Orlando Coach Pioneers Motion-Capture Approach to Tennis Serving

In an era when data and technology shape nearly every sport, one Orlando coach is applying motion-capture analysis to one of tennis’s most complex shots — the serve.

Paul Lefiti, owner and operator of ServesUp Tennis, has spent more than 25 years coaching players from juniors to professionals. His focus: understanding and improving the biomechanics of the tennis serve through motion analysis, a field more commonly associated with baseball pitching or golf swing studies.

From a small lab setting in Orlando, Lefiti uses high-speed cameras and biomechanical tracking to record players’ movements in fine detail. The footage allows him to break down every stage of the serve — from stance and leg drive to racket acceleration and follow-through.

“The serve isn’t just about arm strength or timing,” Lefiti said in an interview posted on his coaching site. “It’s a full-body motion built from the ground up. When one piece is off, everything else compensates.”

Lefiti’s approach combines traditional coaching methods with quantitative feedback, offering a view of what athletes are doing rather than what they think they’re doing. His clients range from recreational players hoping to gain consistency to competitive juniors fine-tuning mechanics for college or professional play.

Industry observers say the use of biomechanics in tennis has grown steadily over the last decade. Data-driven coaching tools are now used by professional organizations including the ATP and WTA tours, but it remains uncommon at the local level.

“Having access to motion capture for technical development is a major advantage,” said Dr. Kelsey Thompson, a sports science researcher at the University of Central Florida who studies tennis movement patterns. “When done well, it bridges the gap between coaching intuition and measurable data.”

At ServesUp, Lefiti structures each analysis around video review and incremental adjustments rather than immediate overhauls. The goal, he said, is to create efficient mechanics that match a player’s physical abilities rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all model.

Former students describe the process as technical but rewarding. “It’s different from any tennis lesson I’ve had,” said one client in an online review. “You see exactly what your body is doing — and why the ball goes where it does.”

Still, experts note that biomechanical coaching can be expensive and time-intensive, and may not be necessary for all levels of play. Critics argue that overemphasis on data can sometimes overshadow tactical and mental aspects of the sport.

Lefiti acknowledges the limits. “You can have the best serve mechanics in the world,” he said, “but if you don’t understand when or why to use them, it’s incomplete.”

For now, ServesUp Tennis remains one of few Orlando programs dedicated solely to serve analysis and training. As technology continues to shape athletic development, Lefiti’s blend of coaching experience and motion science offers a glimpse of where the sport may be headed next.

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Written by Louis Bolling, Manager of Orlando Tennis Centre. Top banner photo: Julie Sd / Pexels. Photos (within body of story): Captured By Elle Photography.