Playing Tournaments with a Sketchy Serve

[barringer97]

Originally Posted by ga tennis

We have really been working hard on the serve. I have had alot of success lately teaching her the kick serve by having her stand out on the singles line on the ad side trying to make the ball kick into the side fence. Im really trying to focus on the racket head speed hitting up and landing inside the court on the left foot.I just want the same shape on every serve. She still sometimes struggles on the deuce side because she tends to open the shoulders up a littl;e to much. I know you want variety on the serve but right now i just want her to perfect her kicker.The top 12s can attack it because it gets up high in there strike zone but in a few years when it really matters its gonna be hard to handle.

Good drill. I have a nasty kick serve and the main reason for that is because my courts had a low fence on the sides so I always tried to kick it over on the add side. Great for doubles. Worked for me!

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by barringer97

Good drill. I have a nasty kick serve and the main reason for that is because my courts had a low fence on the sides so I always tried to kick it over on the add side. Great for doubles. Worked for me!

Its also the reason i have a good kicker.

[ga tennis]

I really think thats one of the problems with womens serves. Some coaches dont really focus on the kick serves with girls and they get stuck hitting it too flat or slicing it. I think the kick serve gives them soooo much margin for error and they get accustomed to swinging full out hitting up chest to the sky with a ton of racket head speed and wont be so prone to nerves and double faults. Maybe im wrong i just see how Serena and S.Stosur look soooo much better than most of the other women due to the fact that they hit the big kicker.

[barringer97]

Originally Posted by ga tennis

I really think thats one of the problems with womens serves. Some coaches dont really focus on the kick serves with girls and they get stuck hitting it too flat or slicing it. I think the kick serve gives them soooo much margin for error and they get accustomed to swinging full out hitting up chest to the sky with a ton of racket head speed and wont be so prone to nerves and double faults. Maybe im wrong i just see how Serena and S.Stosur look soooo much better than most of the other women due to the fact that they hit the big kicker.

True. Also, I think another issue with it is that you can get burned by it if your not careful. If you leave it up to someone that has a good forehand, your done...so you got to take your lumps.

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by barringer97

True. Also, I think another issue with it is that you can get burned by it if your not careful. If you leave it up to someone that has a good forehand, your done...so you got to take your lumps.

Thats why they have to learn to serve to there targets and mix up there spots. I would rather see a kid hit a big forehand winner off a second serve than see them double fault.

[mrj1813]

Originally Posted by Tennishacker

(if your talking about AD)

No one who plays competitive tennis (juniors, college & pros) use a forehand grip to serve.

Any competent coach should be embarrassed to have their student using a forehand grip for serving.

I was more just speaking generally, not singling out any one player's stroke. Since you bring it up though, i concur, AD's service motion is extremely awkward from what I've seen on the videos posted on this site. I can't help but think that at some point when the competition gets fiercer, it will become a huge liability. That is a stroke I would def say is flawed.

sam

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by mrj1813

I was more just speaking generally, not singling out any one player's stroke. Since you bring it up though, i concur, AD's service motion is extremely awkward from what I've seen on the videos posted on this site. I can't help but think that at some point when the competition gets fiercer, it will become a huge liability. That is a stroke I would def say is flawed.

sam

A.D. is gonna be fine. She has time to fix the serve. She has something about her that cant be taught. I like the way she fights and her shot making skills. If she gets with the right technical coach and keeps progressing for the future she will be great. Remember she is only 11.Plenty of time...

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by ga tennis

I really think thats one of the problems with womens serves. Some coaches dont really focus on the kick serves with girls and they get stuck hitting it too flat or slicing it. I think the kick serve gives them soooo much margin for error and they get accustomed to swinging full out hitting up chest to the sky with a ton of racket head speed and wont be so prone to nerves and double faults. Maybe im wrong i just see how Serena and S.Stosur look soooo much better than most of the other women due to the fact that they hit the big kicker.

Girls usually don't serve big kick serves and they don't get to practice returning them either. My son played a mixed double match in an Open tournament before Christmas. The girl had no problem returning his 1st serves; but she either missed or floated back probably 90% of his kickers to her backhand. Big boys at the winter national also made many errors trying to attack his kickers.

Stosur also likes to serve a big kicker as her 1st serve to the add side.

BTW, I am really impressed with your daughter's ability to kick the ball to the side fence. She will surely make you proud!

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by barringer97

True. Also, I think another issue with it is that you can get burned by it if your not careful. If you leave it up to someone that has a good forehand, your done...so you got to take your lumps.

Yes, a slow kicker that lands in 2-3 feet from the corner may be attacked with a big forehand. A well placed and decent paced kicker is very hard for a returner to run around and attack with forehand. Pros including Roger Federer often uses slices to return 80 miles kickers.