The Toss In Depth: Release Point & Ball Control

By Jeff Counts (Hi-Tech Tennis) · Hi-Tech Tennis 240 FPS Optical Archive · Original Lesson ↗

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240 FPS Optical Kinematic Checkpoints

Camera & Framing

240 FPS High-Speed Shutter (1/2000s) · Side / 45° Oblique Plane

Kinematic Trigger

Sequential kinetic chain uncoiling from ground reaction to terminal impact

Angular Velocity

Internal shoulder rotation & forearm pronation peaking at contact plane

Jeff Counts (Hi-Tech Tennis) Analysis Note: Professional strokes maintain head and eye stability for 2-3 frames (approx. 12ms) through impact, ensuring absolute repeatability without compensatory wrist manipulation.

The Arm is a Lever

I have talked about how the shoulder and arm form a lever for the one handed and two handed backhand, and here we see another lever for the toss. The tossing arm is completely locked from the bottom of the motion to the very top, in essence creating a lever that will be lifted from the shoulder.

I want you to focus on KJ's shoulder and watch how it completely drives the toss from beginning to end. If you try to use your wrist to toss the ball, or if you bend at the elbow to toss the ball, you have destroyed the shoulder/arm lever that all pros use to toss the ball.

Release Point

Notice where KJ releases his toss. He releases the ball just above his head. This high release point is shared by all professional servers. When you release the ball at such a high point, it makes placing the toss extremely easy. If you release the toss at a lower point, it becomes much more difficult to control.

The toss is really more like handing the ball to someone above you, rather than a "toss".

Follow Through

After releasing the toss, you have to "follow through". Keep on extending the arm/lever until it is completely straight pointing up to the sky. This extension will get you good height on the toss and will also aid in getting the body properly coiled.