Serve toss out of control.

[LES]

Been working on my serve and some days it's good and other days I just can't get a consistent ball toss

Any tips? I do practice but it always seems to fall apart during matchplay.

When I practice, I'm hitting one ball after another I can adjust and get it good after maybe 10 tries.

But during matchplay I don't have that luxury. Sometimes I'll just swing anyways knowing toss is bad because I feel guilty for delaying the point with too many mis-toss.

Any tips?

[dmtree]

figure out where exactly you need to toss, make sure your arm is straight when you toss the ball, and practice 200-300 tosses per day, without serves. in 2 weeks you should be tossing a lot better. :)

[chess9]

Rhythm, constant same placement, and a consistent move into the ball are big keys. (In other words, you should strive to strike the ball in the same spot in space every time.)

I have a friend who takes a forward step with his left foot into the ball (a righty) and that plays havoc with his toss. If his timing is off, his game goes to hell. I've been trying to get him to keep his left foot planted so he can have some constancy with his toss, but he's been doing it for 40 years!

Good luck!

-Robert

[LeeD]

As said, more practice of course...
You might try practicing SETS instead of mindless hitting.
You might try to align your tossing arm to the toes of your front foot, so that part is a constant.
You might try to hold the ball with thumb, fore, and mid fingers, but held like you're holding a cup.... to take out the wrist equation.
You might get your ready position EXACTLY the same each serve, with exactly the same handheight and exactly the same body positioning.
You might completely STOP all movement just before initiation of the motion, so you can concentrate a second, THEN go into your service motion.
But most of all, you have not practiced nearly enough to get a replicable toss, so practice MORE.

[Fastpace Ace]

The BEST advice I was ever taught was...place your feet all the way together, side by side and touching, in what is closest to your natural service stance. Toss the ball up like your normal serve and serve the ball. (While still keeping your feet together through the whole motion) The ball will go in 3 out of 4 times, you will not have the power as you normally would with leg drive, but it WILL be a much more consistent serve and toss.

If you ever start to choke on your serve in a match, put your feet together and serve, you will be delighted as you have a much higher chance of getting the serve in. Hope I helped.

[Nonentity]

also, when you are tossing it, make sure your hand and ball go in a straight bottom to up motion, and make sure you are using your fingers to toss the ball up. This gives you more control and precision for your toss.

[LES]

As said, more practice of course...
You might try practicing SETS instead of mindless hitting.
You might try to align your tossing arm to the toes of your front foot, so that part is a constant.
You might try to hold the ball with thumb, fore, and mid fingers, but held like you're holding a cup.... to take out the wrist equation.
You might get your ready position EXACTLY the same each serve, with exactly the same handheight and exactly the same body positioning.
You might completely STOP all movement just before initiation of the motion, so you can concentrate a second, THEN go into your service motion.
But most of all, you have not practiced nearly enough to get a replicable toss, so practice MORE.

thanks for the pointers leed but what is practicing SETS? Do you mean I should pretend I'm playing a set?

[LeeD]

Almost all good players always practice playing a few sets each week, not match's, so they get used to the service after rallying.
Most good players play a number of tiebreakers during their practices, so they practice serve and returns THAT COUNT.
Just hitting a million serves does little good, as that is NOT what you do during a real tennis match.
You are what you practice. If you practice hitting, you're a good rallyer or hitter, but usually a terrible match player.
If you only practice your serves, you have a good serve, but what good is that when you gotta let the OTHER guy serve sometimes??

[volusiano]

I just posted this in another ball toss thread, in case it helps.

Make sure you keep your elbow locked so your arm is always straight, and it helps to hold the ball with the palm facing upward in the start position. If you hold the ball with the palm facing sideway in the start position, you'll be forced to turn your hand upward anyway in the toss and it will be difficult to time it right, so the toss doesn't go up straight as consistently.