What is ur 1st & 2nd serve mate'?

[wyutani]

For my first serve i used a pure slice serve, fantastic against righties, im lefty. For my 2nd serve I use the kick serve, more of a topspin-type, just to keep the ball in.

sometimes i topsin serve to serve and volley.:)

What are yours and the advantage of it? If you can, mention the most hatted serve too.

[Murray_Maniac]

1st serve I hit it as hard & flat as possible. 2nd is a slice or kicker. I love to s&v on the 2nd on occasion.

[SeekHeart]

On the Deuce usually a slice out wide and for a second a kicker. On the ad a slice in to the body or a flat down the T followed by a Kicker out wide.

[tennisrocks5]

I usually hit a flat first serve and a slice second. Seems to work for me.

[tennisfreak15347]

Flat/ slice on first serve, and a kick/topspin for a second serve.

[Noaler]

First is flat/topspin/slice, second is slice.

[toughshot]

I try not to become too predictable on my first or second serves. Most of the time i won't try to melt a flat serve on a 2nd serve.

1st- Flat jam/up T, Slice wide/into body, kicker away from backhand

2nd- Slice/Twist/Topspin/Drive variations on kick serve

Mostly i try to make the ball dance, makes holding easier ^_^

[1hand4ever]

First: Flat serve to the body or down the T on the deuce side; flat serve out wide on the Ad side.

Second: Kick serve

Serve of mine that people hate the most: Flat serve out wide or kick serve out wide

Serve i hate the most: Flat serve down the T on the Ad side.

[Interceptor]

For my first serve i used a pure slice serve, fantastic against righties, im lefty. For my 2nd serve I use the kick serve, more of a topspin-type, just to keep the ball in.

sometimes i topsin serve to serve and volley.:)

What are yours and the advantage of it? If you can, mention the most hatted serve too.

I don't use the same serves all the time, but what I will tell you I don't use is slice serves on second serves and also not flat serves, only sometimes if I have a lead and want to end it right there. For second serves I just use topspin and twist serves.

[kaibaNYC06]

1st Serve: Generally flat and down the T, but throw in an occasional body/wide serve to mix it up. If I'm really feeling the pressure I'll tend to hit a hard topspin serve wide or body.

2nd Serve: Generally a topspin serve wide or to the body. Occasionally I'll take one down the T. If I'm feeling really confident in my serve I'll even mix in a few flat ones.

I personally don't like serves that pull me wide on the duece side (i'm a lefty).

[samprasbackhand]

Deuce 1st serve: Either a slice out wide, or flat bomb up the T
Deuce 2nd serve: Kicker down the T

Ad 1st serve: Slice down the T, my flat bomb out wide is pretty bad, so if I want to serve out wide then I'll kick it out wide.
ad 2nd serve: Kicker to body/wide

[Rickson]

A flat 1st serve and a weaker than I'd like topspin 2nd serve.

[Andres]

I learned not to hit flat on first serves. I hit a fast paced topspin-slice 1st serve that goes in 60-65% of the time.

Depends on the mood, my 2nd serve is either that same topspin-slice serve, or a kickserve.

[Moz]

I rarely hit a completely flat first serve and never a flat second.

Vary between slice, topspin and kicker on both.

[junbumkim]

I had sort of abandoned flat serve and relied a lot on slice and kickers.

Then I sort of felt like I couldn't mix it up as much as I wanted to, and couldn't really count on hitting flat serves even when I was leading and wanted to stretch the lead.

For deuce side,

1st serve, flat, slice into the body and out wide. My slice outwide can get exploited when I hit too much, so I hit more slice into the body.

2nd serve, either slice into the body or kick serve.

For ad side,

1st serve, flat out wide or into the body, slice down the middle. Sometime
kick serve.

2nd serve, mainly kick serve into the body or to bh. If I am leading, I will go
for slice up the middle.

[10nistennis]

First serve: Flat serve up the T, kick serve out wide or down T, or slice to bh.

Second Serve: Topspin, slice to bh, or kick to bh or body.

[Interceptor]

Why do most people neglect the flat serves? Just because of the low %? Just practice them

[Moz]

Why do most people neglect the flat serves? Just because of the low %? Just practice them

I neglect them because decent players usually find them easier to return as the ball travels in a fairly standard trajectory and will usually arrive at a similar height. If you serve flat serves to a strong player he'll start to eat it for dinner unless you have a very, very strong serve.

