Jorge, could you please make a video with instructions/drills how to improve specific segments of the serve (ball toss, racket path, pronation etc) Thanks
1. In the case of absolute beginners including adults, I teach them the continental grip from day 1. I start them off at the service line. So, their first memory is of the ball clearing the net, and they never have the disappointing thought of ‘Gee, this doesn’t work,’ because they have nothing to compare it against. And every time they make 2 serves in a row, I have them back up a couple of steps. They get to the baseline with a continental grip fairly quickly.
2. In the case of beginners who learnt to play on their own, I change their grip from the forehand (panhandle) grip to continental (hammer) grip, very gradually. Drastically changing their grip from forehand to continental seems to be a real downer when players who are used to seeing their serves go over, suddenly can’t come close to making one.
As many of the (right handers) hit the ball with the continental grip for their first time send the ball onto the court to the left.
Jorge, could you please make a video with instructions/drills how to improve specific segments of the serve (ball toss, racket path, pronation etc) Thanks
Yes Vito. I have plans to do a video like that in the near future.
Nice!!! Any suggestions on improving 2 serve English topspin to have an upwards kick?
High Mark, I will address that in a future video.
I solve this problem in one of two ways:
1. In the case of absolute beginners including adults, I teach them the continental grip from day 1. I start them off at the service line. So, their first memory is of the ball clearing the net, and they never have the disappointing thought of ‘Gee, this doesn’t work,’ because they have nothing to compare it against. And every time they make 2 serves in a row, I have them back up a couple of steps. They get to the baseline with a continental grip fairly quickly.
2. In the case of beginners who learnt to play on their own, I change their grip from the forehand (panhandle) grip to continental (hammer) grip, very gradually. Drastically changing their grip from forehand to continental seems to be a real downer when players who are used to seeing their serves go over, suddenly can’t come close to making one.
Cheers!
Thanks for your input. I love your explanations.