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  5. The Serve: Part 4

The Serve: Part 4

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In Part 3 of the Winning Pretty series on the serve (click here), I went over the lower and upper body check points, as well a 5 stage method for serving the Winning Pretty way. In Part 4, we will conclude by going over the finish as well as the “Three Stop” model for serving. 10 more drills are provided to help develop your serve.

5. Finish

I spend a lot of time on the finishing details trying to help the player feel the correct amount of body lean forward into the court, the scorpion move kickback, and following-through near to the left pocket area. Research shows the upper body lean forward is about 45 degrees to horizontal in elite servers (1). In my experience, holding the scorpion pose for a few seconds as an exaggeration is a great way to work on balance, stability and athleticism.

The Three Stops

The three stop method has helped my students tremendously over the years and can assist the player in correctly synchronizing the racquet drop with the leg drive. The first stop is the start position. The second stop is the power position or L-shape. The third stop is the finish. I…

Image of Chris Lewit

Chris Lewit

Contributor

Chris Lewit is a leading high-performance coach, author, and educator. He is the author of the best-selling book Secrets of Spanish Tennis 2.0, and a new technique book, Winning Pretty, which can be preordered now, and will be released this spring/summer. He is also a contributing editor for Tennisplayer.net magazine and a long-time member of the RSPA and PTR. As an educator, he has presented at several large conferences, including the PTR International Tennis Symposium. Chris studied religion and literature at Cornell, Harvard, and Columbia, and is currently pursuing a PhD in kinesiology and biomechanics.

As a player, Chris Lewit played No. 1 for Cornell University and competed on the USTA and ITF pro circuits. As a coach, he has recently worked with several No. 1 junior players in the US and has trained hundreds of nationally ranked juniors. He directs a boutique full-time academy for homeschool/online players and a high-performance summer camp program, as well as high-performance training for all ages and levels, all at his club in the beautiful green mountains of Manchester, Vermont.

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