The serve is the one shot in tennis that a player has complete control over. Why is it so difficult?

Just having returned from Mallorca, Spain, and the 2023 World Team Championships, I was once again intrigued by the importance of the serve in all singles and doubles matches. I was not surprised to see both men and women from various countries practicing their serves a lot prior to their matches. One morning as I was waiting on court for my team to arrive (in the partial dark no less, as we began our warmup as the sun was rising!), one of the men from the over 85 division was on the adjacent court alone practicing his serve. Imagine — over 85 years old and still honing his service skills.

The serve is the single most important shot in tennis and the most difficult to master. With its numerous pieces and rhythm, many things can go wrong. The serve permits the player the ability to assert control over the point from the beginning and is often the key to a player’s confidence. Of the many lessons that I have given over the years, the serve often elicits a groan. For me when I am serving well, I am playing well.

To begin, make sure to have the proper stance. Serving to either deuce or ad, the front foot points toward the right net post (for right handers) and the back foot is parallel to the baseline. The toes of the back foot are roughly aligned with the heel of the back foot with about 12 inches between the feet. This allows both hips and shoulders to be part of the action.

The proper serving grip is a continental. This grip is necessary to keep a loose racket and to put spin on the ball. Other grips may be easier to use at first, but they only will allow the server to push the ball up from underneath creating no top spin.

The hitting part is where the serve happens. The backswing, shoulder turn, trophy position are all ways to gather energy. In the beginning drop the racket loosely like a pendulum on a grandfather clock. Practice this while holding the racket in only two fingers to feel the looseness of the take back. The racket should dangle as it goes back.

As the racket begins to move up to the trophy position the racket face (hitting side) remains closed (facing the ground) so that it would be possible to hold a ball on the top of the racket (non-hitting side).

 
The most common mistake at this moment is pointing your palm upward holding the racket like a waiter’s tray behind your head then moving the racket like a paddle to pattycake the ball forward. If the correct motion is difficult to imagine, position yourself facing outward close to the back fence and practice the correct motion without hitting the fence while swinging

 
From the trophy position the racket drops (not the arm) and begins its upward swing

 

Let’s focus on the toss.

The toss is critical. The ball should be placed in the middle of your hand with your thumb gently on top.  While practicing your toss, always practice your toss in rhythm with the racket motion. When to let go of the ball? Often players release the ball too soon which will complicate matters. If this occurs the toss will vary considerably and create an impossible situation. Release the ball as your weight comes forward and at the moment when your tossing arm is horizontally straight usually at shoulder height. Make sure your tossing arm continues up following the ball. Contact is made when the toss reaches a height that is optimal…reach with your racket as high as you can…..that is the optimal height. The toss should also be a racket’s length in front of you and slightly to the right. If you put your racket on the ground approximately where you might bounce the ball prior to the serve you will find the correct spot,
 
As you serve you will drive into the court and the racket will finish on the opposite side of your body.

So many parts, so many things that can go wrong! A good server has a good rhythm unrushed and consistent. Without a rhythm the serve remains just parts of a whole. I liken the service rhythm to a roller coaster. As the cars move up an incline they decelerate. As they head down, they accelerate to finish. Watch closely and you will see that good servers do the same. A slow, loose, controlled take back, followed by a deceleration moving into a quicker acceleration.

Practice, practice, practice.  

1. It’s no wonder that sports photos only show the racket in the trophy position. This is when you want your picture to be taken. Do not spend time with the racket in the commonly known back-scratch position. The deceleration and hold is the trophy portion of the serve. The dropping of the racket head from a high elbow (crucial) happens during the acceleration.

2. The hitting portion is somewhat akin to throwing a knife end over end at a wall.

3. It has been proven that in doubles the point is won by the serving team 75% of the time when the first serve goes in.

4. The second serve is often easy pickings. In singles when the first serve is in, the receiver is trying to get back to neutral. When the receiver is looking at a second serve the server is often at a disadvantage and trying to get to neutral. In doubles, a good first serve allows the server’s partner to be aggressive at the net. Conversely when the server has a second serve the net person is often less effective.

5. Pressure falls to the second serve. Practice just second serves changing location but concentrating on depth first.

Typically, when players have become used to a service motion over the years, they are reluctant to make major changes. It may take time, effort, and some one-on-one coaching, but revisiting the parts of your serve can improve your entire game.

 

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