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Develop a Consistent Serve

The serve is two parts:
  1. A consistent toss
  2. A smooth rhythm
 
Too many players waste their first few years trying to appear better than they are by serving as fast as they can. STOP IT! A good serve, is a consistent serve. USTA 3.5+ players should be hitting around 70% of their first serves in. If you're not, run through these 5 fundamentals for a consistent serve:
 
  1. Mental reset and focus — Are you having thoughts? Let them go to find your flow.
  2. Grip & stance — If you think about your feet, you won't think about other things. :)
  3. Trophy pose — Are you passing through all your spots in your service motion?
  4. Contact with a fully extended racket — Are you reaching for the ball as it falls into your sweet spot?
  5. Sheath Your sword — Are you following through with a relaxed motion?
 
But before we get into those, here are some common mistakes that you may identify with:

Things to Watch for in The Master's Slow-Motion Serve:

 

  • How has he developed a mindless serve routine?

    • Where is his foot placement at the line?

    • Where are his eyes?

    • How does he bounce the ball?

  • How does he raise his arms?

    • What is his toss like?

    • What does his racket look like at various points during the swing?

  • How does he rotate his shoulders before, through and after contact?

  • What are his legs doing?

  • Where is he contacting the ball?

  • Where is his momentum on the follow through?

Top 6 Serve Mistakes Solved

 

  1. Poor leg drive — Legs are the most powerful muscule group in your body. If you're not using your legs effectively, you'll be leaving a lot of potential service speed and spin on the table.

  2. Rhythm — Eliminate timing issues. Figure out how to let your various body parts work together naturally.

  3. Tight followthrough — Leads to injury.

  4. Low tossing arm — Leads to inconsistent toss and poor trophy pose.

  5. Inconsistent toss — Leads to being unbalanced.

  6. Waiter tray position — Kills potential for power and spin.

 

Which mistakes do I make?

My timing is all sorts of messed up.

 

Tried the "Down together, up together" timing technique, but still struggling to find "your rhythm" during your toss?  Here's a timing drill that will help you know how long to wait before reaching up for your toss

 

Your count should be "1-one-thousand-2-one-thousand-3."  Make contact on 3.

Like Music the Key to a Good Serve is in the Timing Between the Movements

 

  • Phase 1 - Backswing and coil

  • Phase 2 - [Pause] Let the racket drop (it's like when throwing a ball—the transistion time between pulling back and then moving forward)

  • Phase 3 - Initiate contact from the hips

  • We psychologically speed up our second serve causing us to get out of rhythm.

  •  

Press the "Mental Reset" Button (prep, before you do any movement)
  • Before every serve, clear your mind. Relax. Just be in the moment. Do not thinking about past or future points. The only thing that matters now is what you are about to do on this next point.
  • Go through a routine or ritual that clears your mind. Think, say or do something repetitive that takes your mind off of distractions. E.g., I say, "up and in" to myself. I visualize it, and I believe it.

Rituals Solidify Mental Toughness

 

Three ideas for keeping mentally in the game.  Win or lose, after a point or game:

 

  1. Visualize success.

    1. Our bodies naturally react negatively to negative circumstances, such as losing a point. Good posture/body language trick our minds into staying positive.

      1. Avoid reacting negatively to lost points or errors at all costs.

        1. For every one negative thought/statement, we must say five positive ones to counteract it.

      2. Think about what you need to focus on to win the next point. All other points, past and present, do not exist.

      3. E.g., When I serve, if I hit the first serve short, I repeat, "up, up, up." And my body naturally tosses higher, I reach more for the ball, my upper body droops less.  If my first serve was long, I repeat, "in, in, in" and i visualize the ball dropping into the court. After visualzing sucess, my body does what it needs to do to make it happen.

      4. Visualization may seem hokey, but IT WORKS! A positive mental attitude can make or break your your game at ANY level.  What can it hurt? The alternative is to let the gloom consume you into downward spiral of doom.

  2. Use physical symbols that reset/refocus your mind:

    1. Fix your strings.

    2. Go to your towel.

    3. Clean the spot you are about to serve from with your shoe.

    4. Look at the sky to think up and in.

Clear Your Mind When You Are Ready to Play

 

Too often, players chit chat away in their minds on the court. This ultimately causes frustration and lowered-selfconfidence.

 

Instead, simply give yourself generic verbal cues to help keep your mind positive, and clear from specifics. Jeff uses, "yes". When I serve, I mentally pick my target, then I say, "up & in" just before I begin my service motion.

