Photo Lesson: How to Hit the Twist Serve

One Frame Before Contact

(C)2006 Jeff Cooper licensed to About.com, Inc.

• Here, one frame (1/30 second) before contact, the racquet head is roughly three feet below the ball and a foot to its left. This prepares for the distinctive upward and left-to-right swing of the twist.
• The shoulder has rotated so that the upper arm is vertical. Now the forearm is the active link in the kinetic chain as the elbow has almost straightened.
• Notice that the forearm and wrist maintain their 90-degree angle.

• Introduction and Grip
• Knee Bend
• Elbow Up, Racquet Down, Body Arched
• Kinetic Chain Moving Into Shoulder
• One Frame Before Contact
• Point of Contact
• One Frame After Contact
• Beginning of Follow Through
• Following Through Initially to the Right
• Ball Clears Net Comfortably