Topic: The Serve

[monstertruck]

Ovg brought this up in another thread and I figured it was worth a poll.

What do you think and why?

Ovg-  "I'm techno challenged that's why I can't make a thread about the 1 serve idea,

but I'd sure like to know everyone's opinion on it."

[monstertruck]

I see someone voted for ATP only.

"You've come a long way baby!"

[swish]

I took 2 serves.

I wouldn't want such a fundamental change to the game.

[monstertruck]

2 for me as well.  I think it is critical to the game to have variety.  I think going to just one serve would contribute to the ongoing decline in variety in the game.

[Murrayfan11]

I'm with keep it as it is. While 1 serve would make it more challenging to hold serve without doing 2nd serves all the time, it would also lose variety. What would we do without a 1st serve? There would hardly be any aces anymore unless players took the risk to do a big serve.

[dmastous]

I'm with keep it as it is. While 1 serve would make it more challenging to hold serve without doing 2nd serves all the time, it would also lose variety. What would we do without a 1st serve? There would hardly be any aces anymore unless players took the risk to do a big serve.

It's interesting you bring up the return of serve. Many people point to the racquet technology and advances making the serve bigger and more powerful. Leading to more aces and more boring tennis.
But I recently read (and I think I commented on) an article that pointed out serve return statistics. It seems the technology has actually evened things about a bit. Returners today are having much better success than they did 15 years ago.

[Pacer]

My coach seems to think that tennis is slowly becoming a big man's game. So we were discussing it a bit and he believes since the taller dudes have a better trajectory, and therefore have bigger serves that are more consistent and reliable. That eventually as the game progresses and it becomes more of a big man's game the ATP may have to adopt this 1 serve policy to prevent serve domination and make the game more enjoyable for spectators.

[monstertruck]

My coach seems to think that tennis is slowly becoming a big man's game. So we were discussing it a bit and he believes since the taller dudes have a better trajectory, and therefore have bigger serves that are more consistent and reliable. That eventually as the game progresses and it becomes more of a big man's game the ATP may have to adopt this 1 serve policy to prevent serve domination and make the game more enjoyable for spectators.

I think it's interesting there is a discussion regarding possible attempts to limit the serve in the future but no such discussion on limiting the current epidemic of baseline bashing.

I've been using that smiley alot lately....

[Pacer]

Just for the record, I don't buy my coaches argument. I don't believe that tennis is becoming a big man's game. I've seen no evidence of that. I still hold that the ideal height for a tennis player is between 6 '1-6'3.

[dmastous]

My coach seems to think that tennis is slowly becoming a big man's game. So we were discussing it a bit and he believes since the taller dudes have a better trajectory, and therefore have bigger serves that are more consistent and reliable. That eventually as the game progresses and it becomes more of a big man's game the ATP may have to adopt this 1 serve policy to prevent serve domination and make the game more enjoyable for spectators.

I do think the additional topspin that players use is also a part of the discusion. I'm watch Querry give the ultimate topspinner trouble because of that. Tsonga beat him because of it, I believe. These balls are all bouncing right into Querry's sweetspot.

[Pacer]

My coach seems to think that tennis is slowly becoming a big man's game. So we were discussing it a bit and he believes since the taller dudes have a better trajectory, and therefore have bigger serves that are more consistent and reliable. That eventually as the game progresses and it becomes more of a big man's game the ATP may have to adopt this 1 serve policy to prevent serve domination and make the game more enjoyable for spectators.

I do think the additional topspin that players use is also a part of the discusion. I'm watch Querry give the ultimate topspinner trouble because of that. Tsonga beat him because of it, I believe. These balls are all bouncing right into Querry's sweetspot.

That's a good point. The big guys have an advantage on serve but also aren't as bothered by these high bouncing topspin balls because it just doesn't get as high up on them. And like you said much of the time it's in their target zone so they can stay on offense more often than other players.

[garion]

interesting answers.

i went with both atp/wta 1 serve. why? 'cause i have to be different. 

besides, it'll never happen. and if it did, i don't mind, I kind of hate the whole serve, serve, serve, serve... point is over game. It's very boring and even if rare, I don't want to see it. 

[wilsonboy]

I think they should fine players if they go over 140mph.lmao

[Babblelot]

I've thought about this too.

I had this pretty well thought out at one point, but now I see there are pros and cons and would probably change my vote to keep it as is.

Pros:
*IMO it would force players to construct points and develop all-court games. I think we'd see players with much more variety.

Cons:
*I'm afraid it would turn the ATP into the WTA-like breakfests.       If Cons out weigh the Pros, I'd leave things as they are. But I'd sure like to see it in WTT so we have a better understanding of exactly how it plays out.   

[The-Raw-Edge]

Just for the record, I don't buy my coaches argument. I don't believe that tennis is becoming a big man's game. I've seen no evidence of that. I still hold that the ideal height for a tennis player is between 6 '1-6'3.

Believe it or not, 6' 1"-6' 3" a BIG MAN.  The average man in USA 5' 9". 

[jeffrx]

No way on this change for me...I like 2 serves. 

[kickserve]

Just for the record, I don't buy my coaches argument. I don't believe that tennis is becoming a big man's game. I've seen no evidence of that. I still hold that the ideal height for a tennis player is between 6 '1-6'3.

Believe it or not, 6' 1"-6' 3" a BIG MAN.  The average man in USA 5' 9". 

Is that not the waistline?

[Babblelot]

Just for the record, I don't buy my coaches argument. I don't believe that tennis is becoming a big man's game. I've seen no evidence of that. I still hold that the ideal height for a tennis player is between 6 '1-6'3.

Believe it or not, 6' 1"-6' 3" a BIG MAN.  The average man in USA 5' 9". 

Is that not the waistline?

lol  Brits are some of the fattest creatures that have ever walked this planet.

[kickserve]

Just for the record, I don't buy my coaches argument. I don't believe that tennis is becoming a big man's game. I've seen no evidence of that. I still hold that the ideal height for a tennis player is between 6 '1-6'3.

Believe it or not, 6' 1"-6' 3" a BIG MAN.  The average man in USA 5' 9". 

Is that not the waistline?

lol  Brits are some of the fattest creatures that have ever walked this planet.

McDonalds. KFC. Burger King. TGI Fridays. What do they all have in common?

[Babblelot]

Just for the record, I don't buy my coaches argument. I don't believe that tennis is becoming a big man's game. I've seen no evidence of that. I still hold that the ideal height for a tennis player is between 6 '1-6'3.

Believe it or not, 6' 1"-6' 3" a BIG MAN.  The average man in USA 5' 9". 

Is that not the waistline?

lol  Brits are some of the fattest creatures that have ever walked this planet.

McDonalds. KFC. Burger King. TGI Fridays. What do they all have in common?

You find them on every corner in London.