The following post is an excerpt from Championship Tennis. Thanks for visiting, Frank Giampaolo
Reading the Server
Anticipatory skills are one of the most important elements in a player’s ability to execute
effective returns of serve. Knowing the intended serve location before the ball is struck
is a serious advantage for the returner. How does it work? Basically, spotting and understanding
those millisecond clues aid the brain’s ability to send the desired motor program
down the nervous system to recruit the appropriate muscles in the appropriate fashion.
Again, this is a learned behavior that requires time and commitment. Exceptions shadow
every rule, but the following sections describe the most frequent serving cues.
Returns of Serve: Watching the Server’s Preparation
While in the ready position, the returner should study the server’s eyes. Servers often unknowingly give away their intentions by staring down their target. The returner should be coy; he can give that corner of the box plenty of space—that is, until the server tosses the ball. Then he should quickly and quietly slide into position to crush the return.
In addition to watching the opponent’s line of sight, the returner should pay attention to any other possible “tells.” In Andre Agassi’s autobiography, Open, he shares a story that illustrates this point. When returning Boris Becker’s massive serve, Agassi noticed that if “Boom Boom” was about to serve to the left side of Agassi’s service box, Becker
would stick his tongue out of the left side of his mouth. If he was about to deliver a body serve, his tongue would point straight out the center of his mouth. Before each serve to the right side of the box—you guessed it—Becker would stick his tongue out of the right side of his mouth. Agassi could anticipate the intended serve and jump all over it.
Anticipatory skills are one of the most important elements in a player’s ability to execute effective returns of serve. Knowing the intended serve location before the ball is struck is a serious advantage for the returner. How does it work? Basically, spotting and understanding those millisecond clues aid the brain’s ability to send the desired motor program down the nervous system to recruit the appropriate muscles in the appropriate fashion. Again, this is a learned behavior that requires time and commitment. Exceptions shadow every rule, but the following sections describe the most frequent serving cues. (For more info- Championship Tennis)
Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
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