quick question about drive serves...

[lorenzovaldez]

my question is...some people have a drive serve that is very quick....when the ball bounces past the service line...its almost like the ball has spin and shoots back and comes at u fast, giving u less time to return...

now i hit the ball pretty hard... but on my drive it seems the ball really slows down when it hits first bounce....almost like it has slice spin or back spin....






is that kind of power serve just a result of a very lively arm? or is there some tech. involved there that i can learn?

[coachrball]

Hi Lorenzo-
Sounds to me you are hitting "down" on the ball instead of up. You are probably too close to the ball when hitting it. When struck properly the drive serve is hit from low to high, thus picking up speed because of natural topspin. Imagine a hula hoop--your legs are in one end of this hula hoop as you step--your racquet follows the path of the hula hoop (out and around-not up and down) and makes contact with the ball about shin high. As you roll your wrist over, the ball will have topspin and pick up speed as it crosses the short line. If you hit down on the ball, when it passes the short line it comes up. Now admittedly I have given you the Reader's Digest version-as ball drop and weight transfer issues are crucial as well---I have this illustrated in detail if you go to www.fugu.com and check out drive serve. Happy killshots!!
Coach W

[lorenzovaldez]

makes good sense...ur prolly right...i'm 6'3" which is maybe a cause of me being lazy and not getting low enough. and is y i'm hittin down on the ball....i will watch ur vid and work on it....

[lorenzovaldez]

so just so i understand....u should hit the ball about shin height...and the ball should hit the front wall higher or lower than the point of contact with the ball?

[coachrball]

Ball has to hit the front wall a little higher to get over the short line--when you hit "down" on the ball you will tend lose accuracy. More on this was posted on www.fugu.com.

[lorenzovaldez]

great vid...by the way....can't wait to actually get to practice it....i know the power is there....just need to get the tech. down...thanks coach..

[coachrball]

Tks Lorenzo-it is a little used resource and good info--type of info few get-- advanced stuff--also check out coaching programs at www.coachrball.com
Onward and upward!!

[InTheZone]

Dude...he just said your answer in the previous responce. READ what Jim is telling you. Do not hit down on the ball!!!