Ground Stroke Serve

[HellBunni]

There's the overhead serves, there's the underhand serves. Are there ground-stroke serves? Like take a full forehand/backhand swing to serve. Wouldn't this give the server more control, while not scarificing too much pace?

[Rep. Timothy Calhoun]

aThere's the overhead serves, there's the underhand serves. Are there ground-stroke serves? Like take a full forehand/backhand swing to serve. Wouldn't this give the server more control, while not scarificing too much pace?Why are you so interested? Do you actually want to develop a groundstroke serve as your ultimate serve? :confused:

[Bungalo Bill]

There's the overhead serves, there's the underhand serves. Are there ground-stroke serves? Like take a full forehand/backhand swing to serve. Wouldn't this give the server more control, while not scarificing too much pace?

Are you having trouble serving? Can you see the obvious disadvantages?

[HellBunni]

aWhy are you so interested? Do you actually want to develop a groundstroke serve as your ultimate serve? :confused:

Just wondering what other's think about it. Since there are threads about the usefullness of underhand serves, but wouldn't this be more useful than an underhand serve?.

[ShcMad]

On a funny note, I aced this one guy with an underhand serve last week. And, two days ago, I aced another guy with another underhand serve that barely cleared the net.
I do this whenever I see them far behind the baseline.

On a more serious note, I only do this because my serves are awful, and I'm in the process of learning how to serve properly. :(

[HellBunni]

Adv:

1. More control, so better placements and higher percentage
2. Faster recovery. This would be a cross court shot, you can recover from the serve motion faster and be ready.
3. Wind wouldn't be as big of a factor.
4. Easier to mix the depth/pace of the ball, like to do a drop serve (underhand), since the motion will be harder to read.

Disadv:

1. Slower pace than a overhead. But if you take a step and swing through the ball, it should be able to go around 20-80 MPH (depending on level of the player).
2. Players can take it on the raise and really punish you. But this applies to overheads as well.

Neutral:

1. Should still provide a good amount of option for spin, not as spinny as overhead.

[Bungalo Bill]

Adv:

1. More control, so better placements and higher percentage
2. Faster recovery. This would be a cross court shot, you can recover from the serve motion faster and be ready.
3. Wind wouldn't be as big of a factor.
4. Easier to mix the depth/pace of the ball, like to do a drop serve (underhand), since the motion will be harder to read.

Disadv:

1. Slower pace than a overhead. But if you take a step and swing through the ball, it should be able to go around 20-80 MPH (depending on level of the player).
2. Players can take it on the raise and really punish you. But this applies to overheads as well.

Neutral:

1. Should still provide a good amount of option for spin, not as spinny as overhead.

What about spin and consistency? Do you have a better chance to keep the ball in at high speeds on the regular serve or the groundstroke serve. Even if you had more time to recover from the motion, would the receiver be really getting two second serves?

[golden chicken]

Adv:

1. More control, so better placements and higher percentage
2. Faster recovery. This would be a cross court shot, you can recover from the serve motion faster and be ready.
3. Wind wouldn't be as big of a factor.
4. Easier to mix the depth/pace of the ball, like to do a drop serve (underhand), since the motion will be harder to read.

Disadv:

1. Slower pace than a overhead. But if you take a step and swing through the ball, it should be able to go around 20-80 MPH (depending on level of the player).
2. Players can take it on the raise and really punish you. But this applies to overheads as well.

Neutral:

1. Should still provide a good amount of option for spin, not as spinny as overhead.

"advantage" 1: a good overhead serve has MORE spin and MORE potential for good placement than a good groundstroke due to the mechanics and the contact point being higher.

"advantage" 2: it's much harder to attack a 100 mph serve than a 60 mph groundstroke. the percentage play to return a serve is crosscourt-ish, but a 60 mph groundstroke you could direct with pace and spin anywhere i.e. down the line and deep, or short crosscourt. you'd better have wheels if you're going to defend that.