Grip & Stance (before you start your motion)
  • Many intermediate to advanced-level players tend to prefer a continental grip and position their feet parallel to the baseline as it maximizes power and spin.
  • Beginning level players tend to use an Eastern grip and stand at a 45° angle away from the net because they don't trust their bodies to unwind properly when swinging at the ball with the edge of their racket frame like a blade cutting through the air.  These players pronate too early, reducing their potential power and spin.  The result ends up looking like a waiter holding a tray, then "punching" the ball over the net.

Moving Beyond the Basic "Punch" or "Waiter's" Serve

 

Reasons why people swing with a flat racket face:

  1. They want to make sure they hit the ball with the center of their strings.

    1. To get over this, practice throwing a ball and noticing how unnatural and less powerful it is to throw without pronating.

  2. They don't trust that their forearms will naturally rotate.

    1. To overcome this, you must drill and practice hitting with the edge of your racket then "changing your mind" at the last minute, only rotating at the last minute to a more open face.

    2. To help get the feel of the natural feel of the racket, only hold the racket with three fingers.

  3. They are afraid of knicking their heads with their rackets as they reach.

    1. To avoid this, let the racket drop loosely in between your thumb and index finger into that slot so it feels like you are brushing the back of your hair.

    2. Serve parallel to the fence.

      1. See if you can thread the racket between your head and the racket.

      2. And you can also tell if you are rotating too early.

  4. People feel like they need to orient toward the court to early.

    1. Stay rotated sideways longer during the toss.

    2. Hit with more top and side spin to the ad side (for right-handers), because you are naturally leading with the edge of the racket.

 

More: 7 Serve Pronation Drills For A Better Tennis Serve

Watch this Serve in Slow Motion

 

  • Weight is on back foot.

  • Ball toss is approximately 6" in front of the baseline and away from him.

  • Weight shifts to forward foot.

  • Body compresses in to "trophy pose".

  • Body explodes upwards to make contact with the ball at its highest point.

  • Racket follows through across his body.

  • His momentum carries him a step or two directly into the court.

Toss & Trophy Pose (prep) — Everyone knows what this looks like at a stand still. Your challenge is to know what it feels like in motion.
  • Core muscles are super engaged, ready to explode, launching upward, then rotating into the ball.
    • ​Here's a drill video to make sure you are feeling the right thing.
  • The toss must be close to the same every time. To do this, follow these guidelines:​
    • Start with the ball held against the same place on your racket before beginning your service motion. Rock your weight onto your back foot and lower your racket and ball. Your toss arm should be relaxed with the arm somewhat extended; fingertips cupping the ball.
    • While bending your knees, spring the ball skyward about six inches above your extended racket. If the ball were to drop, it would land two feet out in front of you. (One of the biggest problems I see is that players don't toss high enough. A low toss will encourage a low contact point, which invariably leads to the ball ending up in the net.)
  • When the ball reaches it's apex your body should be in a "trophy pose". Here are the three things I look for:
    • Toss arm fully extended.
    • Racket arm is bent at least at 90° (forearm in relation to upper arm).
    • Knees are bend at about 90° (lower leg in relation to upper leg), also ready to launch upward and forward to reach the ball at its apex.
  • Doesn't matter if your "trophy pose" looks exactly like everyone else's. But one thing that every good server does have is something the pros call, "racket drop."
 

What is the Trophy Pose?

 

You do three things so that you hit the completion of those three steps as the toss reaches its highest point:

  1. Toss arm is extended.

  2. Racket arm is in an "L" shape.

  3. Knees are bent, weight balanced on both feet. 

This is What is Actually Happening With Your Wrist:

 

"Snapping" your wrist doesn't happen. Everytime you serve, you are doing two motions, when done together, it makes it look like you are snapping your wrist straight down:

  1. You are rotating (pronating) your forearm.

  2. You are turning your wrist out.

 

For a more sciencey explanation, click on this video.

Make Contact at the Apex or Highest Point of your Swing (contact) — Reach UP for the ball.
  • Racket arm should be fully extended and slightly in front of you. A diagonal line could be drawn from tip of the racket (out in front), down the center of your mass, and out your shoe (behind you).
  • Avoid thinking about hitting down on the ball; rather think "up". What really happens at the moment of contact is that in that 1/1000th of a second, your racket face will be completely flat.
  • Remember to bend your knees, and go up and get it. High contact encourages net clearance.
 

