The Three Service Rhythms: Part 2

In the first article in this series we introduced the concept of rhythm style in serving, and identified for the first time, the three rhythm styles in the pro game. These are: the Abbreviated Rhythm, the Staggered Rhythm, and the Classical Rhythm. (Click Here.)

We saw differences in the way these rhythm styles correlated with the height of the toss, the point at which the player releases the ball, and the timing from the release to the contact, based on the study of dozens of pro video clips.

Now in this second article we’ll investigate the consequences of each rhythm style for the rest of the technical elements. As you develop your service rhythm, it is important to realize that each rhythm has particular characteristics and effects that influence the rest of the motion.

These relationships between rhythm style and the other technical elements are far from absolute and their meaning at times may not be clear. But they need to be explored in understanding the complexities of the serve. Before doing that, though, let’s start with a detailed review of the 3 variations.

Abbreviated Rhythm

The Abbreviated Rhythm is characterized by a shortened backswing. This means that when the…