rotating. Any questions please let us know...thanks for the feedback! :)
In regard to the saluting that James talks about or the hit the party hat over your head by bending elbow. Moving racquet right to left -that other instructors talk about. - Well not all pro servers do this. For instance, Federer has a open faced racquet drop, his elbow comes up as his drops his racquet head as he rotates his shoulder toward court. His racquet is now on edge as he drives up on ball. There are other servers that start with the racquet on edge and not with strings facing down as they raise their elbow and drop racquet - turn shoulder etc. So there are other approaches available. Whatever works is fine.
As a PT, the ER of the shoulder is occurring more than is flexion of the elbow, even initially. They both occur together. It would be incorrect to isolate flexion only. The racket would hit the face if that was the case.
Bend and lead would be better. I see what you’re saying. Lifting the elbow drops the racquet.
orrrrr, left to right if left-handed..
exactly Chris!! :)
like
thanks Jack :)
excellent excellent
thank you for the kind words :)
Hey pal I hope this chanel get you some money so you can buy tennis shoes and basket for balls