The American Trophy Position: The Key to More Racquet Head Speed on the Serve

Key Points

• Two critical paths in the serve:

  • • Ball toss path

    • Swing path (mechanics of the motion)

• Two main trophy position types:

  • • Classic Trophy Position

      • Medial epicondyle (bony part of the elbow) faces sideways.

      • Players pause and load here, which can disrupt momentum and reduce racket head speed.

    • American Trophy Position

      • Medial epicondyle faces downward toward the ground.

      • Used by most big servers.

      • Allows greater range of motion and more racket acceleration.

      • If you're going to pause in your serve, this is the better position to do it.

• Why American Trophy generates more speed:

  • • Starting with the elbow down provides a longer swing path.

    • More continuous acceleration → smoother, more powerful motion.

• 3 Progressions to Build an Efficient Serve

  1. Progression 1: Salute Position / Half Serve

     • Start in continental grip, racket near your temple.

     • Toss the ball and throw your elbow at the ball.

     • Racket follows with pronation (strings turn from left to right).

     • Focus on avoiding “palm up” swings and achieving a palm down path for proper mechanics.

  2. Progression 2: American Trophy Position

     • Start with tip of racket down, elbow facing the ground.

     • Toss the ball and swing up through the American trophy path.

     • Builds on Progression 1, but adds more fluidity and movement through the trophy.

  3. Progression 3: Full Serve with Hands Together

     • Begin in standard setup with both hands together.

     • Toss, move into the American trophy load, then flow naturally into Progressions 2 and 1.

     • Creates a fluid, continuous motion with no pause in the classic trophy position.

• Final Takeaways

  • These 3 progressions form the foundation of a smooth, powerful serve.

  • Training with these checkpoints builds muscle memory and eliminates mechanical hitches.

  • Most successful servers have common elements that match these mechanics.

  • Focus on racket fluidity, elbow positioning, and pronation path for optimal results.