Holding serve - how important is it really?

[OrangePower]

Of course we know how important holding your serve is at the pro level, where a break often means the set.

But one of the other active threads about holding when serving first got me thinking... how much of a big deal is holding serve at the club level (3.0 - 4.5)?

My personal experience, mainly from playing men's 4.0 singles, is that it's pretty common to trade 2 breaks per set. Meaning that I've often reached scores of 6 all (heading into a tiebreak) where I won 4 service games + two breaks, as did my opponent. Also, winning a set 6-4 might also often include a couple of breaks each way. Based on this, I would say that at 4.0 singles, the server wins the game maybe 2/3 of the time on average. Definitely an advantage, but not overwhelming.

So I wonder - what are the %'s of service holds at other levels and in doubles versus singles?

[Cindysphinx]

I am of two minds about this.

I play with teammates who, when asked how the match went, will proudly declare "I held my serve every time!!" If they are broken, they consider this a terrible failing. I think they feel that if the team loses but they held, they did their job.

Me, I think (or perhaps I should say "thought") that whether my partner held was a pretty big reflection on me. I mean, I should get at least two volley winners when she serves. I should make a nuisance of myself with movement, even if I don't touch the ball. I should position -- even putting myself at risk -- in a way to ward off shots that will cause her trouble (e.g. if my partner can't run and is serving from the deuce court, I cannot let them get a lob over my head, because she will never reach it to hit a running BH, so I may position or drift back to the service line to discourage the lob).

That's why I was so concerned that I'm not holding lately. I'm starting to second-guess myself on the whole thing. 'Cause I'm getting broken a lot, and my partners are not, which is why we are still winning.

Anyway, I am finding that at 3.5 singles, it is completely irrelevant who serves. You could have either player serve every single game for an entire set, and you would get the same result as if they took turns serving.

[OrangePower]

So Cindy, you didn't say, at 3.5 ladies doubles, how common are service breaks and how instrumental are they to the outcome of the match?

[Cindysphinx]

I didn't say because I'm not sure.

Let's see. In my last match, we won 6-4, 6-3. In the first set, I was broken, but then we broke back. Partner held, opponent held. So 2-all. Then I was broken and opponent held. So 2-4. Then partner held, we broke, I held, we broke. Set.

So that was 5 service breaks, with my partner holding each time.

Then in the second set, partner held, they held. I was broken, we broke back. Partner held, we broke. I held, they held, partner held. Set.

So that was 3 service breaks, with my partner holding each time.

[LuckyR]

Originally Posted by OrangePower

Of course we know how important holding your serve is at the pro level, where a break often means the set.

But one of the other active threads about holding when serving first got me thinking... how much of a big deal is holding serve at the club level (3.0 - 4.5)?

My personal experience, mainly from playing men's 4.0 singles, is that it's pretty common to trade 2 breaks per set. Meaning that I've often reached scores of 6 all (heading into a tiebreak) where I won 4 service games + two breaks, as did my opponent. Also, winning a set 6-4 might also often include a couple of breaks each way. Based on this, I would say that at 4.0 singles, the server wins the game maybe 2/3 of the time on average. Definitely an advantage, but not overwhelming.

So I wonder - what are the %'s of service holds at other levels and in doubles versus singles?

If folks are getting aces, service winners, easy poach winners and easy S&V putaways, then holding is critical. If serving is just a way of starting the point, it is meaningless.

[maverick66]

the higher up the level the more important it becomes. if your not holding regularly at a high level you are not winning the majority of your matches.

[larry10s]

Originally Posted by maverick66

the higher up the level the more important it becomes. if your not holding regularly at a high level you are not winning the majority of your matches.

another indicator of if you are moving up the chain. do you hold serve

[OrangePower]

Originally Posted by LuckyR

If folks are getting aces, service winners, easy poach winners and easy S&V putaways, then holding is critical. If serving is just a way of starting the point, it is meaningless.

Yes...

Originally Posted by maverick66

the higher up the level the more important it becomes. if your not holding regularly at a high level you are not winning the majority of your matches.

Yes...

Originally Posted by larry10s

another indicator of if you are moving up the chain. do you hold serve

Yes...

So we can all conclude that holding serve becomes more important at higher levels of play, and that conversely, being able to hold serve is a requirement in order to play at higher levels.

But at the 3.0 to 4.5 levels, how important is it?

[OrangePower]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

I didn't say because I'm not sure.

Let's see. In my last match, we won 6-4, 6-3. In the first set, I was broken, but then we broke back. Partner held, opponent held. So 2-all. Then I was broken and opponent held. So 2-4. Then partner held, we broke, I held, we broke. Set.

So that was 5 service breaks, with my partner holding each time.

Then in the second set, partner held, they held. I was broken, we broke back. Partner held, we broke. I held, they held, partner held. Set.

So that was 3 service breaks, with my partner holding each time.

Well then, based on your last match: First set, 10 games total, 50% of games won by the server. Second set, 9 games total, 66% won by the server. Total, 19 games, 58% won by server. That seems consistent with my experience also.

[The_Punisher]

holding serve is key at all levels. this is true because:

1.) you should never go into a match underestimating your opponent and assuming that you'll break. what if they have a huge serve? what if they never double fault? even roger federer approaches matches against ranked 100 level players the same way he does against top ten players (with obvious exceptions like nadal or murray).

2.) you'll finish (and hopefully win) the set earlier. if you hold serve every single time, then after a break or two, you'll have won the set. this will save you energy and improve your confidence going into the next set.

