Wow. The “elbow going in the opposite direction” concept is awesome. It brings a totally different dynamic to the serve stroke. Thank you!!!

"Making a complicated game simple" Many thanks

Stunned again at how simply you have brought my game to a whole new level. It's not an 'ah HA' moment, it's a full-on 'OMG' moment! Thank you!

Great video Steve! I think this really gets to the heart of what is happening in a way that makes sense to people - whether they understand things visually, audibly, or kinesthetically. Most people don’t know the serve is a throwing action & NOT a hitting action, and even among the minority that “know” it in principle I’d guess most of those don’t truly understand it and/or believe it. So bravo for that. Minor quibble only: There are only 2 (or 4) types of contractions - concentric and eccentric. The 3rd you mentioned is called isometric (not icentric) which is just resisting against a force, and it’s a different dimension - an isometric hold can be done EITHER concentrically or eccentrically (or even both simultaneously, with different muscles). But for the purposes of this video (showcasing throwing vs hitting), there’s really no need to mention it at all. Super minor quibble: Eccentric contraction isn’t that uncommon (e.g. when walking, we push off our back foot more by lengthening the shin than by shortening the calf) but you’re right in that most conscious “effort” contractions probably tend to be dominated by concentric not eccentric. Most actions (and this is especially so for complex ones, like a tennis serve) actually involve both C & E in complementary muscles (e.g. biceps C & triceps E when picking up an object… and the opposite when pushing off a chair to stand up). So eccentric isn’t strictly for JUST throwing/explosive motions, but it isn’t a bad model to set up your explanation. I think the distinction you’re looking for is more “throw” vs “push” (than E vs C) - a swing can be done either way, except of course the throw is much, much more efficient… and as you rightly focus in on, the elbow counter/stop motion is a key difference. It’s true though that a hard throw will _always_ have an explosive E contraction, whereas a push-y swing may or may not be E dominant and that E contraction might or might not be explosive. Technical fudging aside, you get your point across well anyway, so maybe it doesn’t matter… but explaining it as throw/push may just be clearer anyway? Just a thought. Regardless, thanks for these… I love your content!

I've been playing tennis for 20 years and I have only begun to plunge and try to acquire the true serve technique in the past few months. Yes, it's quite a task to serve like the pros. But it works...if you are willing to persevere and accept the lows and the highs. The fun thing about tennis is that there is always something to improve. I totally get your point but I am happy to say that I don't need to do this trick. But thank you for giving me the scientific explanation of how this works. Now, what I need is to get the point of contact more precise to increase my first serve %. I still hit the tape too often for my liking. Any tips on this? I get it has something to do with the toss.

This produces the Sampras elbow finish! Excellent

Thank you so much for this I had no idea why I wasn't generating much power but then saw this

The only intelligent, educated tennis professional on KZfaq. Just your word choice, vocabulary and prosody is enough for me to subscribe. Thanks so much.

Fantastic video. Thank you for thoughtful content that's truly helpful.

This is excellent advice. Thank you

excelente clase profesor! gracias!!!

Great work Steve, thank you.

I wasn’t familiar with the term concentric contraction until now. I do this concentric contraction with my one handed backhand. It’s a backhand that I developed myself. And I haven’t seen any of the top players perform this particular backhand. They all do the traditional racquet take-back, step forward and swing. There’s no take-back in mine. I contract the upper right arm to my right shoulder. As a result of this contraction, the right elbow naturally rises which is what you want to happen. When the ball is in range, you explode and release and transfer all that contracted energy into the eccentric movement . The power and pace generated is enormous.

This solves a real problem for me. Thank you

Hello coach , I tried your training method on myself and it works well .thank you very much for your training tips

excellent advice and practice. also, as ever, brilliant thought process

will try this too!

This was absolutely spot on. Excellent way of explaining this concept from a kinesiology standpoint!

Superb!! Perfect for the snap action ..

Great explanation. I will try this elbow trick.

Great advice simple but true

good stuff ... smart guy

You are absolute genius 🙏

Great thanks 🙏

Boom! the sound of my mind being officially blown by this explanation. Hope it works the same way on my service : )

Appreciate this helpful, clear, step by step yet concise instructional of what is truly a complex movement. Will be watching for more professional videos that focus on key elements without the unnecessary commentaries I've seen on other channels.

Very good information 🤝

Thanks again. I can not wait for tonight my trainning evening, to execute your explanation.

This is fantastic. Thank you.

I once did this resp. it just happened by accident 😉 You can see that by focusing on Becker and Sampras‘ serve I guess. Another great video!

Thank you very much! God bless you!

I really like your elbow drill I finish this way occasionally but not on a regular basis. It reminds me of Pete Sampras is finished. Thanks again and I will definitely work on this

amazing suggestion! thanks

This guy is incredible. I think I may have to go to Spain.

Awesome

Subscribed -- Excellent tutorials.

Ntar dicoba, makasih om

Super 👍

I really appreciate your teaching....❤❤

good video

Love your channel and simple excavations...thank you...regardless of kick or slice serve the elbow stays back in both instances?

Thank. You

Great video, great technique thanks! I also learned a new word... Clumbersome. Clumsy and cumbersome 😁

It feels different indeed. It looks different, elbow is higher on its own. Need to automate this to a new habit.

Excellent advice presented with great clarity.

I added a firm LIKE though with some reservations. Afraid trying artificially to block the hitting arm elbow especially with another hand would eventually create a mess first in the mind. Though the whole idea and the principle seems to be great. A-la the Sampras serve 💪🏿

Do you do this movement for all 3 types of serves, flat, kick serve and slice?

Tennis Coach here. Could we rename you the Doctor of Tennis?

Sorry, but eccentric movement is the one in which the muscle elongates while contracting by an external force greater than the muscle strength, so in other words it’s the muscle working against the force which makes it elongate, muscle trying to slow down the force making it elongate, such as in legs quads when landing from a jump. The way you present it at the beginning of the video is as if the muscle had ability to elongate itself by contraction and generate force this way (as if saying it can do triceps’s work). This is of course false.

I hit a 140 mph serve without having listened to you because I can throw (I played pro baseball). You are promoting what is essentially physics nonsense. Yes, I'm also a physics professor.