Of course, you do want to bend your knees when you serve, but the correct time is when you're getting ready to deliver some major force with your racquet. After you have let the ball go, start bending both your knees and your elbow. You are now using your body something like a spring that you're compressing. That stored energy will be released into the ball when your arm and legs straighten with your swing. As your serve becomes more advanced, you will bend your knees more, and your legs will contribute more power, but a moderate knee bend, as shown here, is plenty for getting started.
Photo Lesson: How to Hit the Basic Serve
By Jeff Cooper, About.com Guide
When told that they should bend their knees as part of the serve motion, many players do it right away -- as they start to toss. It's always a little funny to see someone putting all of those big muscles to work just to toss a two-ounce ball a few feet.
Prev
- Grip, Stance, and Toss Hold
- Start of Toss and Wind-up
- Racquet Moving Back; Ball Moving Up
- Middle of Wind-up; Ball Released
- Loading Up the Muscles
- Elbow Up, Racquet Down
- Wrist Ready to Whip
- Point of Contact
- Early Follow-Through
- End of Follow-Through
More Photo-Based Lessons on Basic Strokes
Basic Eastern ForehandBasic Two-Handed BackhandBasic One-Handed Backhand
Photo-Based Lessons on More Advanced Serves
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