Why Your Serve Is Getting Worse — And It Has Nothing to Do With Your Arm I John Craig

Comments · 49

• SE

  @SeniorTennisUnpacked · 5 months ago · pinned

  Still squeezing that racket like it owes you money? 🎾💀 Drop a 👋 in the comments if John just called you out.

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• CP

  @cp4christo · 10 days ago

  The ball toss is the most difficult part of the serve and it's timing

• FS

  @fsilber330 · 3 months ago

  I find there is a massive number of videos to help people move to the continental grip, but precious few that deal with the problem of not having any whip with the racket.

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• MR

  @MrHitthespot · 1 month ago

  This explained my serve perfectly.  I started playing 4 years ago at 64.   Still using a pancake serve.  It is hard, low to the ground and hard to return.  However, It is destroying my elbow.  Everytime I try to serve correctly, it feels like I’m trying yoga for the first time in my life.  I have to learn to do it correctly.

• FS

  @fsilber330 · 5 months ago

  Some seniors may lack the strength to leap out of a deep knee bend on the serve.  For me, the problem was that a deep knee bend required balancing on the balls of the feet while looking up towards the sky -- and I just couldn't  do that.   My limited serve improved when I focused on staying balanced -- even if that meant keeping both feet flat on the ground.

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• P1

  @P1Brand · 5 months ago

  Great episode. I have learned a lot from John’s videos and tutorials, not just technique but comprehension of the entire serve sequence

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• MI

  @michaelsheedy · 4 months ago

  I would say it's the legs as that is where player gets the strength. And tennis is hard on the knees over time. When seniors quit playing, it's usually because their legs are "dead." Some shoulders where senior serves underhanded with lots of spin.

• TI

  @timothyr.miller5462 · 5 months ago

  Mike, this episode is a perfect example of why we need advice tailored for older players. Thank you!

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• MI

  @michaelsheedy · 4 months ago

  I have an old man serve from time to time, and then other times I have lots of pop and can move it around and go after it on 2nd serve also. Usually the tip off is my toss. Then I chase the ball and everything breaks down and no confidence on 2nd serve other than spin it in to returners forehand.

• JI

  @jimj7333 · 4 months ago

  I’m 72.   The legs are far over rated for serving.   We’ve all seen coaches sitting in a chair hitting a fast great serve. We’ve seen coaches hitting serves from their knees.  I’ve seen Pete turn around after looking into the camera and hit a beautiful fast serve. No Legs.So how do they hit good serves without using their legs?  Excellent upper body technique. That’s something most seniors can learn and improve.

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• AR

  @arnaldo_tenis · 4 months ago

  fantastic tips JOHN gave us on this chat, it was cristal clear and 100% righ,  thanks MIKE for bringing him - I´m 72yrs and still struggling with my body on tennis court

• MA

  @marktace1 · 5 months ago (edited)

  It isn’t about jumping, it is about leg drive. &nbsp;The upward movement adds to the shoulder external rotation stretch. &nbsp;Jumping is a side effect of driving upward. &nbsp;I had a couple HS players who jumped for the sake of jumping and it added nothing to their serves. &nbsp;The key is to be accelerating upwards during the racquet drop. &nbsp;Once you leave the ground you are no longer accelerating upwards. &nbsp;So all of the leg drive benefit from a serve speed standpoint happens before you leave the ground. &nbsp;Of course if you accelerate upwards enough you’ll leave the ground, but as seniors we don’t get high enough to see any significant accuracy gains. &nbsp;Bottom line - drive up as fast as your body will let you and don’t worry if you don’t get off the ground or if you only get a few inches in the air.<br><br>Reduced racquet drop is common with age. &nbsp;Look at Roger Clemens external rotation early in his career vs. later in his career. &nbsp;Big difference. &nbsp;However, as long as you are activating the stretch shortening cycle you are still getting a benefit even if you don’t have full racquet drop.

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