SPORT SCIENCE - Professional Tennis Registry

In an ongoing study at this writing, Kibler 22 also reports mechanical deficiencies in the servingmotion among touring pros, more common among WTA than ATP players. Ideally inacceleration phase, as the racquet swings upward to contact, players should use a pushingmotion from the back leg. Many WTA and some ATP touring pros were deficient in leg driveand cocking (i.e., properly setting the racquet in the backswing before accelerating forward).Rather, they used a pulling motion of the upper body.Avoid Shoulder Problems by Correctly Developing the ServeYoung players under age 10 may not be strong enough in the core or shoulder stabilizers tomaster a kick serve. The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body, and young playersdon’t have enough muscle strength or stability to avoid injuries at this age. It is better toteach them the flat serve first and then the slice serve.Coaches should teach players to drive from the back leg to initiate the transfer of energy upvia the kinetic chain. Many players don’t engage the legs properly, but use an actionpulling the racquet up over the back to mainly create power. That action can put excessivestrain on the back and shoulders. After driving upward with the legs, a player can practicethe hip over hip and shoulder over shoulder movement. Teach players to rotate with thehips and shoulders, rather than separately rotating the upper arm and elbow backward.Clearly, the serve differs from groundstrokes on which most players spend significant timetraining and practicing. The serve involves greater stress on the shoulders. Kovacs andEllenbecker have developed specific exercises for strengthening the serve. 23,24 Exercisesfor Strengthening the Serve can be found on Pages 62-64.PTR Practical On Court Applications for Sport Science 26