The higher % achieved using spin is also a benefit as is the use of spin to increase control and aid placement.

[wyutani]

hey, you guys heard of a reverse slice serve. i knida achieve it few hours ago. the ball kinda swerve to the right, instead of the left. should i put it under 1st or 2nd serve?:)

[In D Zone]

Deuce 1st serve:
1. Flat to the T, at the body or to the forehand.
2. Slice to the body or wide short (heavy spin).

Deuce 2nd serve:
1. Kick to the middle- body
2. Slice at the T or wide and I change the speed of my serve to throw the opponent off.

AD 1st serve:
1. Flat to the body or to the left side (normally using a arm roll - allows the ball to kick wider to the right)
2. Slice down to the T or to the body.

Ad 2nd Serve:
1. Kick to the left or the body
2. SLice -down the T or target the ball to land short and wide to the left (also varying the speed of the slice)

[AznRamenDude]

duece
1st: Flat to the forhand
2nd: Slice or topspin, depending on where the opponent is standing

adv:
1st: Flat down the T
2nd: slice

[WBF]

Depends. Against competent players:

1st serve:
75% reasonable power+heavy kick
15% flat
10% second serves

2nd serve:
100% heavy, heavy kickers, not too much pace

I absolutely love getting the ball at or above head level on my opponents.

[onehandbh]

Deuce:
1st serve:
85% topspin w/a little slice. more slice if going out wide.
10% 2nd serve.
5% shank or off center hit.

2nd serve:
85% topspin. occasionally a twist serve.
10% 1st serve if I'm up in the game.
5% shank or off center hit.

Ad:
same as deuce side except my slice down the middle sucks.

btw, I'm one of those people that once the toss goes up, I
do everything in my power to chase it down and get a racquet on it,
even if it's in another zip code. Wish I could just catch it and toss again,
but for some reason, it's really hard for me to do that. I just
commit to hitting it and can't stop very easily.

[Noaler]

hey, you guys heard of a reverse slice serve. i knida achieve it few hours ago. the ball kinda swerve to the right, instead of the left. should i put it under 1st or 2nd serve?:)

2nd serve, i can sometimes acheive it with barely any double faults, if I mess up I end up hitting a regular slice serve.

[iTennis47]

Deuce side: 1st - flat down da T or hard body shot, occasionally one out wide(deep or short on side line). all are deep
Ad side: 1st - flat out wide(deep or short on the side line) or not as fast as deuce side body shot.
2nd serve on both sides - kick/topspin deep, short, center, wide, T.

[tennisdad65]

1st serve - slice , topspin-slice or topspin
2nd serve - topspin

[Orangejumper]

Deuce
First:Flat to backhand
Second: Kick to backhand

Advantage
First: Flat wide to backhand or body
Second:Kick to Body

Flat fast serve is pretty reliable, fast and works.
Biggest tip i ever had was DONT throw the ball up too high, make sure it is 1m in from baseline but DONT try and throw it stupidly high. This transformed my first serve from 40% success rate to 60-85%.:)

[MTChong]

I learned not to hit flat on first serves. I hit a fast paced topspin-slice 1st serve that goes in 60-65% of the time.

Depends on the mood, my 2nd serve is either that same topspin-slice serve, or a kickserve.

Same; it's just not worth it for me to hit flat serves most of the time. Sure, when they're placed right, they're aces, but when they're not, they come back way too fast!

My favorite serve though is out wide from the ad-side. It presents a problem when I'm not focused and forget the player is a lefty

[Andres]

hey, you guys heard of a reverse slice serve. i knida achieve it few hours ago. the ball kinda swerve to the right, instead of the left. should i put it under 1st or 2nd serve?:)
Why do you need a reverse slice curving to the right if you claimed to be a lefty? All you need to do is a hitting a normal slice serve.

You should pay more attention, Yut

[wyutani]

Why do you need a reverse slice curving to the right if you claimed to be a lefty? All you need to do is a hitting a normal slice serve.

You should pay more attention, Yut

i know my advantages. just that i wanna contribute, you know, help the righties. you know me. im a nice guy.

[Andres]

You are a nice guy, but your story makes no sense.

