This entry was posted on 4/15/2008 12:07 PM and is filed under Serve.
When you understand how to produce spin for your 2nd serve, you solve your two basic challenges when serving (#1 getting the ball safely over the top of the net, and then #2, having the ball curve back down safely inside the service line).
And the truth is, the better spin you can produce, "better" meaning a specific direction that the ball is spinning as it leaves your racket and how quickly that spin is rotating, well, you'll be one very happy tennis player...!
To produce a good tight spin on your 2nd serve, your body position at contact has to be fairly "closed", meaning that you can't open your shoulders too early and be facing forward at contact or you won't be able to generate a spin that can solve your two challenges (over the net and then back into the service box).
Check out the video below to see what I mean...
Brent's downloadable and DVD "The 3 Magic Moves of the Tennis Serve"
6/9/2008 12:09 PM
Steve wrote:
Yup. It works. It is also simple. My second serve has improved a lot, which gives me more confidence on the first serve.
6/10/2008 11:38 AM
1 Brent Abel wrote:
There is no question that if you know you have a dependable 2nd serve, your first serve will automatically get better.
Confidence in knowing that you have the freedom to miss is an intagible that will have tangible positives throughout your entire game.
6/11/2008 11:48 AM
Norman Frey wrote:
I believe that Roger has not fully recovered from the mono he suffered and simply does not have the energy needed to perform the way he is normally capable of.
It's still about footwork and getting to the ball early especially on clay where long rallies are the norm.
When your energy level is low it's difficult if not impossible to force yourself to take that quick first step and attack the ball.
You tend to get lazy and play too conservatively not even bending your knees and loading up properly to stroke the ball which results in many unforced errors. Reply to this
6/11/2008 1:09 PM
1 Brent Abel wrote:
Maybe, but at least try something different especially if you're not 100% healthy.
Beating Nadal on the red clay at the French has not happened yet.
What's his record there, 28-0?
So, I guess in theory you'd have to be something like 150% to take him down. I don't know the exact percentage, but no one has done it yet trying to outdo Nadal at what he does so well.
If I'm not 100% healthy, then my only chace is to try something different.
Repeating the same strategy when it isn't working is foolish.
I just feel that a change in strategy without cross training to correct the physical problems and without more practice/preparation on clay would yield the same result.
6/12/2008 10:27 AM
1 Brent Abel wrote:
The chances are probably good that you're right, BUT, there's nothing to lose by trying, and even though you might lose that specific match, you might gain some insight for a future match...
