Average Guy Tries to Return a Pro Tennis Serve | Above Average Joe | GQ Sports

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  • Опубліковано 8 тра 2024
  • The average male pro tennis player serves their opponent at 125 MPH. On this episode of Above Average Joe, average guy Clay Skipper has exactly one calendar day to prove if he can return a serve from a pro tennis player. He has recruited big time help from tennis coaching legend Rick Macci to meet the challenge. Is Clay more of a Venus or a Serena... or a Richard?
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 295

  • @Martinspire
    @Martinspire Рік тому +1554

    If I had a hype man like Rick, I probably would've never quit tennis

    • @filipposclub
      @filipposclub Рік тому +35

      get back at it bro, Im getting back again after 5 years.

    • @esmul
      @esmul Рік тому +18

      @@filipposclub back at it again after 8 years. Started beginner level again. Loving it again

    • @namansharma2798
      @namansharma2798 Рік тому +10

      I wanted to quit but my parents told me to keep trying so I did now I love the game again

    • @joshc.6706
      @joshc.6706 Рік тому +12

      Yeah man get back to it. I played tennis at a high competitive level until 17 when I destroyed my shoulder and I was never the same player. After that I walked away, because it was too hard mentally. probably hit a tennis ball a couple times in nine years. For as much as I invested in time, emotions, and physical pain at times, to stay away it progressively ate at me. Sorry for the rant but fact of the matter is I lied to myself saying i could never bring myself to play again. Can I serve without pain to this day, no but I can hit balls back and forth. Point is after time it becomes more clear why you loved the game to begin with. Try it out it might be some of the most fun you would’ve had in a while

    • @z.sr4869
      @z.sr4869 Рік тому +4

      why u need people to hype u in a hobby ?? u dont need that just have fun and hype urself

  • @noelopez2237
    @noelopez2237 Рік тому +608

    I love how RIck spoke of anxiety. That's something I never thought of in my own game but always play with.

    • @swiftDKB
      @swiftDKB Рік тому +1

      seriously, after plyaing a bunch of junior tennis years ago, it all makes sense!

  • @HTLRsTopGuy
    @HTLRsTopGuy Рік тому +129

    Wow! I didn't know my second serves were going over 120!

  • @Jabip85
    @Jabip85 Рік тому +551

    Very cool video! However, as someone who plays college tennis those serves were not even close to 120 mph 😭

    • @2242728william
      @2242728william Рік тому +50

      That’s like 120km/h

    • @Jes1919
      @Jes1919 Рік тому +14

      The were probably low 100s. 115+ bounce

    • @imightbebiased9311
      @imightbebiased9311 Рік тому +43

      Also, I can't find any spelling of "Devonte" in the ATP database. There's a Devante Lindsay and a Devonte Thomas that lost 2 Futures matches, but there's never been a Devonte in the top 100. I think this is all part of Rick's psychology.

    • @joshc.6706
      @joshc.6706 Рік тому +6

      Yeah definitely, I played quite a few kids in high school that had serves above 120, before I destroyed my shoulder. Just a collection of huge serves in a small area. Definitely don’t think it was 120

    • @hansklok3564
      @hansklok3564 Рік тому +8

      @@joshc.6706 dont think? bruh, this is clearly not 120 mph. not even close.

  • @seicbro9459
    @seicbro9459 Рік тому +415

    The ones at “60” were 40 and “90” were 55 120s were maybe 90-100

    • @poofykins
      @poofykins Рік тому +17

      ok...thank you..I wish they would have shown the actual serve coming in with the CUT and change of view cuz we never actually saw the time the ball takes to get to him, and the bounce to him looked slow AF! .i was wondering this because I'm trying to estimate my serves (i'm new to tennis *2 months) and my 1st serve is definitely faster than the 2 "120 mph" guys LIKE WAY FASTER last week i hit an ace in doubles that both opponents said was the fastest serve they've seen in person, they've been playing 30+ years and the ball off 1 bounce went THROUGH the chainlink fence (not getting stuck in the links it went all the way through)