You said you found a slice serve that curves to the right. If you're a lefty, that's not a reverse slice!

[wyutani]

You are a nice guy, but your story makes no sense.

You said you found a slice serve that curves to the right. If you're a lefty, that's not a reverse slice!

honestly, i rarely do the reverse slice. what i teach here, doesnt mean i do it too. Im just contributiong mate'...

I know how frustrating it is to play a lefty. im helping the righties, whom i believe are the majority here.

like i said,

im a nice guy.:)

[Andres]

You don't get it !!! If you (lefty) hit a serve that curves right, it was NOT a reverse sliiice!!!

[jmverdugo]

First: slice or flat or a heavy kick (more pace less topspin)
Second: Slice or mild kick (More topspin less pace)

I agree that if you are going to hit a flat first serve you better hit it either to the body or to a corner, because it is most likely that it will come back really fast.

IMO, and specially for s&v, flat servers are usually a no no.

[wyutani]

You don't get it !!! If you (lefty) hit a serve that curves right, it was NOT a reverse sliiice!!!

im helping righties to reverse slice. as a lefty i stick to the normal slice, even a reverse for surprise.

[TropicThunder]

For my first serve i used a pure slice serve, fantastic against righties, im lefty. For my 2nd serve I use the kick serve, more of a topspin-type, just to keep the ball in.

sometimes i topsin serve to serve and volley.:)

What are yours and the advantage of it? If you can, mention the most hatted serve too.

A magician never reveals his secrets...

[wyutani]

A magician never reveals his secrets...

but i see no magic from you, how are you a magician?:)

[yoh4u]

1st Deuce: Slice or flat
2nd Deuce: topspin/kick

1st Ad: Kick
2nd Ad: kick

[TropicThunder]

im helping righties to reverse slice. as a lefty i stick to the normal slice, even a reverse for surprise.

No offense, but you shouldn't do this, because that serve leads to injury. Better off mastering the rest of the serves

[wyutani]

No offense, but you shouldn't do this, because that serve leads to injury. Better off mastering the rest of the serves

none taken.:)

i like to explore...its just me. when ur alone in like 10 tennis courts at 6am, you tend to dofunny things wif the serve. haha.

[TropicThunder]

none taken.:)

i like to explore...its just me. when ur alone in like 10 tennis courts at 6am, you tend to dofunny things wif the serve. haha.

You're so lucky to get so easy access to play tennis, I wish I could play every day like you do. If you get up that early, you should get a bucket and practice serves for hours, you'll get better in no time.

[wyutani]

You're so lucky to get so easy access to play tennis, I wish I could play every day like you do. If you get up that early, you should get a bucket and practice serves for hours, you'll get better in no time.

yeh true. at 6am, no one is that crazy, i practice like my serves and against the wall in 2 hours while i wait for my hitting partner to show up.

what i like to do is practice the 2nd serve only. you know, kinda make sure the ball gets in.:)

[TropicThunder]

yeh true. at 6am, no one is that crazy, i practice like my serves and against the wall in 2 hours while i wait for my hitting partner to show up.

what i like to do is practice the 2nd serve only. you know, kinda make sure the ball gets in.:)

That's a good thing, you should give great importance to your 2nd serve and practice it to death, it's the one that ensures you don't double fault

[UnPhzD]

1st - hard slice where ever my partner wants it
2nd - kick

[TropicThunder]

yeh true. at 6am, no one is that crazy, i practice like my serves and against the wall in 2 hours while i wait for my hitting partner to show up.

what i like to do is practice the 2nd serve only. you know, kinda make sure the ball gets in.:)

I myself discovered a deadly serve while practicing alone on court one day, this was attemting to hit a slice serve. This serve is better to learn and do than a reverse slice. I used a continental grip. So I was throwing the ball and trying to hit the slice, but I accidentally threw it more like in front of me and like at 12 o'clock, so what I did was swing forward from left to right, striking the ball in it's upper-center, almost on the top of it, and the serve curved a bit to my left (I'm right handed) in the air, but when it landed, it broke off wildly to my right! It had the same characteristics of an American Twist serve, but the toss and swing and everything was no way like the twist.

I've asked many players and seen if they have done it before, and no one's even heard about it. Never seen it in any pro match either.

