Ball toss location and visualisation techniques to make the toss consistent

[Clay lover]

Have always been more of a slice/kick guy for consistency and better utilization of my lefty spin, but have been struggling a bit with the toss lately. Theoretically you should be tossing a little to the side and in front with the slice but at lot of times I just end up lunging at the ball. Results seem a lot better if I just toss straight up on top of me. But if that's my ideal strike zone is there something wrong with my technique?

For the kick serve, on the other hand, is it necessary to toss behind me? Cus if I do that I actually end up contacting the ball before I'm able to close my racquet face, causing the ball to launch and sail long.

Any visualisation techniques/ reference points to make me toss to the same location consistently?

 

[eah123]

For my serve, slice and flat are in the same location, approximately 12 o’clock and in front. Kick my toss is closer to baseline, but still in front and about 11 o’clock.

The best thing to do in my opinion is work out where the ideal contact point is for you for each serve. It’s probably slightly different for everyone based on their technique. Once you decide on the location, practice practice practice to make it consistent.

 

[jindra]

I was having a lot of difficulties with the toss and what helped me was to look up to the spot where I want to place the ball just before the toss.

 

[Jonesy]

I have 12 different tosses, but it makes no difference because i toss so low it is hard to lose any precision. Yet there are some that say you only need one toss:

 

[johnmccabe]

I have 12 different tosses, but it makes no difference because i toss so low it is hard to lose any precision. Yet there are some that say you only need one toss:

This method won't work for anyone who doesn't take a step forward with the front foot. Very few pros do that like him.

 

[ballmachineguy]

Why not shadow swing the racquet like you are hitting the serve you want and then toss the ball to the spot where you imagine the contact will take place. Adjust from there.
To me, it makes more sense to do that than guessing where to toss and then swinging in a path forced by the toss location

 

[Cashman]

Any visualisation techniques/ reference points to make me toss to the same location consistently?

to toss consistently, you need to rely on muscle memory/feel rather than visualisation/reference points

the toss has to be one of those things that you don't even think about - you just put the ball in the air

only way to really do that is hit lots and lots of serves - you will soon figure out the difference between what a good toss and a bad toss feels like

 

[Dakota C]

to toss consistently, you need to rely on muscle memory/feel rather than visualisation/reference points
Agreed - toss consistency is all about trying to replicate the same feeling of raising your arm and releasing the ball.

only way to really do that is hit lots and lots of serves - you will soon figure out the difference between what a good toss and a bad toss feels like
And this is what you need to do to figure out where you get the best result for the serve you're trying to hit.

 

[TennisCJC]

to toss consistently, you need to rely on muscle memory/feel rather than visualisation/reference points

the toss has to be one of those things that you don't even think about - you just put the ball in the air

only way to really do that is hit lots and lots of serves - you will soon figure out the difference between what a good toss and a bad toss feels like

I agree the goal is to toss without thinking of visualization points but I do think visualization points are a good way to practice and to communicate where the toss should be located. But, when things are going well, it is about rhythm and feel and not a lot of thinking.

 

[Chas Tennis]

Have always been more of a slice/kick guy for consistency and better utilization of my lefty spin, but have been struggling a bit with the toss lately. Theoretically you should be tossing a little to the side and in front with the slice but at lot of times I just end up lunging at the ball. Results seem a lot better if I just toss straight up on top of me. But if that's my ideal strike zone is there something wrong with my technique?

For the kick serve, on the other hand, is it necessary to toss behind me? Cus if I do that I actually end up contacting the ball before I'm able to close my racquet face, causing the ball to launch and sail long.

Any visualisation techniques/ reference points to make me toss to the same location consistently?

For the kick serve, the toss is not behind you. I've posted on that many times with pictures. The ATP pros release their tosses and then move
their heads forward.

Google: anatoly antipin Youtube stosur kick serve

Toly made composite videos where many positions are in each frame.

The ATP pros look close to impact but most break off their ball viewing before impact.

Look at any high speed videos from the side view. A few do look at impact.

 

[onehandbh]

I have 12 different tosses, but it makes no difference because i toss so low it is hard to lose any precision.

I have 12 different tosses, too.

The problem is that I don't know which of the 12 tosses it will be until the ball is released from my hand. It's kind of like skeet shooting.

 

[Fintft]

to toss consistently, you need to rely on muscle memory/feel rather than visualisation/reference points

the toss has to be one of those things that you don't even think about - you just put the ball in the air

only way to really do that is hit lots and lots of serves - you will soon figure out the difference between what a good toss and a bad toss feels like

OP you should add visualization to that, at least by looking first to where you want to toss...

@jindra already told you that!

 

[Dragy]

For the kick serve, on the other hand, is it necessary to toss behind me? Cus if I do that I actually end up contacting the ball before I'm able to close my racquet face, causing the ball to launch and sail long.

What exactly do you mean? Because you likely be opening racquet face towards contact rather than closing it for kick serve:

 

[Clay lover]

What exactly do you mean? Because you likely be opening racquet face towards contact rather than closing it for kick serve:

I guess I meant I opened it too much