Tennis

Tennis

Biomechanics of High-Velocity Tennis Serves and Variations between Different Styles and Gender

Elliott B, Fleisig, R, Nicholls R, Escamilla R. Technique effects on upper limb loading in the tennis serve. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sports 6(1):76-87, 2003

Fleisig GS, Nicholls RL, Elliott BC, Escamilla RF. Kinematics used by world class tennis players to produce high-velocity serves. Sports Biomechanics 2(1):17-30, 2003

Methods

Researchers from ASMI, the University of Western Australia, and Duke University worked together to study the high-velocity serve of elite tennis players. Singles matches were recorded at Centre Court of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Two electronically-synchronized high-speed (200 pictures per second) cameras were used. Three-dimensional kinematics (motions) and kinetics (joint forces and torques) were calculated using manual digitization and inverse dynamics.

Results

High-quality data were calculated for 20 Olympic athletes (8 male and 12 female). One of the key features noticed was that the shoulder rotated back into an extreme position (172º). From this cocked position there was a coordinated rapid sequence of angular velocities of the upper torso (870º/s), pelvis (440º/s), elbow (1510º/s), wrist (1950º/s), and shoulder (2080º/s). At impact, the trunk was 48º above horizontal, the arm was abducted 102º and the elbow, wrist, and lead knee were slightly flexed. Compared to female players, males produced greater ball velocity (183 v. 149 km/hr), shoulder internal rotation velocity (2420 v. 1370 º/s), and later upper torso angular velocity (0.05 v. 0.07 seconds before ball impact). These differences may be related to the fact that male players produced greater internal rotation torque and proximal force about the shoulder.

Minimal differences were seen between the full and abbreviated backswing techniques. Compared to players with minimal knee flexion (6º), players with larger knee flexion (16º) produced similar ball speed but generated less shoulder internal rotation torque and elbow varus torque. Thus, larger knee flexion was a more effective technique than minimal knee flexion.

To achieve a high-velocity serve, a tennis player should utilize strength, flexibility, and technique training programs developed for motions and forces similar to those reported in this study. An understanding of serve mechanics may also help in the development of surgical and rehabilitative treatment procedures for shoulder and elbow injuries in tennis.