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The Pro:
Steve Pekich is the 2006 USPTA Eastern Professional of the Year and the 2007 USTA EASTERN George Seewagon Professional of the Year.
The Tip:
There are similarities between the way that a golfer and a tennis player should put the ball into play. The teeing-up for the swing and the ball toss for the serve both require unrushed set-ups. It does not matter how quickly a golfer rushes to tee and address the ball, or how quickly the server moves the tossing arm; their hurried motions will not increase the speed of the ball leaving the club head or the racket.
Take a look at the routine of a pro golfer before he swings. He surveys the terrain, adjusts the tee, places the ball on the tee, addresses it, takes a practice swing or two, and only then does he swing at the ball.
The server should emulate the golfer. Set the feet to serve, hold the ball and the racquet in relaxed posture, study the terrain and opponent, exhale to relax, and only then slowly LIFT the ball to the zone of contact. Since it does not take much arm speed to lift the two-ounce ball a few feet in the air, there is no need to rush this. Easy does it.
The club head or racquet speed accelerates the ball, not the pace of the tee-up or the toss.
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Eastern will be bringing you tennis tips from pros around the section twice a month. You will always be able to check the rotating Short Corner on our homepage www.eastern.usta.com to find the most recent tip.