Tennis Serve

“Some people say I have attitude — maybe I do — but I think you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there.” Venus Williams

Andy Roddick, fastest serve ever, 155 mph

The tennis serve is the stroke that puts the ball in play and is often the most important stroke in the game of tennis. It has become a principle weapon of attack and is used to place the opponent on the defensive by forcing a return from the weak side or by moving the receiver out of position. A good strong serve can sometimes be the basis of winning a game of tennis.

The most important ways to get maximum power in your first serve include:

1. Keep your arm completely relaxed throughout the serve, this is particularly important when you want to impart pace to the serve.
2. Try to develop a smooth movement in your serve motion.  The idea is to serve in an even, continuous manner that allows for body weight transfer (from back foot to front foot).  This is what we mean by putting your weight into the serve.
3. Bending your knees and moving (or even jumping) upward will  help to give you power.

Before you actually get to the technique of hitting the first serve, it is important to review the tennis priority ladder- Pace and Spin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0dldQUtRbo&feature=related 

On important points which equal all points, it is important to keep the pressure on your opponent. The initial way to do this on serve is to get the first serve in. It is psychologically very important in practice to warm up and maintain consistency on first serve. It is quite intimidating to face a player that hits relaxed first serves in five or six times in a row. You are consciously aware that you will not get free points. It is important for you as well to hit your practice returns in and get a real feel for the shot now as well.

The serve is a unique shot in tennis because you have two chances. There seems to be no pressure on the first but inordinate pressure on the second. The odds are still the same it will go in or out but the psychological pressure is weighted against you in that you have just failed at your first attempt. If you have a good serve you are still in total control of the point even though you feel defensive on the second.

James Blake on the serve

I cannot get in my serve in!  Tips from Timur Kamilov

1. Relax.
2. Do not hit bad tosses; catch the toes as many times as necessary.
3. Hit second serves as first serves; it is the percentage that is important.
4. Know where the sun is and do not toss the ball directly into it.
5. Placement not power.
6. Before you start your serve motion, visualize yourself hitting a serve.
7. Do not just walk up to the baseline and hit a serve. Know what you want to do with each serve, hit it wide,  up the middle, at your opponent, slice, top spin, flat
8. Do not pull down. Hit up.