Conclusions from the study: Two types of conclusions can be drawn: one concerning the characterisation of the neuromuscular patterns in the serve; and the other concerning the neuromuscular differences between the first (flat) and second (topspin) serve. The following conclusions regarding the characterisation of the neuromuscular patterns in the serve can be made: The anterior deltoid and the pectoralis major are the first muscles to be activated during the forwardswing phase (Phase 3), and produce horizontal adduction of the arm, the third major contributor to the linear velocity of the center of the racket on contact with the ball (4). The activation of the arm antagonist muscles contributes to the intersegmental flow of kinetic energy used to accelerate the elbow. The latissimus dorsi has a double role and is very important as the main agonist of internal rotation of the arm in creating racket head speed on contact with the ball. Elbow extensors and flexors contribute to elbow stabilization during ball contact (2), decelerating the forearm before this event and helping to accelerate the hand. The following conclusions regarding the neuromuscular differences between the first (flat) and second (topspin) serve can be made: The antagonist muscles of horizontal adduction of the arm activate earlier in the topspin serve. The pectoralis major has higher activation in the flat serve. Both parts of the triceps brachii activate earlier and for longer in the topspin serve. The duration of the co-contraction between elbow agonists and antagonists is longer in the topspin serve. The sequence patterns of the maximum EMG peak in the topspin serve is different from that in the flat serve.
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