    • @Nnexxxx
      @Nnexxxx Рік тому +53

      the 120's looked like they were between 70-90mph. Not even close to 100

    • @fezox2712
      @fezox2712 Рік тому +48

      @@poofykins u are playing tennis 2months and u are serving 120mph? 😂😂😂 sooow!!! U should play tennis 2years and u are going to be next number 1. 🙃😂😂

    • @sebastianr4937
      @sebastianr4937 Рік тому +9

      @@poofykins yeah no

    • @poofykins
      @poofykins Рік тому +4

      @@fezox2712 nooo I got clocked at a tournament at NIU (on my 6th week of playing) at 101 mph i hit it good and clean
      but recently i did hit one a little faster...
      and #1 LMAO NOO, my forehand is weak, my back hand is so bad that i switch to my left hand to forehand instead haha.
      i might say in a year I hit 130 1st serves with good accuracy. I am going to be getting coached.
      and I am not suggesting this is normal...i'm tall...and I played Pro BBALL and semi pro volleyball, and was obsessed with balance and core training / vertical jump so I have the natural motions and know how to apply power in the swing. so yah it came super fast and natural. Once I get coached on how to implement my lower body and core...i hit 130 easy.

  • @yuanhu6031
    @yuanhu6031 Рік тому +594

    Great video with many useful tennis tips! But I don't think any of the serves were close to 120mph.

    • @baldeagle4710
      @baldeagle4710 Рік тому +38

      they werent...lol

    • @marcelobarros5729
      @marcelobarros5729 Рік тому +73

      It's why the camera angles of the serves were setup the way they were. So you couldn't tell how fast they were. No way they were 120.

    • @rsmith02
      @rsmith02 Рік тому +11

      It seemed like they were slower slices, but in some ways that's even harder to return. He didn't get a racket on those.

    • @stoyanplugarov8329
      @stoyanplugarov8329 Рік тому +24

      they wanna fool the people who never played tennis

    • @ronalddelrosario7405
      @ronalddelrosario7405 Рік тому +21

      Agreed! That last set of serves looked more like 90. Definitely not close to 120. But he was pretty darn good considering how little practice he had. That split step is something most recreational players never get down and he did it really well. He's a pretty good athlete like they said. Now if those last two servers were really trying, he wouldn't have had a chance. ;)

  • @luismoreno391
    @luismoreno391 Рік тому +132

    Lmao none of those serves were 120 lol

    • @tijgertjekonijnwordopgegeten
      @tijgertjekonijnwordopgegeten Рік тому +1

      Yeah more like 110 or 100

    • @funnyduck4568
      @funnyduck4568 Рік тому +9

      @@tijgertjekonijnwordopgegeten if even

    • @holyscythe
      @holyscythe Рік тому

      I don’t think he’s holding the racket properly

    • @menulis7941
      @menulis7941 Рік тому +1

      ​@@holyscythe he's not but normally beginners are just meant to have a feel for the sport on the first day in any coaching. Technical stuff comes later.

    • @imightbebiased9311
      @imightbebiased9311 Рік тому

      If you combined several of them...

  • @John_DaMan
    @John_DaMan Рік тому +59

    What a great coach. Knowledgable, patient and good at teaching.

  • @shangojackson60
    @shangojackson60 Рік тому +92

    When I was 10 I got on the court with James Blake. Had one of the fastest serves in tennis back then. The challenge was to hit his serve over. They were waiting for another pro to show up to actually hit it cuz they were not expecting any kid to come close. I got up there and hit it in the net but it threw my racket back to the wall. Literally got me an interview with Tennis TV but at that moment I knew I didnt want to play pro💀

    • @tomsd8656
      @tomsd8656 8 місяців тому +4

      You were 10. I wouldn't expect anything more than that.

