Serve Basics

Serve Basics

Thanks to BBC UK Sport 1

STEP ONE 
DO NOT rush your serve.

It’s the one shot in tennis that you are total control of, so don’t waste the opportunity.

Spend time getting your set-up right and getting your mind focused on what you are trying to do and where you are trying to hit the serve.

Line your feet up with where you want the ball to go.

Have your front foot at a slight angle but have your back foot running parallel to the baseline.

Point your racquet forwards & slightly out to the side and use your spare hand to balance by lightly supporting the throat of the racket.

Ideally the grip should be the Continental (chopper) grip.

This can be difficult to begin with, so it’s okay to have a slight forehand grip, but look to move it around as soon as possible

STEP TWO
The key from here is balance, timing and rhythm.

Raise your hands up together just a short distance then bring them down together.

As you do this start to turn your body away from the court so that you are sideways on to it.

You also need to be transferring your weight from your front to back foot.

Try to feel a smooth, coordinated action, all the different parts of your body should be working together not fighting against each other.

 STEP THREE
Once you’ve made the sideways turn and your hands have reached their lowest point, you need to separate your arms and bring them back up in different directions.

Your left arm should be straight to enable you to accurately throw the ball up in the correct spot.

The ball should be slightly in front of you and to a height about 6inches above your outstretched racquet.

Your right arm needs to come back into a throwing position.

This is the most difficult part of the action, because at the same time as co-coordinating your arms you need to transfer your weight from your back foot on to your front.

STEP FOUR

As the ball gets to the top of the throw up, accelerate the racquet head at the ball in a throwing action.

Look to reach up to the ball as you hit, the higher that you can make contact the more power you can create.

 

 

 

STEP FIVE

Follow through with a wrist and forearm snap out in front (notice the gap left in between the hand and body), then across your body.

Look to recover quickly being ready for your next shot.

 

 

 

 ANIMATION

Slower Speed

 

Faster

 

 _

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