Why is my second serve so atrocious?

[Chris Evert-Awful]

I'm not sure if I'm hitting it with slice or topspin. I know that you're supposed to hit the second one as hard as the first, but I can't envision doing that with my current stroke and ensuring that it goes in.
How do you hit a good, deep, topspin second serve?

[fishuuuuu]

Hey Chris.

Whenever I hit a second serve I throw it somewhat behind my head and above myself. What people see is a throw slightly to the left and over my head as I load for the serve.

You need to brush almost directly upward hitting the ball from the very bottom of the ball to impart the good stuff. Think of hitting a forehand with topspin. How do you hit it? From low to high. I'd slow my serve down to experiment with this.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .http://tennis.about.com/library/weekly/topspin-animation-arrow.gif

Try standing on the service line and serving into the opposing service box with your full powered 2nd serve. If you can sucessfully impart enough spin from that position to get it into the box then you're doing good. Slowly make your way back to the baseline in intervals doing this and you should be able to grasp the proper control of spin you need to hit a good topspin 2nd serve.

Good luck!

[Chris Evert-Awful]

Thanks for the overview. But I still can't envision it -- hitting from 6 to 12 from the bottom of the racquet?

[fishuuuuu]

Same spot o nthe racquet. Just brush up on the ball!

EDIT : Oh I get what you're saying, I meant ball, not racquet.

[joesixtoe]

hey also try hitting from the 10-2 i've been doing this and getting them in almost all the time now, its so cool cuz now i feel a bit more confident when i serve,,, umm its not as powerful thats for sure, prob cuz i havent really tried doing that yet, but it sure can induce some spin that i've seen,,, umm also try 7-1 too and i guess what this guy just said 6-12, i'm gonna try that and see how that works,,,,

[Digital]

Also you say that ur supposed to hit it as hard. Well ur really not trying to do that. You want your racquet speed to be the same but you want less solid contact you need to brush the ball. Make the toss more behind you then brush the ball yeah 7-1 is what i do.

[Richie Rich]

a good exercise to help with generating the stroke for a good second serve is:
1) go to your normal spot where you serve from (duece or ad court)
2) kneel down on a towel with the right knee on the ground (if you are right handed. reverse position for lefties)
3) make sure you are facing the net and use continental grip
4) toss the ball above your head and only use your arm to brush up on the ball to get enough spin to clear the net and land in the service box.
5) repeat until you are comfortable with the motion

i've found this isolates your arm and torso so you get a good feel for the mechanics of the second serve. when you are comfortable with this and start bringing your legs into the motion then you will be able to hit a reliable and comsistent second serve.

[Indiantwist]

Identify the problem into the following
1) TECHNIQUE : Ie you know or dont know how to do a topspin serve.
2) Execution : You know (1) but have trouble executing it.

If the problem is (1) , get the grasp of the technique by following some of the suggestions people stated above. What i used to do was to Hit very slowly and make sure the ball lands and KICKS UP. Slowly i upped the pace. Now i have a decent kick serve (i still cant twist it at will....but getting there)

If the problem is (2), lots of practice with a Bucket of balls will do.

Lastly, if you are a beginner/intermediate then these issues are common. Little more tennis and they will go away. If you are an advanced player (i do know a few advanced players who have extremely good ground strokes and great first serves but weak 2 serves), you already have a good idea of technique and etc.

[ATXtennisaddict]

What grip do you all use for your 2nd serves?

[Bungalo Bill]

I'm not sure if I'm hitting it with slice or topspin. I know that you're supposed to hit the second one as hard as the first, but I can't envision doing that with my current stroke and ensuring that it goes in.
How do you hit a good, deep, topspin second serve?

Chris,

If you dare, put a video up for all to see. Or send one to me through my email. It is hard to advise without seeing something.

[Chris Evert-Awful]

Hi Bill,
I'd love to be able to post a vid clip, but I can't because I lack the technology. And because I'm exquisitely beautiful and I'm afraid of being stalked.
But I think I'm starting to understand. You toss the ball to the left and hit bottom to top, kind of like your motion if you were shaving someone's head from nape to forehead? Or no? I'm envisioning a really exaggerated service motion.

[Bungalo Bill]

Hi Bill,
I'd love to be able to post a vid clip, but I can't because I lack the technology. And because I'm exquisitely beautiful and I'm afraid of being stalked.
But I think I'm starting to understand. You toss the ball to the left and hit bottom to top, kind of like your motion if you were shaving someone's head from nape to forehead? Or no? I'm envisioning a really exaggerated service motion.

Go with that for now gorgeous. ;)

It really depends on the serve type, your timing, the toss, the speed at which you swing, and your form. But never mind that, toss more to your left and see what happens. :)