Why is it easier to get slice serves in?

[TennisAsAlways]

Originally Posted by Kaptain Karl

TAA - I don't know where you got that diagram, but I question it. (I know I'm in the 5-10% category, but I hit all my serves from the same toss -- right in-between your diagram's Flat and Top/Slice.) Now to my challenges of this diagram:
1 - I come from the "school of thought" that a Twist and a Kick are the same serve. You diagram disagrees.
2 - If one is using your diagram, I'd say "Pure Top" and "Twist" are switched. (The locations are okay; the labels are wrong.)

For what I call a "Hard Slice" I simply toss farther into the court 6-8 inches.

- KK

I am very aware that people often times use the term "Kicker" interchangeably with "Twist". That is probably what lead you to scratching your head when viewing that diagram.

Going with the diagram's "label", I would have to say that it is "technically" labelled correctly. "Kick" simply means to jump up. I think it's not the best choice of words when one describes a "Twist" as a "kick/kicker" (Sure a "Twist" can have some jump to it, but it also curves a bit while in the air, and bounces to the opposite direction it was travelling whist in flight, therefore, "Kicker" is NOT the most accurate term to use in describing that type of ball flight and ball action.) If you look up the definition of "kick serve", I'm sure many sources will describe it as a "Twist" as well (Going with THAT "logic", mind as well call a Reverse Twist serve a PLAIN old "kicker serve" as well! Forget which way the ball turns and bounces!). As far as the use of that term, in that way, I have to disagree with it.

[papa]

Originally Posted by TennisAsAlways

I know that you didn't say that I said it. I was just saying that the OP did not make a general statement claiming that "slice" to everyone has a higher margin of error than "flat". I was saying that it seems to be that HE was implying that slices have a higher margin of error, TO HIM, and so I was saying: "What is there to disagree about? It's that way to HIM, and so why would YOU disagree with that?"

That's what I was saying.

OK

However, in the second paragraph of his OP, he wonders if he is "wrong" and its not easier - I was responding to that question. Certain serves, strokes and moves are, in fact, easier for some than others - I'm not going to argue with that. The fact "might be" that he can hit a "slice" but can't "hit" top which again, in itself, would make it easier for him - fine.

[papa]

Originally Posted by TennisAsAlways

Just so you know, I wasn't implying that a "pure slice" would have any rotation forcing the ball to dive down. The "only" reason why I even began to mention about topspin is because I was explaining to the OP that it is very likely that when one "attempts" a "pure slice", that the serve does not end up being "perfect", and so it "could" be that in some of his cases, "topspin" resulted.

Yes, I'm with you 100% on this - no arguement.