Serving - To Jump or not to Jump?
by: Dave Winship @ On The Line

If you watch the top players, you'll notice that they bend their knees and store a load of energy in their leg muscles before releasing the energy by pushing up from the ground as they extend up to serve. It's a powerful extension, but not a jump.

These guys are great athletes. If they wanted to jump, they could probably clear the ground by a couple of feet - even from a stationary starting position. Yes, their feet leave the ground, but only by an inch or two. They produce a powerful propulsion upwards towards the ball, but they keep their balance strictly under control, landing (usually on the front foot) in a manner that's more akin to a hop than a jump.

Try and emulate your favorite server by releasing the ball slightly to your right (assuming you're right-handed), slightly in front of you and high enough for a full extension of your body and serving arm. Slightly coil your body and bend your knees to load up with energy under the ball ready to drive up towards it, simultaneously throwing the racket up and out towards the contact point.

Hop - but skip the jump!

Regards.

Dave Winship