But the best thing about this serve is that:
-The toss is almost like a flat serve, so there's no way for the opponent to know
-It has a lot of pace, more than any second serve
-It's like a fast twist serve!

I especially like doing it on the T on the deuce side, players thinks it's a slice because of the curve, but it breaks off and results in aces. Terrific serve.

[tennis_nerd22]

For my first serve i used a pure slice serve, fantastic against righties, im lefty. For my 2nd serve I use the kick serve, more of a topspin-type, just to keep the ball in.

sometimes i topsin serve to serve and volley.:)

What are yours and the advantage of it? If you can, mention the most hatted serve too.

my first serve is hard and flat. second is a kicker

people hate my flat serve but my kicker is so-so.. sometimes i hit amazing ones (service winners and/or aces), but sometimes i set my opponent up to take control of the point.

[downdaline]

1st Serve
- Up the T: Either flat or heavy kicker (for s&v)
- Out wide deuce: Slice or kicker
- Out wide ad: Kicker
- Into the body: Flat

2nd Serve
- Usually heavily kicked into the backhand.
- Occasionally will do a topspin-slice if the wind is in my favor.

[wyutani]

update:

1st serve topspin serve...

2nd serve twist serve...

[Roy125]

flat shot for first. drop shot for fun!

second serve, I use a kick serve.

[Karlovic's Sunglasses]

1st serve: Flat serve. I've hit it close to 110 before.

2nd serve: Slice/Kick. I can use either or, but mostly I use slice.

[ubermeyer]

1st- flat, sometimes i put random spin on it.

2nd- kind of push, sort of spinny

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

Deuce 1st serve:
-Hard topspin serve into the backhand corner^
-Heavily spun slice serve into the forehand corner (working on getting it on sidelines)^
-Hard topspin slice into the forehand corner
-Flat serve into the backhand corner
-Heavily spun slice serve into the body
-Kick serve into the backhand corner
-High topspin serve into the backhand corner

Ad 1st serve:
-Hard topspin serve into the backhand corner (or sideline)^
-Heavily spun slice serve into the forehand corner^
-Hard topspin slice into the forehand corner
-Flat serve into the backhand corner
-Flat serve into the body
-Hard topspin serve into the body
-Kick serve into body
-Kick serve into the backhand corner
-Kick serve onto the wide sideline
-High topspin serve into the backhand corner
-High topspin serve onto the wide sideline

Deuce 2nd serve:
-Slice serve into the forehand corner or on the sideline*
-Slice serve into the body
-High topspin serve into the backhand corner^
-Kick serve into the backhand corner^

Ad 2nd serve:
-Slice serve into the forehand corner*
-Kick serve into the forehand corner
-Kick serve into the body
-Kick serve into the backhand corner^
-High topspin serve into the backhand corner^
-Kick serve onto the wide sideline^
-High topspin serve onto the wide sideline^

*-Means I hate using this serve (or lack confidence in it; even though I use these for aces)
^-Means these are my most used serves (rest are change ups)

My high topspin serves generally have more kick on them, but my kick serves have more pace on them and have far more sideways action (twist) on them. However, my kick serves can occasionally jump as high, if not higher than my high topspin serves.

[Slazenger07]

Ist serve: Usually slice or flat, almost always slice on the ad side(lefty), really like flat out wide on the deuce side as well. Occationally ill hit a kick 1st serve.

2nd serve: Always hit kick serve

[Slazenger07]

update:

1st serve topspin serve...

2nd serve twist serve...

No lefty slice???

[lawrence]

A flat 1st serve and a weaker than I'd like topspin 2nd serve.

This. 10char

[wyutani]

No lefty slice???

not so much nowadays. right handers double handed bh tend to kill the ball. sad but true.

[Cody]

I'm intruiged about this slice serve.
I think of it as a slow side spun serve that kinda floats but the way you guys are talking about it sounds very popular and might be a nice serve to have.

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

not so much nowadays. right handers double handed bh tend to kill the ball. sad but true.

Then improve it. Add pace, put more spin, use better placement.

Try to work on getting a slice that jumps over their shoulders and mixing that up with the low one. But overall, improve your use of pace, spin, and placement on that serve and they won't kill it (except when you hit a bad one or took a risk and played a great shot, in that case: too good).