Tommy Paul Serve Analysis- Natural And Solid Fundamentals!

Summary

In this Performance Plus Tennis video, John Craig analyzes the serve of Tommy Paul, the rising American tennis star. Highlighting Paul's impressive stats, Craig dissects the fundamentals of his serve, including setup, grip, ball toss, and body mechanics. He emphasizes the importance of weight transfer, rhythm, and the trophy position. The video also compares different serve types, such as the flat serve and kick serve, showcasing Paul's adaptability and power. Craig offers valuable insights and tips for viewers to improve their own serve.

Takeaways

• 🎾 Tommy Paul is having a breakout year in 2024, becoming the new American number one tennis player and making a deep run at Wimbledon with a great serving performance.
• 🏆 His serve fundamentals are strong, with a high percentage of first serve points won and very few double faults.
• 👣 Tommy's serve routine is consistent, starting with proper foot setup and weight shift forward to establish rhythm.
• 🤚 He uses a perfect Continental grip, which is crucial for control and power in his serve.
• 🔽 His racket points down the target line during setup, helping to set his hand and wrist position for contact.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Tommy's weight shifts to the back foot during the serve, with his back foot flat on the court, which is essential for generating power.
• 🏆 His trophy position is well-executed, with perfect foot alignment, knee flex, and a high elbow position that aids in creating lag.
• 🏸 Tommy's ball toss height is significant, allowing for a large drop before contact, which is not typical but works for his serve.
• 🔄 The angle of his racket at contact varies between serves, being slightly inside for a flat serve and more vertical for a kick serve, demonstrating his ability to adjust his technique based on the type of serve.
• 🚀 His serve motion involves a strong left arm pull away and leg drive, which triggers the swing and generates power.
• 🤲 The left hand's role in Tommy's serve is crucial, providing strength and control throughout the motion, and engaging the bicep muscle for power.

Q & A

Who is the focus of the video analysis?

The video analysis focuses on Tommy Paul, the new American number one tennis player, and his serve technique.

What is special about Tommy Paul's year in 2024?

In 2024, Tommy Paul is having an amazing breakout year, making a deep run at Wimbledon with a great serving performance.

What percentage of first serve points does Tommy Paul win according to the video?

Tommy Paul wins 82% of his first serve points.

What is the significance of Tommy Paul's serve routine?

Tommy Paul's serve routine is significant as it helps set up his rhythm and weight distribution for an effective serve.

What type of grip does Tommy Paul use for his serve?

Tommy Paul uses a Continental grip for his serve, which is considered ideal.

How does Tommy Paul's racket position contribute to his serve?

Tommy Paul's racket points down the target line, setting his hand and wrist position for optimal contact with the ball.

What is the importance of the 'trophy position' in Tommy Paul's serve?

The 'trophy position' is important as it indicates a well-loaded position, with proper alignment and knee flex, ready for ball contact.

How does Tommy Paul's ball toss height affect his serve?

Tommy Paul's ball toss height allows for a significant drop of the ball before contact, giving him time to get into a loaded position and hit the ball at the top of its trajectory.

What is the difference between Tommy Paul's flat serve and kick serve?

The difference lies in the angle of racket contact and the body position. For a flat serve, the racket angle is more horizontal, and the body faces more forward. For a kick serve, the racket angle is more vertical, and the body stays more sideways, allowing for a sweeping motion from left to right.

How does Tommy Paul's left hand contribute to the power of his serve?

Tommy Paul's left hand contributes to the power of his serve by pulling away in a semicircle, holding tension, and controlling the movement, especially during contact.

What advice does the video give for players regarding the ball toss in their serve?

The video advises against hitting the ball at the Apex for most players, suggesting instead to let the ball drop to gain more time for a full range of motion and a loaded position.