  • @Dennis-highlights
    @Dennis-highlights Рік тому +39

    The 90's are like 50 - 70 and 120's are like probably in the 90mph, putting spin on the ball takes away speed, go look at zverev serve at court level, that's the real 120mph serve lmao

  • @marcbobson
    @marcbobson 8 місяців тому +3

    Title should have been "Average Guy Tries to Return a Slow Tennis Serve"

  • @keeganairbad4548
    @keeganairbad4548 Рік тому +14

    If the ones at 5:00 were 90 mph my serve gotta be at least 180 lol

  • @shakeemrobinson2948
    @shakeemrobinson2948 Рік тому +6

    Clay was such a good dude with the kids... Made his triumph even more rewarding to watch.

  • @sdfswords
    @sdfswords Рік тому +27

    Rick is the best, nice job Joe, it's way harder than it looks. As an ex-D1 player, what you did is remarkable. Now imagine 140mph or more with angle and precision. Your soccer background would translate well to tennis, go play for sure.

  • @mrperfect87106
    @mrperfect87106 Рік тому +73

    That first guy was no way serving 120. Slice serve out wide 120? Not a chance. I’m not even sure the other guy was serving 120ish.

    • @eslynbeck9197
      @eslynbeck9197 Рік тому +17

      I think they were just trying to get him to return and feel good about himself

    • @chadhowland9787
      @chadhowland9787 Рік тому +21

      Yeah get Kyrgios out there and see if he returns any 😂

    • @ifeanyiikpegbu6465
      @ifeanyiikpegbu6465 Рік тому +8

      @@chadhowland9787 😂😂😂He wouldn’t even be able to visualize the ball

    • @rsmith02
      @rsmith02 Рік тому +5

      @@Batwam0 Badly mishitting such shots could also lead to arm injury. His forehand is already mostly arm with the wrist forward. Probably just as well they gave him slices.

  • @Better_Call_Raul
    @Better_Call_Raul Рік тому +20

    Not sure why these pros, including that former Top 100 guy, were SLICING out wide. Very annoying.
    That is a difficult return for anyone. Just serve it flat to his forehand.

  • @thaddeusmccaw3303
    @thaddeusmccaw3303 8 місяців тому +2

    Id be surprised if those serves were over 100 let alone 120. The 1st time I saw a 120+ mph serve I reacted after the ball past me. Lol.

  • @menulis7941
    @menulis7941 Рік тому +7

    I've been playing tennis for a while and when he said bisect the angle on wide serves, I was like "wow that makes so much sense"

  • @boneth8826
    @boneth8826 Рік тому +28

    Yeah those weren’t 120mph serves…

  • @jonathanp639
    @jonathanp639 Рік тому +12

    He has a great phrase for everything!

  • @Djlalofriend
    @Djlalofriend Рік тому +14

    I want to take a lesson with that coach in the black shirt. Heard he works wonders for tennis 🎾

  • @kevinwong4230
    @kevinwong4230 Рік тому +19

    120km/hr😂

  • @KandeShack
    @KandeShack 8 місяців тому

    I love this guy and his “Rickisms”

  • @kevindorbegi2659
    @kevindorbegi2659 Рік тому +13

    What a fantastic coach!

  • @drmitofit2673
    @drmitofit2673 8 місяців тому

    You know you have an elite coach when his assistant feeds the balls.

  • @zander3208
    @zander3208 Рік тому +3

    When I first started playing tennis the ball went to mars and this guy did it in no time.

  • @makaiwise4609
    @makaiwise4609 Рік тому +5

    I mean the video is ok, but Rick is the GOAT here, like what a good coach and hype man

  • @aydrian9196
    @aydrian9196 Рік тому +12

    I think Rick does himself and the players a disservice here by greatly exaggerating the pace of the serves. Great coach, love the positivity, but you also have to keep it real...

  • @mattm8441
    @mattm8441 Рік тому +3

    Gilligan was serving some heat

  • @JoeV03
    @JoeV03 Рік тому +5

    This guy must've never heard of Novak Djokovic.

