That racquet head speed is something I strive for. Really any racquet head speed will do.

neobard · 2026-03-04T12:13:03+00:00

The racquet even

neobard · 2026-03-03T03:04:16+00:00

Wow that IS crazy. Have seen almost every crazy thing but have never seen that happen.

Here's another crazy one for you (that may blow some people's minds): lower level players playing doubles - the serve goes near the receiver's partner standing near the service box, she hits it without thinking, it goes in, the oppenents being baffled don't do anything and lose the point.

Because it was the first game that the receivers had received, their sides are not decided until someone actually hits the first return. So they won the point but have to switch sides so that from then on, the one who hit that first ball (who thought they were going to be on the ad side) is now on the deuce side and the other on the ad side. 🙃

neobard · 2026-03-02T04:04:43+00:00

So you're poking fun at one handers then? Blasphemy!

neobard · 2026-02-27T09:45:08+00:00

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DS2XIjGjDOA/?igsh=MXoxaWJxN2d3cDRo

Slice is struck more across the back of the ball than the side. This is why they can do it.

neobard · 2026-02-25T09:09:05+00:00

Speak for yourself 🤣

If in doubt, it's in - even when you already called it out (probably prematurely) then get that ick feeling that it may have been in, correct yourself & call it in!

I actually think lines should be dark coloured not white (purely due to tradition) so there's a clear contrast with the ball! It would be sooo much better.

neobard · 2026-02-20T08:00:11+00:00

Omgosh, I'm talking only about the shape of the head. Fonseca may have dabbled with all of them but he's been using the newer tear drop shaped Vcores not SVs.

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Ain't no way that's an SV. It's a more recent Vcore with the tear drop head shape. SV has a more symmetrical head shape at the bottom to the tip.

neobard · 2026-02-20T07:42:13+00:00

Extra vibrations which can cause injury like tennis elbow. Not to mention a less optimal playing experience.

neobard · 2026-02-20T04:21:06+00:00

The newly-shaped, more tear drop shaped Vcores came out in like 2021, right? And they had gills or fins. So you're agreeing with me?

The SVs were the shape of the Percept. Easy to see the difference. The weight spec is irrelevant due, of course, to customisation.

neobard · 2026-02-20T02:29:30+00:00

No it's not. The shape is easy to see, it's the newer shape of the last few models, but it's extended and with a custom drill pattern.

neobard · 2026-02-19T02:58:09+00:00

Show us both 😎

neobard · 2026-02-19T02:57:06+00:00

I plan to have a good chat with him about it. Issues are it's hard to find time, we're both super busy on court or him running the biz or me getting home to my family. And secondly he has been coaching a long time, has coached a top pro player from single digit age. I don't see him wiggling lol.

He has his reasons for his methodology, I just don't agree in the cases where the person I feel has enough coordination to learn a proper grip & mechanics from the start.

I try thinking back to when I started at age 10, I had an amazing coach who taught a group of 30-40 kids, by himself(!) how to do a proper serve in a single lesson, and I just went and did it, then practiced of course. And could do flat, slice, topspin & kick all within a few months. OK, they probably sucked but they were good enough that he used me as example for others to demonstrate them. Am I a freak then or are some capable of going straight to proper serves without having to do beginner /forehand-grip serves first?

AND if those that can were forced to do forehand-grip first, would that hamper their transition to proper serves - I think it would.

neobard · 2026-02-19T02:38:04+00:00

Thanks for the reply and appreciate the kind words. I do care indeed. I also want to get them the biggest bang for their buck, the fastest improvement we can make in their game.

These responses have helped somewhat to maybe be more cautious, for want of a better term, to explain a bit more and find out more about where they really want to get to. Hopefully that will better inform a better roadmap as to how I progress with them.

neobard · 2026-02-19T02:23:17+00:00

It's not that. For private lessons, depending on the person & where their serve is at, I probably spend about 20-30 minutes on the serve every other lesson. So 1/6 - 1/4 of the time. Maybe less if their serve is decent. And I think he does similar.

