Accidental spin on serves.

[andrew_1180]

Hey,

Alright, so i have a weird problem. According to all my opponents, my serves have "Crazy spin"(side spin) which makes it loopy in the air. But i have no clue what i'm doing to generate this spin, I can get decent pace on the ball, but i'd like to be able to hit a flat shot in order to add variety to my service game.

I've tried altering my service motion, and tossing the ball differently, but everyone still tells me that my serves are still spinning. so uhh...does anyone know of a way to stop sidespin on a serve?

 

[Ronnie92]

All serves spin naturally, but I've noticed that tossing the ball more in front of me helps me flatten in out. My second serve toss is more directly below me, which creates good slice.

 

[Noveson]

Hey,

Alright, so i have a weird problem. According to all my opponents, my serves have "Crazy spin"(side spin) which makes it loopy in the air. But i have no clue what i'm doing to generate this spin, I can get decent pace on the ball, but i'd like to be able to hit a flat shot in order to add variety to my service game.

I've tried altering my service motion, and tossing the ball differently, but everyone still tells me that my serves are still spinning. so uhh...does anyone know of a way to stop sidespin on a serve?

Are you using an extreme grip of some kind. Go back to continental if you are, that is if you want flatter shots. Adjusting grip is one of the easier ways to create spin so it can do away with it also.

 

[drakulie]

Are you right-handed or left-handed? Also which way is the ball spinning and what type of grip are you using??

By the way, a lot of spin is good.

 

[no skillz]

Holy cow, this reminds me of a kid I played at my recent tourney. I swear this ball looks like it will be perfectly straight, however it would always bounce directly for my face. I had to literally hop 2 feet to my right and hit it back hand.

 

[donut]

no skillz thats probably a twist or a kick.
and andrew are you using the right grip? if your using ur forehand grip its wrong i know 1-2 people who did that and it spins to your right if your right handed causing a reverse slice. if not then just take it easy swing slow and use continental and get it in flat first

 

[krprunitennis2]

I think you're doing a slice if it is side spin. It's a great serve, but it won't give you the best amount of pace for higher level of play, but it is really tricky to hit back.

In my case, I wanted to add more pace so I threw the ball out more in front and didn't brush on the side of the ball as much.

 

[warneck]

Its definitly the slice serve. It could be a kick/twist serve, but most likely not, according to what you said.

Make sure you hit with the continental grip. Unless you got a very bad serve form then you shouldn't be able to hit that many inside the servicebox with any other grips. Of course it is trainable, but not preferred.

You most likely know how you create spin. You brush the ball. The same way on forehand, backhand, AND serves. Flat serves? The name implies how to do it. Hit flat, like if you were using a fry pan. I think you should consider learning a good topspin serve first. Then go for a kick/twist or slice serve.

Just take a look at R. Fed. He does not hit flat, but he ace alot, and got a very good serve. I could mention any pro, and it would most likely be the same Good topspin also gives you possible power and less mistakes.

 

[serveitup911]

Andrew,

If you are not pronating your wrist enough, the racquet will impact the ball at an angle, imparting sidespin.

Work on pronating your wrist more. If you don't have a good understanding of what pronation is or how to do it, you can probably find lots of information by searching.

 

[Swinging Simian]

Don't mean to hijack this thread but I think my questions are related to the subject. Anyone here encounter a similar phenomena as in a slice serve that decelerates after the bounce? Or a top spin serve that accelerates on the bounce but stays low? Is this serve the beginings of a twist serve? Mind you the ball never jumps as high as a kicker or turns (towards the righty reciever) like a twist. At first I thought it might be due to crap (flat) balls but my buddy was able to do the same with a new can. He has no idea how he's doing it. The damn thing does throw my timing off like you wouldn't believe. Anyone know how he might be doing this?

 

[andrew_1180]

Are you right-handed or left-handed? Also which way is the ball spinning and what type of grip are you using??

By the way, a lot of spin is good.

Uhh...left handed, continental grip. and the ball spins from left to right.
yeah, it's strange, people seem to think that i'm really good(especially when i serve first) and then they slowly realize that i've got no skill
but still, it's nice to hear people comment on my serves

Andrew,

If you are not pronating your wrist enough, the racquet will impact the ball at an angle, imparting sidespin.

Work on pronating your wrist more. If you don't have a good understanding of what pronation is or how to do it, you can probably find lots of information by searching.

You're probably right, serveitup911, i've my coach keeps telling me that i'm not "pronating" enough, it's a bit hard to get the concept, especially when i try to snap the wrist at the same time, while pronating.

Anyways, thanks for the suggestions guys,
i'll keep you posted,

andrew

 

[drakulie]

Uhh...left handed, continental grip. and the ball spins from left to right.
yeah, it's strange, people seem to think that i'm really good(especially when i serve first) and then they slowly realize that i've got no skill
but still, it's nice to hear people comment on my serves

Well,,,,,, you are hitting a slice serve. Why is it that lefties always have that big can opener serve? It is so natural to them. I hate them!! LOL

Anyway, back on topic. If you are hitting with a continental and getting good pace, and obviously you are already hitting with lots of spin>> don't change you serve. Keep working on getting more pace on your slice serve, and also work on hitting a flatter serve.

You said you are fairly new, so believe me>>> down the road people are going to hate playing you and facing that slice.

Good luck!