  • @tigranyeremyan7634
    @tigranyeremyan7634 Рік тому +32

    For a guy who hasn't played tennis before, the guy picks it up pretty quick. However, I would say those serves were closer to 40/75/~100
    Still impressive for his first time.

    • @ejfeldmann
      @ejfeldmann 5 місяців тому

      I agree 100%

    • @user-xn2es1gn8z
      @user-xn2es1gn8z 4 місяці тому

      I agree, but I think the 90s were closer to 60

  • @thefridgeman
    @thefridgeman Рік тому +4

    Yeah, the "120 mph" serves were more like 120 km/h serves. No way a slice or kick serve can reach 120 mph. Lol. A 120 serve will kick the back fence really hard.

  • @hughhoney5930
    @hughhoney5930 9 місяців тому

    after watching this, i feel super confident about returning a 120 mph serve lol

  • @Later_Nerd
    @Later_Nerd Рік тому +1

    What a great teacher.

  • @ifeanyiikpegbu6465
    @ifeanyiikpegbu6465 Рік тому +15

    It’s obvious he can’t even get his racket on slice serves because he’s a beginner. I doubt he would be able to return kick too.. But none of those serves were 120. Probably 100-110 at most

    • @joellahrman4557
      @joellahrman4557 Рік тому +4

      Probably wouldn't get a kick serve back. I remember the first time I went against a good kick serve, it went as well as when I played Little League and saw my first good curve ball.

    • @obi-wankenobi8413
      @obi-wankenobi8413 Місяць тому

      Barely touching 90 imo, I’ve seen real 100+ serves playing in high school and they look noticeably faster on camera than these

  • @PF9O
    @PF9O 7 місяців тому

    Surprised he didn't correct that grip, I'd start there.

  • @GGGinJe
    @GGGinJe Рік тому +5

    Rick Macci.... $800.00 for a one hour lesson, and h'es booked out 2 months in advance as of today. Does that fee come with a guarantee that you'll be as good as Sampras or Federer after your lesson? As P.T. Barnum might say "there's a sucker born every minute".

  • @benkoi8310
    @benkoi8310 Рік тому

    I did learn something in this video. Thanks.

  • @angriestpanda8771
    @angriestpanda8771 8 місяців тому +1

    Dude are you sure you're an average joe?? I couldn't even do this with 3 years of training!

  • @joel7812
    @joel7812 Рік тому +3

    I wouldn't mind if this guy could teach me anything. I'd go back to math class if he was my teacher.

  • @jimreadey4837
    @jimreadey4837 8 місяців тому

    Really fun video!

  • @napoleondiepri
    @napoleondiepri 9 місяців тому

    Really love this video

  • @Tyronebiggums371
    @Tyronebiggums371 Рік тому +2

    God he’s so choked up on that racket hold it at the bottom G

  • @vlesmeries
    @vlesmeries Рік тому +4

    I think Rick made a mistake. GQ wanted mph but he gave the dude kmh serves instead.

  • @ledarius82
    @ledarius82 9 місяців тому

    That sounds like a great tennis coach

  • @lemonno8605
    @lemonno8605 Рік тому +1

    yall should get Clay to try defend a pro's badminton smash

  • @feensta
    @feensta 9 місяців тому +6

    Rick is a freaking tennis whisperer. What a guy!

  • @harryp3804
    @harryp3804 Рік тому +2

    Real life macci is even more OP then the movie version.

  • @gqnelly
    @gqnelly 8 місяців тому +2

    Great video with excellent return tips. I don't want to be a nitpicker but the serve speeds are grossly overstated. I have played competitively my entire life and my first serve has been clocked up to 105 mph. There is no way any of these serves are anywhere close to the speeds he claims. That aside...its a great instructional piece.

