17 March 2012
Why do so many tennis players have rotten serves?
By Bob Tremblay
As someone who has played tennis since 1968, taught tennis for 10 years and watched professional tennis for four decades, I am constantly astounded by how horrific the service games are of so many club players and even professionals.
Anyone who ever saw Elena Dementieva try to serve witnessed one of the sorriest spectacles in sports. This is a player who reached no. 3 in world rankings, won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics and was a finalist at the French Open and U.S. Open. And her serve was abysmal. Imagine how much more successful her career would have been if she had just a decent serve. She's not alone, of course. Many women pros struggle with their serve these days as double faults and service breaks have almost become de rigueur. That's what happens when you spend all your time at the baseline. The men have their issues, too.
Why do some players have better serves than others? Is it size, technique, talent, attitude? Why does Roger Federer have a better serve than Rafael Nadal, who is clearly more muscular than Roger? Both are 6'1". Both are immensely talented. Submit your rationale.
When all things are equal, the serve can be a game changer. Just ask Pete Sampras and Martina Navratilova. Think Pete would have won all those titles playing from the baseline? Ditto for Martina. Think how many more titles Andre Agassi and Chris Evert would have won if they did. Or if they had better serves. Serena and Venus Williams owe much of their success to a powerful service game. A strong serve not only saves a player's energy thanks to quick points, it puts pressure on the opponent to hold serve, knowing a service break can spell defeat. The serve's importance becomes magnified in tie-breakers. You can botch nearly every one of your return of serves, hit a slew of unforced errors and still win the set with service aces and winners. While a powerful serve is no guarantee of victory --- players with subpar groundstrokes, poor footwork and bad attitudes can only ride a booming serve so far against the top players --- it doesn't hurt.
Considering the serve's importance and the fact that the serve is the one shot you have complete control over, you would think more people would devote more time to improving it. Club players spend so many hours on their groundstrokes they typically neglect the serve. They're just happy to get the ball in play and take it from there. Of course, if they run into an opponent with a good return of serve, they're going to be in trouble. As a former tennis teacher, I am appalled at how poor the service techniques are of the average tennis player. Science-fiction motions, pattycake deliveries.
Folks, there's only one way to serve and that's the way the pros do it. Well, most of them. Granted, this is not easy to do --- just ask Elena --- as you need to learn proper balance, develop a good ball toss and master the stroke that gives the ball its speed and spin. Concentration is also a must. But if I can do it, anyone can do it. Take a few lessons and get a bunch of balls and practice, practice, practice. Obviously all the lessons and practice in the world isn't going to help the club player lacking in the coordination and strength departments. But developing a good serve is definitely a lot easier than trying to hit overheads in a gusty wind, topsin lobs and swinging volleys.
So, all you club players out there, if your serve is delivered like a pattycake, take a lesson or two --- or three --- and learn to hit a proper serve. You'll be happy you did, and your opponents won't be.