Few athletes in the world of tennis have made as significant an impact as Andy Murray. The British maestro, known for his impeccable technique and relentless determination, has carved a niche for himself among the greats. One aspect of his game that has always been a subject of discussion and admiration is his serve. In this article, we delve into Andy Murray’s Top Serve Speed and analyse its impact on his illustrious career.
What Was Andy Murray’s Top Serving Speed
Andy Murray’s top serving speed was 141 m.p.h. This was done at the US Open where he played against Grigor Dimitrov. It was such a good serve at Murray almost could not believe it stating, “The gun can be a bit wrong, possibly.” This outstanding serve could have been due to the fact that he went up in racquet string tension. This aided in him serving more powerful shots.
By the way, did you know he uses Head tennis racquets? Find all the popular models in the following article: Head Tennis Rackets
But let’s go back to the subject. There are a variety of serves that Andy Murray uses. Each of these techniques will be identified and explained.
What Makes Andy Murray’s Serve So Special?
Andy Murray’s overall great technique is highly thought after, but his serve is something that has got the word speaking. We have done vast amounts of research to give you, and the rest of the world, the information on exactly what makes his serve so special.
Andy Murray’s Serve Technique
Murray’s icon serve starts by him lining up to the baseline at a 45-degree angle. His left foot is about 30 degrees off the line while his feet are a little more than a body’s width apart. With him in this stance, it represents that he will be using a big turn of the whole body.
This is a movement that helps him in providing a large amount of power to his serve. He extends his arms out in the front of him while his left arm holds the ball and supports the racquet at the shoulder of the frame. The racquet is gripped in a continental grip in his right hand. As he tosses the ball, the actual motion begins. His weight is loaded on the back foot. His tossing arm is almost parallel to the baseline as it starts to go up.
This helps in the coil of the position. It is a compact way of bringing the racket up while having a flowing motion to it, unlike someone like Andy Roddick, who simply takes the racquet straight up.
Andy Murray’s Trophy Position
This position provides a thrust of power into the shot. This is done by Murray bringing his feet close together as he bends his knees. This stance is named the pinpoint. It allows for weight is predominately on his left leg yet the feet are close together. Aided in this, the overall forward movement of the serve will be impacted greatly.
Pushing off the ground, this will cause him to launch up to the ball later in the sequence. However, moving his back foot closer together with his left slightly restricts the fluidity of the coiling action. This leaves the upper body and torso to provide most of the power of the shot.
Andy Murray’s Serve When Dealing with Pressure
Murray has a tendency to deal with pressure negatively. This can be linked to the fact that he naturally plays defensively. In both of the last Australian Open’s, he played too passively and meekly. Had he been more assertive, he would have been more competitive. Going for the bigger shots with more bravery would have aided to his competitiveness that was severely lacking.
Andy Murray’s Head Swing
This serve causes most power to come from his upper body and torso. This is due to the fact that his legs are put closely together while setting up the serve. The motion starts with Murray bring his racquet into the back scratch position. He then pushes off the ground with both feet while his legs extend and his hips uncoil. The motion is followed by the torso and shoulders. This causes the elbow to move up.
However, serves as the Head Swing and the Trophy Position can cause the player to lose focus and become mentally and physically tired. This is because strength is being taken from the upper body and torso instead of using the legs as a source of power.
At first, these serves can aid in giving power to his performance but it is simply not sustainable. This can be seen as the reason for Murray’s lack of competitiveness when playing against the big fish like Nadal and Federer. Along with this, lack of assertiveness when playing under pressure puts him at risk of losing competitiveness as well.
Last Words
Andy Murray’s serve speed, while not the fastest on the ATP tour, has always been one of his many assets. His ability to combine speed with precision and variation has often left his opponents second-guessing. It’s not just about raw power; it’s about the strategic application of that power, a principle Murray understands and executes brilliantly.
As we reflect on his top serve speeds, it’s evident that it’s not just the numbers that count, but how effectively they are put to use. In the grand tapestry of his achievements, Andy Murray’s serve stands out as a testament to his skill, strategy, and sheer will to win.
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