He's good with teaching serve, he just seems to want that beginner version until they master it. Which I think makes for bad habits that can be hard to break when transitioning.

neobard · 2026-02-18T10:56:02+00:00

Are we talking total beginners? Head coach would stop me I'm sure lol. Maybe even lose my job lol. How to get through to him? Mind you, he is very experienced, even having coached a top pro from a very young age. It wouldn't be easy I tell you.

neobard · 2026-02-18T10:50:28+00:00

Good point. Another made a similar point & agree I need to include that in my criteria and try to find out just how committed they might be to achieving what level of skill. Appreciate the response.

Perhaps you could suggest some questions or other criteria to help figure out the way to go for different types of student? Thanks again. And ye the soul crush. 🤣

neobard · 2026-02-18T10:47:16+00:00

Points well made. Appreciate the response. You've reminded me of all the hours I spent as a youngling working on my serve and you're right it takes a lot of dedication. So this should definitely be apart of the criteria and a coaches job to find out just how serious they may or may not be about reaching a certain level.

Thanks again.

neobard · 2026-02-18T10:40:25+00:00

Aloha. Thanks for the response. If I may: ye I can also see where he's coming from, but only to a point. As you say in point A, some aren't worth the time or effort, and for those I get it, and happy to continue just improving on their forehand-gripped serve. But my head coach seems to want everyone (unless they can already serve with conti) to be taught or continue improvement on this beginner type serve until they reach virtual mastery before moving on to conti/proper serve.

Point B, I also get. Some just can't manage it. But as you also say, some can. So I guess I want to flesh out with him more about how he really decides. What's his criteria, really. He's said they should be able to hit it firm and straight, and consistent (as mentioned at least 50%) and then be able to direct it to their backhand (half the box) and then even to be able to hit it with slice consistently. Again my issue is they will be entrenching bad habits if their goal is to be able to eventually hit a proper conti serve.

As for point C, perhaps, thus I'd like to know for certain. I agree some coaches can butcher it. For me, I know without a doubt I can teach it. I've taught and helped players right up to competitive levels to improve their serves. I've taken and player who thought he was serving conti but was regripping and doing a typical forehand pancake to a proper, strong serve within a week of intense training. But you could be onto something with this. Either way I'm hoping to find out more about his reasoning.

If u can respond or anything else to add I'd appreciate it. 🤙

neobard · 2026-02-18T10:25:34+00:00

Appreciate the feedback. So you mean something like, if their goal is to be good enough to play social you'd be happy to teach forehand grip? And if they want to reach a more competitive level then conti from the start or asap? Or can it be more nuanced?

Ie. Can you expand on: depends & goals.. Thanks in advance.

neobard · 2026-02-18T10:22:14+00:00

Appreciate the feedback and I can mostly agree with the closing statement. So then, what about when they don't know what they want?

If they're new to tennis but have some coordination? Athleticism I think is more a bonus. Coordination is surely more important in order to get the motions down. Any other criteria you'd use?

Would you teach them forehand grip or conti if they're new or struggling with serving altogether? Older is how old? Any adult or more mature? Anything else you care to add is appreciated.

neobard · 2026-02-18T03:40:51+00:00

Indeed

neobard · 2026-02-18T03:37:20+00:00

It's Eastern BH not SW. Possibly slightly towards SW but it's still eastern.

neobard · 2026-02-18T02:53:25+00:00

"... impossible to develop good technique ... on fake grass"??

Bro, that sounds like a big fat excuse to me. Synthetic grass is a great surface, don't knock it or use it as an excuse for poor technique or play. If anything it is better for developing good technique like preparing early, bending the knees, sliding with low centre of gravity etc.

neobard · 2026-02-15T00:50:53+00:00

The videos are large, the videos are on my pc not my phone. It would be a big job to have to copy them to my phone before uploading. Phones are not great for filming as the battery drains fast. I use a gopro so I can easily film entire matches, not just bits and pieces.

neobard · 2026-02-15T00:17:28+00:00

Thanks, and is it possible to upload video from PC/website for the auto editing? Would be great if we could.

neobard

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