"advantage" 3: you can't bounce-hit a serve, even if it's a groundstroke. you might have less of a toss for the wind to affect, but the wind will affect it more if it's going slower with less spin

"advantage" 4: with different spins and placement, you can run an opponent into the side fence with slice, hit him in the head with a kicker, or bomb aces up the tee. a returner against underhand-only serving is going to camp out in no-man's land and be able to counter drop-serves and moonball serves from an extremely agressive court position.

"disadvantage" 1: a groundstroke serve is speed-limited because you have to hit over the net. you can only hit so fast from a certain height to get it over the net and into the appropriate service box. your speed-limit increases as your contact point gets higher.

"disadvantage" 2: yes, but opponents can REALLY punish a slower ball, and as i've mentioned above, an overhead serve has potential for higher speed. AND the rules say you're not supposed to be able to take a step and serve.

"neutral:" again, you can't bounce-hit a serve, so you'd have to toss/drop it and then try to hit a ball that's falling straight down with pace and spin. extreme topspin will be hard to impart because you'd be rushing the kinetic chain and brushing up against a ball that isn't coming towards you at all. slice will be easier, but an underhanded drop-shot serve only works, as was mentioned before, if your opponent wasn't camping out in no-man's land.


practice your overhead serve. it's a really tough shot to master, but once you do, the rewards are definitely worth it.

[Slazenger]

Adv:1. Slower pace than a overhead. But if you take a step and swing through the ball, it should be able to go around 20-80 MPH (depending on level of the player).

I seriously doubt the possibility of hitting an 80mph groundstroke serve.

[Rep. Timothy Calhoun]

I seriously doubt the possibility of hitting an 80mph groundstroke serve.I cannot imagine that happening! Teh mechanics would appear to be very awkward and jerky. Maybe like a weird sidearm throwing motion.

[Andres]

I seriously doubt the possibility of hitting an 80mph groundstroke serve.
You doubt it???
I can assure you there's almost no chance of doint it, specially when the initial speed is 0, and you can't make it bounce, as in paddle tennis.
Anyway, there's no net clearance.

[Andres]

In other words: It's STUPID. A groundstroke serve IS an underhand serve, with a differente spin :)

[Rep. Timothy Calhoun]

In other words: It's STUPID. A groundstroke serve IS an underhand serve, with a differente spin :)Ok, I knew somebody was gonna have to say that sooner or later. :)

[HellBunni]

In other words: It's STUPID. A groundstroke serve IS an underhand serve, with a differente spin :)

lol, then that means it's better than a underhand serve, right?

[Andres]

lol, then that means it's better than a underhand serve, right?
No, it means it has a different spin.
An underhand serve with tons of backspin and sidespin is much more hard to return than an underhand serve with topspin or flat .

In other words, no, it's not better, it's worse ;)

[Bungalo Bill]

lol, then that means it's better than a underhand serve, right?

HellBunni,

If you want to serve with a groundstroke motion, you go right ahead. But when the ball is plastered on your forehead, don't come running to us. ;)

[Andres]

HellBunni,

If you want to serve with a groundstroke motion, you go right ahead. ;)
Got down to the point. Well done, Bungallo ;)
If you like it, stick to it. If you're being steamrolled because of the serve, don't come and whine here :D

[Andres]

But when the ball is plastered on your forehead, don't come running to us. ;)
No no no!!! Edit !!
You stole my thunder, I wrote that first!!!! :mrgreen:

[drakulie]

There's the overhead serves, there's the underhand serves. Are there ground-stroke serves? Like take a full forehand/backhand swing to serve. Wouldn't this give the server more control, while not scarificing too much pace?

Agree with the other posts. However, are you saying to bounce the ball and then serve by hitting a forehand? Because if it is what you mean it is illegal.

[HellBunni]

Got down to the point. Well done, Bungallo ;)
If you like it, stick to it. If you're being steamrolled because of the serve, don't come and whine here :D

nope not using it. Was just wondering that's all

[lucky leprechaun]

Isn't a groundstroke serve simply a short groundstroke for your opponent? Have to go underhanded if you're going to do it because you can get wicked alien spin like a left hander.