stupid serving grip question

[lawrence]

ok, say when hittin a forehand your palm would be well, facing towards the net right?
with backhand, your knuckles are facing toward the net
etc etc

when serving using continental grip.. your knuckles (and fingers i guess) are meant to be facing the net as your swing comes down right?
because ive seen alot of videos and it looks as though sometimes, not sure which grip it is, that the palm is facing the net as the swing comes down?

i guess another way to say it is, when you serve is it meant to be like a volleying motion or more of a vertical forehand motion? im pretty lost haha.. i feel really unco when testing out the 2nd one that ive seen in a few vids but im just curious as to why it looks that way sometimes

[fuzz nation]

Ultimately your service grip will be the loosest of all your shots with maybe the exception of a drop shot at the net. I prefer to think of the service motion as what you would do to throw the racquet over the fence beyond the opposite baseline - except that you don't let go of it. A slice serve has a similar motion, but you'd be 'throwing' the racquet more off to the right (for a right-handed server) to create sidespin.

The typical grip is continental - midway between a standard eastern forehand and backhand - but as I make more spin, I go just a little more toward a bh grip. Develop smooth motion and good contact first and then it's easier to dial in your placement.

[Bagumbawalla]

Forget everything you have ever been told about the serve, and just try this.

Grab your racket and hold it up, as close as possible to where it would, under serving conditions, come in contact with the ball.

Let your wrist bend, naturally/comfortably like a hinge, so that you get the greatest degree of flex-- in the direction of the serve.

Adjust the racket head. Make sure the racket head is facing the placement point in the opposite court.

Now, examine your grip. It will, most likely be a continental grip, because it is the best grip that helps you achieve that free/loose motion that is necessary for a good serve.

And, no, it isn't like a volleying motion. When you volley, you want a fairly stiff wrist (most of the time), with little motion.

With the serve, you want the motion to be powerful-- but the kind of power that is gained from a loose/free/unforced stroke. Do not try to "muscle" the ball or to hold the racket too tightly.

If you are just learning the serve, it is always a good idea to get someone who really knows what they are doing to be right there and guide you through the basics.

It is easy to develop bad habits if you don't get off on the right track, so find someone the good players trust as an instructor to help get you started.

Good luck,

B