The Opposite Arm: Part 2

Key factors: the lift, angle, and extension of the opposite arm. In the first article, we looked at the use of the opposite arm in the groundstrokes. (Click Here.) Now I'll discuss what I feel is the correct usage of the opposite arm on the serve, overhead, the return of serve, and the volley. As in part one, all the descriptions will be for right-handers. Let's start with the serve! I mentioned in the first article that the forehand has the most incorrect uses of the opposite arm. Well, the serve is a very close second! For starters, the non-racket arm is the tossing arm, and poor tosses are the Achilles heel of many a player. A player's service swing model can be a thing of beauty, but if his tosses are consistently inaccurate, the model won't be utilized effectively. The Toss To what degree does the way you hold the ball affect the accuracy of your toss? There is a range of ways good tossers hold the ball in their hand, anyone of which may work for you. What's most important is the momentum or lift from the arm, followed by the angle of the arm, and also, the...