  • @tennisviking
    @tennisviking Рік тому +2

    Coach brought out his pro racket for this lesson 😆😆😆 fun video though 👍

  • @SynneI
    @SynneI 8 місяців тому +1

    Those serves were varying like 80-100. I mean those were second serve speeds with hardly any spin 😂 just feels like these guys were lying the whole time (not GQ)

  • @MomentsinTennis
    @MomentsinTennis Рік тому +1

    Rick Macci played a tournament there a few months ago

  • @TheTamrielDrunkard
    @TheTamrielDrunkard Рік тому +5

    I'd have to say, I think hitting a pro baseball pitch is harder than returning a pro tennis serve.

    • @zachpatterson411
      @zachpatterson411 Рік тому +6

      i would agree but dont use this video as proof this video is lying to you

    • @TheTamrielDrunkard
      @TheTamrielDrunkard Рік тому +7

      @@zachpatterson411 You mean regarding how fast the serves are that he's returning? Because I don't believe for a second the speeds that they're claiming. I'm an experienced college player and can hit 120mph. I'm skeptical of some of those serves.

    • @edugomez3c
      @edugomez3c Рік тому

      Yeah

    • @nicklaslouie5693
      @nicklaslouie5693 Рік тому

      It is.

    • @obi-wankenobi8413
      @obi-wankenobi8413 Місяць тому

      @@TheTamrielDrunkardthose serves barely touched 90 imo maybe 100 at best, playing in high school currently and I’ve filmed some of our top players serves and they look a fair bit faster than that

  • @angriestpanda8771
    @angriestpanda8771 8 місяців тому

    At 10:23 he completely missed the kid in the purple shirt raising his hand! 💀💀💀

  • @jumpkickingnara
    @jumpkickingnara Рік тому +34

    People in the comments are so annoying lol its a great video and we get to see Rick's coaching. We are getting a ton of knowledge for free which is better than see a guy get aced over and over. The amount of positivity is great to see!

  • @ChowDownDetroit
    @ChowDownDetroit 8 місяців тому

    This is a great example on why you need to take lessons in Tennis.

  • @ChiaroClan
    @ChiaroClan 8 місяців тому

    Played a little tennis and there is no way those last serves were 120 MPH.

  • @vivoentierra
    @vivoentierra Рік тому

    The first time to return 120m/hr serve? Have to say u’r a Real sport talent.

  • @vBerk
    @vBerk 8 місяців тому

    if these are 120mph serves then I have a 300mph serve it's time to record my world record

  • @recration
    @recration Рік тому +8

    Lol thats never 120

  • @happycamperinc.
    @happycamperinc. Рік тому

    "He is on fire"

  • @jtm3551
    @jtm3551 7 місяців тому

    Court 16 is my favorite court there

  • @koopa1231
    @koopa1231 Рік тому

    Two most important shots in tennis - 1. Serve and 2. Return

  • @jnprather
    @jnprather Рік тому +1

    This was pretty cool, although I'd like to know why Rick felt the need to lie through his teeth and claim that Devante is "top 100 in the world" when he's not even a pro.

  • @user-xn2es1gn8z
    @user-xn2es1gn8z 4 місяці тому +1

    great video but I'm a high school player and have returned 60 and 90 mile per hour serves, and the kids in the video were not hitting it nearly that fast, The 120 also seemed to be more around 100
    Edit, thought about it some, the kids in the video probably could serve at 60/90 but were nervous because they were on camera which is why they served slower than he said

  • @nathandiaz3446
    @nathandiaz3446 Рік тому

    Looked like he was distracted by all the kids around him

  • @MikeMike-ms1ns
    @MikeMike-ms1ns Рік тому

    we need an Above Average Joe episode with soccer at Man City

  • @hellothere-mm2ed
    @hellothere-mm2ed 10 місяців тому

    was this the rick macy academy at south county park in boca raton FL??

  • @Stellarffxi
    @Stellarffxi Рік тому +1

    All of the mph subtract 20-30 and then it's probably accurate. Lol.

