finally got my kicker in....

[ms87]

Originally Posted by LeeD

I've posted before, but I'm still getting older....
Flat firsts, maybe just over 100, bounce about hip high to most players 6' tall.
Topspin first, hit fast, about mid chest.
Topspin seconds, hit only guided to backhand or forehand side, mid chest.
Twist wide on duece, me lefty, close to mid face height on good ones, higher on great ones, and chin high on short ones.
I choose not to hit a twist on ad court (me lefty) due to shorter court and lower net.
I don't hit kicks into the ad court. Just too much to practice for an aging 60 year oldster.

thats pretty low kick for a guy with your height and experience, mine go to about 7+ feet and I'm 5'9.

[LeeD]

Hey, I never said I was any good, I'm just stating how high MY serves go.
Someone needed an example, and that's mine.
Now if I served at 6,000' elevation, and the temps were over 70, and the courts were not smooth concrete..... who knows? I might get it to bounce 6 inches higher.

[Bungalo Bill]

Originally Posted by Slazenger07

Yesterday I went out and practiced kick serves before my friend came to the court and I was concentrating on the things you guys talked about and the serves were going really good. I could tell I was getting good topspin on the ball and a bit of slice action as well, allowing me to sometimes hit a twist serve with good breaking action without really meaning to. Im really starting to get the hang of topspining the serve, its still going to take more time before Im confident with it. Originally I was thinking about learning the topspin-slice serve but I think I should just concentrate on trying to hit topspin on the serve rather than try and add both spins right now, cause its really heavy topspin that Id like to see on my serve. Ive found throwing the toss above my head seems pretty comfortable for me and it definetly looks like Im getting the right spin so Im gonna keep working on the topspin/twist serve.

Thanks for your help guys!

Excellent. It wont happen every time when you are learning. It comes and goes. Then one day you just get it. For the twist you just need to ensure the ball is tossed properly, your racquet path goes in the right direction, and your body shape allows you to hit the way you are suppose too. The rest my friend is practice.

Perform slow deliberate serves at the back fence. Really loop those suckers and watch the bounce. Keep doing it until 90% of your serves are performing the way you want.

[Slazenger07]

Well since weve last talked Ive decided to really try to focus on the topspin-slice serve as I think its easier to hit and it will benefit me more, being a lefty. Plus when I attempted the twist the action looked right but people have since told me it wasnt topspin on my ball. I can get the right spin with a top/slice tho so im just gonna stick with that.

I feel like at this point I need to own a kick serve of some type and the top/slice looks like the best option for me.

[LeeD]

Topspin/slice is a mainstay for lefties vs righties on ad court.
But sometimes, you face a lefty on duece court, and he wants to his a forehand. That wide twist up high to his backhand can work pretty effectively.
Best to learn all the serves, then use the one you think is most effective for the particular situation.

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

Originally Posted by ms87

mine go to about 7+ feet and I'm 5'9.

So you're playing D1 tennis? Futures?

7+ feet is pretty ridiculous; you do know that right? That's on par with Roddick and Federer, who have the best second serves on the current tour!

What's the pace and penetration on that? Cause if you really generate a kicker that big you should be playing some REALLY high level tennis.

Even my best freak kickers probably don't touch 7 feet (still high 6 foot range).

If you were 6'4" or something I can understand, but 5'9" requires some serious spin to pull that off. I even played a crazy server around 6'6" and he still didn't get kickers that high! (But his serves were still in the mid 6 foot range.)

[Slazenger07]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Topspin/slice is a mainstay for lefties vs righties on ad court.
But sometimes, you face a lefty on duece court, and he wants to his a forehand. That wide twist up high to his backhand can work pretty effectively.
Best to learn all the serves, then use the one you think is most effective for the particular situation.

Yea but that is a rare occasion, I figure for now I can use my flat serve and place it out wide on the duece side or slice into the body to deal with any lefties I might face, which hasn't been many in the past.

Ive grown accustomed to being "the lefty" in the group that gives everybody head aches. Love that role