How hard to hit a first serve?

[10usDad]

3.5 Doubles. I can serve slower and get around 75+ first serve percentage or slug it hard and get 50% first service percentage. OR..Is it better to mix it up with most slower serves and add a fast one once in a while.

[Zets147]

depends on how good your second serve is :)

[10usDad]

depends on how good your second serve is :)

Honestly, second serve is slow but can hit variety of serves(flat, heavy slice, twist, etc.)

[ChocolatePie]

Learn to hit it at 100 and then make the percentage like 70

[Bottle Rocket]

You mentioned that this is doubles. This completely changes the answer to this question.

You need to get the first serve in. You've got to give your net man a chance to attack as well as give yourself an opportunity to hit an offensive first ball after your serve. Do not let your opponents in by giving them a bunch of second serves. Do not let them take the offensive before you.

Honestly, at the 3.5 level, specifically in doubles, there's no reason you shouldn't have an ever higher percentage than 75. If you cannot continue to hit a variety of serves and move it around at the higher percentage, it may not be worth it. It depends on the quality of the serve you can get in as well as the return of your opponents. You should discuss this kind of thing with your partner. You have to decide what is going to give you the best chance of winning.

[The Gorilla]

as hard as you can while still getting 65% in, this changes from match to match and even set to set

[zapvor]

i think placement and spin should play a big factor too...just ask mrhan

[Off The Wall]

Bottle Rocket has it correct. Otherwise, you are spraying serves everywhere but in and putzing your second serves up for crushing.

[dave333]

In doubles, consistency is more important. You should be able to place and spin the ball in a variety of ways though, so speed won't matter too much.

[oldhacker]

For doubles serving placement is also hugely important. If you can hit first serves consistantly down the T then you will go a long way at your level. It cuts down the angles for the return of serve and if you and your partner both know in advance where your serve is going then you have an even bigger advantage. Of course you need to mix it up from time to time (body serve and out wide) but I would say serve at a pace that gives you a good level of placement as well as a 65% plus first serve %.

Also key is to learn and practice coming in behind your first serve and hitting a first volley. Once you can do this consistantly it takes the pressure off to hit service winners as once you can hit good approach and finishing volleys 9 times out of 10 coming into the net behind your first serve you will not need to go for the bombs any more. In fact I have found my serve has improved enormously in doubles just because I have become (through loads of practice and coaching) at coming in behind my serve. And that is mosytly down to the fact that I no longer feel pressure to hit an unreturnable first serve.

[arnz]

I'd try to always serve to the backhand if it was 3.5. I would say 95% of the time they wouldnt be able to produce an offensive shot from that side. If your netman poaches, they will feel even more pressure. they will usually slice it short angle, then its up to you to either come in and volley it away (you have to own a volley, but in this case even a mediocre one will do) or be able to put a short ball away. the other case is that they will lob over your net man, so be prepared for that too.

well, thats from my experience anyway, playing lots of 3.5 doubles

[Punisha]

dubs is all about getting any sort of weak reply which can set up your team at the net.

This therefore means that consistancy and variety play a big part.
That being said there are times when you may have the oppurtunity to go for the big one... eg 30 love up in a service game. You miss its a fault, you make it its the second last nail in the coffin. very demoralising especially if your net player hits a winner of their return.

Finally a last note would be it depends on how well you are serving that day. If you feel on fire, go for it... if you dont feel so good... consistency always wins.

[dennis10is]

Honestly, second serve is slow but can hit variety of serves(flat, heavy slice, twist, etc.)

You are a 3.5 and can do all of that?

Usually, most players have two weaknesses, serve and return of serves.

[A.T.S.]

A technique I once saw at the local court. The server would hit a first serve very hard. If he missed that serve he would hit the second serve very weak but this is on purpose cause I know he can hit a mean topspin serve cause man I v'e seen it first hand got it is pretty difficult to return(4.0 player myself). Anyways he hits it very weak when playing doubles so he can get a jump on his opponents. It just goes over and the returner either can't get to it or he hits it back and the the front player just rips it to the open court. This was a great tactic until the returner started to move in closer so he mixed it up and hit a crazy kick serve which grazed the returners head. Awesome player great tactics.

[Loco4Tennis]

3.5 Doubles. I can serve slower and get around 75+ first serve percentage or slug it hard and get 50% first service percentage. OR..Is it better to mix it up with most slower serves and add a fast one once in a while.


i have your same dilemma, i am now concentarting on placement most off all, i use a topspin server to get the 80% in, but its weak, i found that people have a hard time returning balls hit to them, i am wokring on getting the flat server more consistent but it talkes time, menawhile i am going to try to place my server where i think its going to give them the most amount of trouble, i do use flat on my first server down the line, but like you its a 50% at best, or i use a short wide topspin whihc kicks the poeple way out fo the court to get it back, my second is usually a topspin to their body, placement is my answer for now, good luck

[Steady Eddy]

You are a 3.5 and can do all of that?

Usually, most players have two weaknesses, serve and return of serves.

Just two weaknesses? But I guess you're right, in a singles match between two players w/ bad serves and serve returns the points won't last long enough for there to be any other weaknesses! :grin:

[tennisace432]

Just two weaknesses? But I guess you're right, in a singles match between two players w/ bad serves and serve returns the points won't last long enough for there to be any other weaknesses! :grin:

yeah its hard to believe a 3.5 can hit all the serves, flat, kick, twist slice...more like an illusion, you think your hitting a kick but it's actually a weak slice with some spin...you'd probably be a good 4.5-5.0 before you master all the different spins.

[Gee Willikers Batman!]

If you can get a fast one in a good percentage of the time, then by all means use it.

If not, then you know the rest..