Tracking the Serve

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Tracking the Serve

What Tennis Players Can Learn from Steve Smith’s Vestibular Struggle

A week before captaining Australia at the MCG, Steve Smith faced a challenge that few elite athletes ever talk about: he couldn’t track the ball. Not due to rust or mechanics—but because of a vestibular issue that blurred vision and disoriented him every time he raised his head to face the bowler.

Sound familiar?

Tennis players often describe moments when they “lose the ball” on the toss, feel dizzy when tracking kick serves, or misread the direction despite being well-positioned. While Smith’s issue was clinical, it shines a spotlight on a hidden aspect of elite performance: eye tracking, balance, and spatial recalibration.

Why Ball Tracking Can Break Down

Smith described the unsettling symptoms:

  • Dizzy head every time he looked up.

  • Sluggish eye tracking on fast-moving balls.

  • Needing to “recalibrate” each time he faced forward.

In tennis, this mirrors common breakdowns during return games, especially against:

  • Big servers with high-velocity serves.

  • Lefty swingers or players using disguise.

  • Serve-and-volley players where reaction time is reduced.

Training the Tracking System

To improve tracking and minimize “serve blind spots,” players can train their vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) and spatial timing using exercises inspired by sports science and balance training:

1. Dynamic Eye Tracking Drills

  • Use vestibular goggles or apps that force you to track lights or symbols while moving your head side to side.

  • Practice following tosses or balls with only your peripheral vision to reduce over-reliance on central focus.

2. Balance-Recalibration Techniques

  • Implement single-leg balance work with head rotation to simulate the head movement from ready position to return stance.

  • BOSU drills or dynamic balance boards train the body to stabilize while shifting vision and position.

3. Split-Step Sync Training

  • Match split-step timing to visual cues rather than anticipation. Use slow-mo serve footage and time your prep and reaction.

  • Many players think they’re tracking well, but their split-step is mistimed, throwing off their entire return setup.

Wrap

If an athlete like Steve Smith, one of the world’s best hand-eye coordinators, can be undone by tracking issues, any of us can. But the good news? The system is trainable.

By blending:

  • VOR-specific drills,

  • balance integration, and

  • timing-specific footwork,

you can significantly sharpen your ability to pick up the ball early, react quickly, and return with confidence—even against the biggest serves.