Marat Safin: The Serve part tres: All Rise.

ALL RISE: In the article on Kafelnikov we spoke about (or at least I did...to myself!) the two separate tasks undertaken by the two hands/arms. In this piece I will look...
'What about me...?'
OK. We'll take a look at how Marat gets the whole service show on the road: how he coordinates the beginning of task 1 and task 2.
'You've picked Marat...again?'
Yep. His technique is worth copying. But this time he's on a real tennis court.
'Don't start bitching. You've given it up for Lent'.
I'm trying. Run your mouse over buttons 1 thru 5.
'What am I looking for?'
I want you to see how the hands split and go their different ways.
'I've got that much. What else'.
Watch how the hands first split directions, then they rise (almost) together, in a coordinated effort.
'I've got that bit, too....I'm not as stupid as you think.'
Pardon me if I reserve an opinion on that. Run 3, 4 and 5 again. Hands split, hands rise...but does the right hand go with the left?
'Yes....er, I mean no. I mean yes'.
Make your mind up.
'Well it does rise, but Marat doesn't reach as high with the right hand as he does with the left.'
Why?
'Aren't you supposed to be telling me?'
No. I'm encouraging you to think for yourself. Look again. What continues to rise (in tandem) with the left hand?
'Er...aaahhh. Got it. The racket head does.'
You're getting good.
'Am I?'
Well, you're not doing bad...for an excluded Northerner.
'You're bitching again!'
Sorry. Run 3 through 7 again and decide when the right arm stops rising.
'What do you mean when. Like at what time?'
Sorry. I'll rephrase it. Look at the upper arm (above the elbow), then decide at what height the upper arm stops rising. You'll find an answer in 6 and 7...and you can use the rest of Marat's body to measure the height.
'I think I'm with you. It stops rising at shoulder height.'
Spot on. The upper arm stops rising round about shoulder height, and the racket carries on....where?
"Why?'
Have a look through some of the other serves and work it out for yourself.
'What...is that it?'
For now, yes. Apart from frame 9, which is a very revealing photo. Marat is about to fire the trigger (the racket head) through. Can you see another line in there?
If so, where is it pointing?