3.) what if you don't break them back? then you'll be down a break and your opponent can go sampras on you and not have to worry about breaking you again.

4.) serving is a way to start the point, but more importantly, it is an advantage. yes, at the 3.0-4.5 level, everyone is more worried about not double faulting, but this doesn't mean that you cannot take the initiative. if you can't even win the points that you are in control of, then you will have a tough time defeating your opponent.

[maverick66]

Originally Posted by OrangePower

But at the 3.0 to 4.5 levels, how important is it?

at that level you should be putting returns back in play at a high rate so not as much. break chances will come more in a match between low level players as they have not developed a big serve or a game plan that they can execute with ease. at 5.0 plus players are able to do these things. so to answer your question its not as big a deal.

it is important to start really focusing on your service games so that you can make gains towards a better level. the best way to beat a better player is protecting your serve. thats why you always hear commentators say players have to hold when they play a top ten player. if they break its almost always there set.

[larry10s]

Originally Posted by OrangePower

Yes...



Yes...



Yes...

So we can all conclude that holding serve becomes more important at higher levels of play, and that conversely, being able to hold serve is a requirement in order to play at higher levels.

But at the 3.0 to 4.5 levels, how important is it?

its important but not crucial . each game you hold is one less break for them and one more chance for you to go up a break. more important 4.0-4.5

[raiden031]

Holding serve is more important in doubles than singles because its easier to hold and harder to break in doubles. This is assuming the players are somewhat competent.

I had an interesting serve situation in my 4.0 singles match against a pusher earlier this week. In the first set, there was only one hold among either of us (he held at 5-4). The returner had the advantage due to the way our games matched up. When he served, it was so weak that i could whack my return and approach to close out at the net. When I served, I was missing so many first serves and my S&V approach is questionable so I would hit alot of UEs on the first volley. Instead I approach better off a short ball. For that reason, and because he never hit UEs while returning my serve, I was better off being the returner than the server. So it was interesting.

But definitely it makes a difference as you play higher levels.

[Jim A]

it can also depend on your opponent's mentality

there are many out there at 3.0/3.5 who if you get up a break at the 2nd change (3-0) aren't really ready to dig in their heels

even if you can just make them work hard for it while holding easy it goes a long way. last week I was holding at love/15 with a couple service winners etc each game and then his games would go to break point or a couple deuces (couldn't close him out for a bit)

so he would hold to win a long game an then 2 min later be at it again...

[Cindysphinx]

Oh, ugh.

I lost last night. At one point, I was serving 5-4. I made three errors (one ball long, one approach volley into the net, something else I can't recall), and my partner dumped a sitter into the net. I was broken. :hangs head in shame:

In the match report to the entire team, my captain pointed out that Cindy did not serve out the set and failed to win the set tiebreak. Ouch. I get no credit for the other times I did hold and whatever I did to help my partner hold. I get the blame for losing the first set.

Dang.

[OrangePower]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

Oh, ugh.

I lost last night. At one point, I was serving 5-4. I made three errors (one ball long, one approach volley into the net, something else I can't recall), and my partner dumped a sitter into the net. I was broken. :hangs head in shame:

In the match report to the entire team, my captain pointed out that Cindy did not serve out the set and failed to win the set tiebreak. Ouch. I get no credit for the other times I did hold and whatever I did to help my partner hold. I get the blame for losing the first set.

Dang.

That's gotta hurt. No so much the loss, but being called out for it. Doesn't sound like a very supportive captain actually.

[larry10s]

captain not supportive . time for mutiny

[LuckyR]

Originally Posted by OrangePower

So we can all conclude that holding serve becomes more important at higher levels of play, and that conversely, being able to hold serve is a requirement in order to play at higher levels.

But at the 3.0 to 4.5 levels, how important is it?

Well, from 3.0 to 4.5 is covering a lot of ground. Advice for 3.0 would be meaningless at 4.0, let alone 4.5

That is why I phrased my original answer like I did. If you are getting aces, service winners and easy S&V putaways it is important. Do you get that sort of thing when you play?

[OrangePower]

Originally Posted by LuckyR

Well, from 3.0 to 4.5 is covering a lot of ground. Advice for 3.0 would be meaningless at 4.0, let alone 4.5

That is why I phrased my original answer like I did. If you are getting aces, service winners and easy S&V putaways it is important. Do you get that sort of thing when you play?

Well, in my particular case, it's a bit of a mixed bag... I have service games where several points are service winners or easy putaways of weak returns. But I also have games where I thow in a double fault plus my opponent makes a 'lucky' return or two... and by 'lucky' I mean a shot other than what the opponent actually intended (I know, there's no luck in tennis!) Basically, I need to get more consistent during service games, especially when I get tired (I lose that 'spring' when serving as I get tired, and then my serves become much less effective and more error prone).

The flip side is that I have a good return of serve, so I can usually get any serve back into play and get into a rally. So while my service games are kinda up and down, my return games are usually much more consistent.

But I was not asking just for myself, I was basically curious as to how often people are *actually* holding serve at the various level.

[smoothtennis]

The higher you go, the more important. I was bumped out of a match this weekend at 4.0 due to a couple of breaks- that's all it took in this case. We both had serves that gave each other problems, and it was critical to stay focused on serve in this case.

If a guy has a serve that is easily returnable, not nearly as important. Although as Lucky said...if you regularly force errors off your service - think about it - that is how you win the matches by holding that serve, so serve well with some intensity, and work hard to make returns that get you into the point so you can work.