Change up on your Serve?

[In D Zone]

I noticed once you are able to put some fear into your opponent with the heat on your serve; they tend to stand a step or two behind the baseline on your first serve.

I have deliverately hit a topspin slice serve that would float high in the air and land a bit shorter than my flat serve; make sure it land towards the body or the weak side (left). The opponent scrambles moving forward, at times overhitting the return or simply tapping it back for a weak return.

I equate this serve throwing a 'change up pitch'. Although I try not to do this all the time (of course, my opponent will attack the ball when he sees anyone like that again) but its kinda great to be able to do it.

[surfryder]

i do that on first serves sometimes, but my pace on a topspin serve isnt much different than a flat serve...usually 10mph difference...

on my 2nd serve on occasion i toss out a flat serve just to try and get an element of surprise too...they usually move in to just in front of the base line, and i usually dominate their face with a nice flat serve into their gut.

[AndrewD]

If all you can do is hit your serve fast, you haven't got much of a serve. It's far easier to just block it back than having to deal with a serve that kicks up above shoulder height or swings wide and pulls you off court.

[Gee Willikers Batman!]

If all you can do is hit your serve fast, you haven't got much of a serve. It's far easier to just block it back than having to deal with a serve that kicks up above shoulder height or swings wide and pulls you off court.

I'd rather deal with a 75 mph kick serve then a 110 mph flat.

But that's just my personal preference. ;)

[callitout]

I'd rather deal with a 75 mph kick serve then a 110 mph flat.

But that's just my personal preference. ;)

And I'd rather deal with a straw man than a real man.

[Bagumbawalla]

Yes, there are various ways to take advantage of the receiver's expectations.

As you said, on a first serve, if they are back, you can kick the ball wide.

If you get them used to serves to the backhand then zing one to the forehand.

If you are ahead enough to take the chance, serve a flat ball for your second serve.

If they move in, a ball that jumps into the body will impare their reaction time.

[SlapShot]

I actually use different serves at all times to keep opponents guessing. On the deuce, if they move to cover the kicker up the middle, I'll slice it out wide, and vice versa. I actually hit two different topspin serves - one with more pace that's usually my first serve and one with more kick as a second.

Varying up your serve is key to keeping people from sitting on one serve.

[smoothtennis]

When I am serving very well, a change up slow serve on the first, almost always gets a long return. Change up serves work, but you have to establish a good first serve to set it up.

I would rather deal with the 100 mph flat serve with no motion on it, than the 75 mph kicker with action and side spin anyday. Over a set, that hard flat serve, you start to see it better, hugging the baseline, and start chipping it deep into corners as you step forward.