The Art of Anticipation - The Serve

Have you ever wondered why the very best of players of any level can anticipate that little bit quicker than most?
The answer lies in where to look effectively and efficiently! While most lower level players and those untrained in this area look at too many cues the best of the best narrow this down to a mere few!

By looking at a cued chain of events, i can guarantee you will be able to read direction, spin and pace that extra few percent quicker than most. An extra few percent at the highest echelons of the game is absolutely huge!

Lets take the serve

I am going to split this up into several phases....

Phase 1 - The Look
This is where our opponent is getting ready to serve. They have made their decision and stepped up to the plate ready to deliver a respectable serve.

What do we look for?
Here we can check out possible grips. But also look from the shoulders position to the hips to the feet. Here we are commiting to a general body search to see if the set up will give us any clues as to the type of serve they will deliver. Remember some players change a body part to some degree or other without realising to achieve certain spins, placements or to create more power.

What do i do?
Get into your athletic position and mentally prepare yourself to return the ball

Phase 2 - The Set Up
At the start of the arm motion to place the ball on its journey to its apex is where we begin our next set of cues and clues.

What do we look for?
Check out the arc of the ball arm, at what stage is the ball released? On its journey up where is the ball in relation to the players body?

What do i do?
Take a step forward or move your feet in the way you have for your return of serve routine

Phase 3 - Hit to Contact
This phase is all about the co-ordination chain on the extension part up towards the ball.

What do i look for?
Here we are focused on the racket arm and rackets journey towards the ball. Our focus starts at the journey and ends at the contact point

What do i do?
The split spring step differs with timing for different players. However, i advise to split spring as the racket is at the lowest part of the take back prior to being thrown at the ball.

Phase 4 - The Hit
This phase is purely about tracking the ball from the contact point to our hit

What do i look for?
We should now be tracking the racket just slightly past the contact point and then pick up the ball to focus on as it is on its journey towards us.

What do i do?
Use a Y formation return, move forwards and towards the ball to cut off the return.

There are many ways to 'watch the ball'.....
Try watching the bottom of the ball
Pick out the shadow on the ball
I am sure there are many others that you know however the above work to a higher level!

In order for theses phases to work, you need to practice them one at a time. From then on you too will automatically be looking in less areas and responding more towards a winning game!

This will be one of the many courses i will be running in 2011. Keep an eye out and until next time, happy tennis.

Andy