how can we serve like pros?

[andyroddick's mojo]

when pros serve, it seems like their first and second serves are very much alike, in terms of spin and speed. I would think that their second serve would be slower then their first, but for most pros that seems untrue. So how DO pros serve? do they all go flat most of the time on their first serve then go topspin/kick on their second? I just want to really know how they get their second serve to be so consistent, but yet still quite fast.


a pro's second serve is probably the speed of my first serve, fyi. i know my serves aren't that fast, but I want to build up speed as well as consistency.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

when pros serve, it seems like their first and second serves are very much alike, in terms of spin and speed. I would think that their second serve would be slower then their first, but for most pros that seems untrue. So how DO pros serve? do they all go flat most of the time on their first serve then go topspin/kick on their second? I just want to really know how they get their second serve to be so consistent, but yet still quite fast.


a pro's second serve is probably the speed of my first serve, fyi. i know my serves aren't that fast, but I want to build up speed as well as consistency.

Are these trick questions?

 

[JCo872]

Well, first serve is flatter for power, second has kick or topsin.

I think your question relates to ground strokes as well where people say certain topspin hitters hit "heavy" balls, meaning they have topspin, but also power. Pro second servers are like this. Lot's of spin but powerful driving spin. Not the weak kind of spin a lot of club players hit from just brushing over or around the ball.

 

[Mike Cottrill]

I’m no expert like these others, but pros and better player’s service motion speed is just about the same for both first and second serve. A lot of club players slow down there second serve motion speed and the result is a powder-puff serve. Is that what you are referring to?

 

[andyroddick's mojo]

yes, that is what i'm referring to. so do I see pros use a fast second serve swing motion, and i suppose thats a big part of why the can generate so much spin but still drive it. Should we all do this?

 

[mucat]

For 2nd serve, you should swing AT LEAST as hard as your 1st serve.

 

[Mike Cottrill]

yes, that is what i'm referring to. so do I see pros use a fast second serve swing motion, and i suppose thats a big part of why the can generate so much spin but still drive it. Should we all do this?

Ideally yes. When you first practice this unfortunately you will find yourself double faulting a lot. In long run your first and second will become more consistent.

 

[kicker75]

I would love to have a first serve equivalent to some pro's 2nd serves... Roddick hits wicked kick serves at 115 mph on his 2nd serves. I can't even get that fast on my first.

 

[VolklVenom]

both 1st and 2nd serves should have a degree of spin on them.
so, when you fire up a 2nd serve, it is every bit as powerful, with just a tad more topspin.

 

[VolklVenom]

the pure flat serve is high risk.
a bit like going down the line in a normal baseline rally.

 

[andyroddick's mojo]

i'm going to try and work on that next time I go out and hit. "that" being the whole swing as fast on your second serve as you do on your first.

 

[mowcopian]

well, as they say,practice makes perfect

 

[mowcopian]

i will also try to do the smae thing, because if you dont swing hard enough you will miss the service box anyway.

 

[mowcopian]

lots and lots and lots and lots of practice

 

[LowProfile]

There is quite a bit of difference between the first and second serves of the pros. Perhaps it's difficult to see on TV, but there is around 15-20 less mph on the second serve of most pros. This is quite a difference considering most of us recreational players struggle to break 80 on our flattest serves.

A pro's second serve (especially that of a man) goes at around 100-110 mph. If your first serve can go that fast, then you have a pretty damn good first serve.

 

[mowcopian]

yeah you can tell tht they put loads of kicka dn spin on there second serve to give it a higher chance of going in.