Caution: Too Much Info for One Video

 

  • Just pick one thing to take away.

    • My take away: Be in the trophy position when the ball is at its highest point.

  • No need to toss too high. At minimum, the ball just needs to peak 4-7" above the tip your racket. Any higher and the wind could take it, and it falls faster, making it more difficult to time.

Should I "Jump" When I Serve?

 

  • No.

  • "Launching" or "exploding" off the court is a side effect of driving your legs up into the ball.

Sheath Your Sword (follow through) —
  • One way to think about following through on a flat serve is to pretend your racket is a sword. The racket path will move up through contact, then across your body and into an imaginary sheath on your non-dominant side. The arm doesn't move independently across your body; your entire body should be untwisting.
  • Let your free hand just be natural. Many players curl it up into their chest like a cripple.
  • Follow through into court. Let your "up" and "forward" momentum carry you a step or two into the court in the direction of your target.
 

How to Pronate

 

  • The good news is your body does it naturally, unless you are consciously stopping it.

  • If you've picked up a bad habit, it's going to feel REALLY weird to unlearn what you've learned and start from scratch. Start with drills that force you to swing at the ball with the blade of your racket, and then twist your forearm outward at the last second before contact so you hit the ball with the face of your racket. Take it slow.

  • Bonus Tip: Think about following through with your racket strings facing down at the court. This will help you twist through your forearm.

When Adding Topspin or Slice, Follow Through Making a "U" Shape with your Body, Shoulder, and Racket Arm.

 

  • This one is weird. I'm not giving it my stamp of approval, but if it works for you, great!

  • Watch Andy Roddick's follow through—his body is very balanced, and he moves into the court in the direction he hit his serve.

Bonus: Spin Serves

 

There are three kinds of spins serves: flat, top spin, and slice. Diversifying your spin, in addition to your speed and placement will throw off your opponent's timing, forcing an error.
 
Flat Serve (neutral or no spin)
  • When: Flats are typically used on a 1st serve.
  • How: Toss the ball above your front hitting shoulder. Rotate and, simply put, "thump" the ball. The ball will spend the shortest amount of time on the strings of all the serves.
  • Why: Without spin, the ball will bounce low, and reach your opponent the fastest.
  • Effect: This is the fastest serve.  Most effective inside, at the body, or out wide.
 
Top Spin Serve
  • When: This is typically used as a 2nd serve.
  • How: Topspin is created by "brushing up the back of the ball" allowing your racket strings maximum time on the ball.
  • Why: Topspin is the most consistent serve. The spin gives the ball high net clearance, then drops down nicely into the service court.
  • Effect: The ball will then grip the ground and bounce high. Most effective against an opponent's backhand.
 
Slice (or Side Spin)
  • When: This is used when you want to give your opponent a different look at a 1st serve.
  • How: If you don't change your body, toss the ball a little further away from your body. "Carve" around the side of the ball.
  • Effect: Most effective when you are able to spin the ball so it bounces off the court. Especially effective if you are left handed.
 

The Slice Serve

 

  • If you are a lefty and you're not slicing in the AD court, it is a missed opportunity. Opponent's are not used to it.

  • "Curl" or "Carve" around the ball in your follow through to generate more spin.

Where to Toss for Each Type of Serve

 

Straight Serves:

  • 6-8" out towards the net.

  • 6-8" toward the sideline from your toe.

Slice Serves:

  • 6-8" out towards the net.

  • 8-12" toward the sideline from your toe.

Topspin (Kick) Serve:

  • 6" towards the net.

  • Directly in front of your lead foot.

 

Related toss Drills: http://youtu.be/rnG4txyeBaM

Top Spin (Kick) Serve Drill: Smelly Diper

 

  • Grip: Continental (moving toward Eastern).

  • Racket relaxed above your head. "Back scratch" is unnecessary.

  • Toss over your head to get underneath the ball more, creating more topspin.

  • Brush the back of your head with your racket.

  • Finish with your racket on the same side of your body, with the strings facing you.

Inconsistent? Don't Try to Hit It In—Focus on Topspin

 

If you are fluxuating on hitting long and short (into the net), stop trying to hit a bullseye with a flatserve. Instead focus on hitting the ball with topspin as high as you can over the net. The principle behind this is that the more arch you put on the ball, the higher its probability of landing in the service box.

 

When hit with greater intention (power, spin), this creates a high bouncing ball that is tricky to return.  Any serve that takes an unexpected bounce is called a kick serve.

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