Phases of a Tennis Serve

1) Stance
2) Loading Phase
3) Ball Toss/ Striking
5) Follow Through
6) Ready Stance

Stance

The stance is need for proper placement of the feet and be aligned with the racket.

Shoulder girdle- Bilateral downward rotation of the Pectorials minor and Rhomboids

Shoulder joint- Bilateral adduction of the Subscapularis, Pectoralis Major lower fibers, Latissimus Dorsi, and Teres Major

Elbow and Radioulnar joints- Bilaterally slight flexion of the Brachialis and Brachioradialis

Hip joint-

·         Right side- slight extension of the Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus, and Semimembranosus

·         Left side- Slight extension of the Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Intermedius, and Vastus Lateralis

Knee joint-

·         Right side- Slight extension of the Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Intermedius, and Vastus Lateralis

·         Left side- Slight flexion of the Popliteus, Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus, and Semimembranosus

Loading Phase

This is the preperation period for striking. Right foot rocks back to ensure proper balance between ball conatct and feet.

Shoulder girdle-

·         Right side- Lateral tilt with abduction  of the Serratus Anterior

·         Left side-Anterior tilt of the Pectoralis Major

Shoulder joint-

·         Right side-Horizontal abduction of the Pectoralis Major upper and lower fibers, Coracobrachialis; Anterior, Middle, and Posterior Deltoid fibers; and Infraspinatus muscle

·         Left side- Flexion from the Deltiod Anterior fibers and Pectoralis Major upper fibers

Elbow and Radioulnar joints-

·         Left side- Extention and pronation of the Brachioradialis and Brachiali

·         Right side- Flexion and supination of the Brachioradialis and Brachiali

Hip joint-

·         Right side- slight extension of the Biceps femoris, Semitendinosus, and Semimembranosus

·         Left side- Slight extension of the Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Intermedius, and Vastus Lateralis

Knee joint-

·         Right side- Slight extension of the Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Intermedius, and Vastus Lateralis

·         Left side- Slight flexion of the Popliteus, Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus, and Semimembranosus

Ball contact/ Striking

While in preperation for striking, right arm will be extended above the head while the ball is being tossed.

Shoulder girdle-

·         Right side- Lateral tilt with abduction  of the Serratus anterior

·         Left side-Anterior tilt of the Pectoralis Major

Shoulder joint-

·         Right side-Horizontal abduction of the Pectoralis Major upper and lower fibers, Coracobrachialis; Anterior, Middle, and Posterior Deltoid fibers; and Infraspinatus muscle. Internal rotation of the Glenohumeral  joint

·         Left side- Flexion from the Deltiod Anterior fibers and Pectoralis Major upper fibers

Elbow and Radioulnar joints-

·         Left side- Extention and pronation of the Brachioradialis and Brachiali

·         Right side- Flexion and supination of the Brachioradialis and Brachiali and eccentric flexion of the Brachioradialis and Brachiali

Hip joint-

·         Right side- slight extension of the Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus, and Semimembranosus

·         Left side- Slight extension of the Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Intermedius, and Vastus Lateralis

Knee joint-

·         Right side- Slight extension of the Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Intermedius, and Vastus Lateralis

·         Left side- Slight flexion of the Popliteus, Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus, and Semimembranosus

Follow through

Follow through is needed so that the energy can leave your body through your hands and will not cause injury.

Shoulder girdle-

·         Right side- depression of the Pectoralis minor and downward rotation of the Serratus Anterior

·         Left side- downward rotation of the Pectoralis Minor and Rhomboids

Shoulder joint-
      ·         Right side- Diagonal adduction of the Pectoralis Major, Anterior Deltoid, and Coracobrachialis

·         Left side- adduction of the Latissimus Dorsi, Teres Major, and lower Pectoralis Major

Elbow and Radioulnar joints-

·         Right side- Pronation of the Brachioradialis and flexion of the Brachialis

·         Left side- Stable

Hip joint-

·         Right side- slight extension of the Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus, and Semimembranosus

·         Left side- Slight extension of the Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Intermedius, and Vastus Lateralis

Knee joint-

·         Right side- Slight extension of the Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Intermedius, and Vastus Lateralis

·         Left side- Slight flexion of the Popliteus, Biceps Femoris, Semitendinosus, and Semimembranosus

Ready Stance

Feet are planted to the floor and this is where you will get your energy form, starting at your feet and then working its way through your body up to your arms.

 

Shoulder girdle- Bilateral downward rotation and abduction of the Pectoralis Minor

Shoulder joint-  Bilateral diagonal adduction of the Pectoralis Major, Anterior Celtoid, and Coracobrachialis

Elbow and Radioulnar joints- Flexion of the Brachioradialis and Brachialis

Hip joint- Abduction of the Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Vastus Intermedius, and Vastus Lateralis

Knee joint- Flexion of the Biceps Femoris, Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus, Sartorius, Gracilis, Popliteus, and Gastrocnemius

Drills

·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqUDzYl2IJg

Demonstrates the kneeling and sitting exercises that help you take you lower body 'out of the way', so that you can focus on discovering how to incorporate pronation into your serve.

·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxvNcftCR7E&feature=channel

Demonstrates the importance of using your shoulder to initiate your serve's tossing motion.

·         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4krMsKbVV78

Demonstrates a drill on how to improve your natural fluidity with your serve motion to help produce more racket speed and spin

pictures

Stance

Loading phase

Ball contact/Striking

Follow Through

Ready Stance

video