Why your serves have no power

Tip of the day

Coach Austin Hardy explains why the common advice to "brush up" the ball for topspin often backfires, leading to stiff mechanics and a significant loss of serving power.

Focusing strictly on a low-to-high vertical motion makes it difficult to time the shot and fails to generate the necessary forward momentum.

The most effective serving technique follows a "Nike swish" pattern, starting with the paddle tip up before moving down, out, and finally up.

Choosing between a closed stance and an open stance is a matter of personal preference, as both can produce elite levels of power through hip rotation.

A slight knee bend is superior to a deep squat because it allows for a more explosive spring and better energy transfer through the kinetic chain.

Toss the ball both out in front and slightly to the side to ensure your arm is fully extended at the optimal point of contact.

Your non-dominant arm should pull in toward your body after the toss to help uncoil your shoulders and accelerate the paddle forward.

The paddle face should be completely vertical at the moment of contact, which is achieved by keeping the wrist cocked back until the strike.

Instead of thinking "brush up," think "out and up" at a 45-degree angle to combine heavy pace with the topspin needed to keep the ball in.

Staying relaxed throughout the swing creates a whip-like effect, allowing the paddle to "slap" the ball for maximum speed and consistency.

Key Points:

  • Replace the traditional low-to-high brush with an out-and-up motion to maximize both power and topspin.

  • Maintain a slight knee bend for better explosive movement rather than losing energy in a deep squat.

  • Position your toss to allow for full arm extension in a strike zone that is both in front and to the side.

  • Pull your non-dominant arm in toward your ribs during the swing to facilitate a more powerful shoulder rotation.

  • Keep your wrist relaxed at the point of contact to create a natural "snap" that adds significant velocity to the serve.

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Happy pickling,

Paul