  • @iroamaround_
    @iroamaround_ Рік тому

    Calming 10% 😂

  • @usclvr19
    @usclvr19 Рік тому

    I love Rick

  • @AlejandroPerez-mg3fc
    @AlejandroPerez-mg3fc Рік тому +1

    I want a Rick in my life

  • @azael831
    @azael831 Рік тому +1

    Nick Kyrigos best serve today

  • @marcbobson
    @marcbobson 8 місяців тому +2

    120 KPH...maybe...

  • @s41magazine37
    @s41magazine37 Рік тому +3

    Those serves we're nowhere near 90 or 120 🤣

  • @williamrobertson6989
    @williamrobertson6989 8 місяців тому

    I hope Rick gets paid per fist bump! :)

  • @TheTEN24
    @TheTEN24 Рік тому

    Coach is a cool dude

  • @jeronimoandrada5134
    @jeronimoandrada5134 6 місяців тому

    why does rick have a low end raquet? it has a two pieces frame or am I dripping?

  • @DonYang73
    @DonYang73 Рік тому +3

    He is muscling the ball. No unit turn, pure muscling. Hitting ball late too. Low level recreational stuff for sure but looks like he has the natural talent to improve a lot

  • @Monsterenergy791
    @Monsterenergy791 Рік тому +2

    Let's see him return against Bublik or Kyrgios..will give him 20 tries....

  • @triskaidekathirteen724
    @triskaidekathirteen724 9 місяців тому

    So your saying I have a chance!

  • @cesarfernandezlopez5063
    @cesarfernandezlopez5063 Рік тому

    Rick Macci is the Daddy...👍🏻❤️🎾

  • @bodiroga96
    @bodiroga96 8 місяців тому +1

    120 Is the new 80

  • @Lauren-vd4qe
    @Lauren-vd4qe 7 місяців тому

    HINT: what I REALLY liked about this video is Maccis GUNG HO POSITIVE attitude towards his student! makes a person try harder be diligent and b UPBEAT!!

  • @dayoho_o3962
    @dayoho_o3962 9 місяців тому +1

    wow...that guy is a great coach, knows how to bring the best in individuals

  • @marfu1119
    @marfu1119 9 місяців тому

    Pro tennis player makes tennis look so easy

  • @baldeagle4710
    @baldeagle4710 Рік тому +1

    it's all about bending your knees, especially if you're tall

  • @JurnaMusic
    @JurnaMusic Рік тому

    If those serves were 120 MPH, I'm John Isner.

  • @ErikShen2907
    @ErikShen2907 9 місяців тому

    $900.00 for a lesson!!! KAAAAA CHINGGGG

  • @empathy800
    @empathy800 Рік тому

    If it was 120mph it was before the ball hit the ground. Once the ball hits the ground, the velocity changes a lot.

  • @miguela.maturana1913
    @miguela.maturana1913 9 місяців тому

    If this is above average, I am ATP level.

  • @tbhtealess2197
    @tbhtealess2197 Рік тому +1

    Whoever decided how fast these balls were going needs to be fired 💀 90 mph ones were going 60 if anything and the 120’s were not even reaching 80 😭

  • @kjaxin1
    @kjaxin1 Рік тому

    He didn't bother to tell him how to hold a racquet..

  • @jpdesimone
    @jpdesimone 7 місяців тому

    LOL those aren't 90 MPH serves. More like 60 MPH.

  • @thelonelydekuscrub4817
    @thelonelydekuscrub4817 Рік тому +1

    The kids I play on my high school team serve like the "120" and faster. I could probably serve like those alleged 120s.

  • @gdevelek
    @gdevelek Рік тому

    How about that ludicrous racquet grip, nothing to correct there, coach?

  • @toyuts1
    @toyuts1 Рік тому

    Where can I get these rickisms

  • @hsy2448
    @hsy2448 Рік тому +1

    I can serve harder than both the last guys and I hit 95-110… that ain’t 120

  • @nsebast
    @nsebast 6 місяців тому

    I mean no way those kids are serving 60mph per hour.

  • @obalobastic
    @obalobastic Рік тому +1

    How does the coach let him play with that racket grip wtf?