Ad court lefty serve: how to aim - deep, wide and T

[sgrv]

I am a lefty. From deuce side, I have developed a good variety of serve - I can serve wide, T and in the middle. I would like to achieve the same for ad side.

However, from the ad side, my serve is very predictable. I slice it in the middle of service box. The angle is there but serve would be more effective if I could go deep and wide. So, can you advice how to achieve the following, [all from ad side for a lefty]

1. Serve down the T
2. Serve opposite of T (near sideline and deep)
3. Serve wide, on different parts of sideline

btw, my height is 5' 11. Does the key lie in different toss and tweaking the swing/body position?

 

[salsainglesa]

turn your stance 45 degrees... translate your t serve on the deuce side into the wide serve... do the same with the wide serve on the deuce side to the t serve on the ad side...

use same effects...

 

[LeeD]

Direction of you followthru determines where your serves are going.
When practicing, line up for up the middle serves mostly. To go right, you followthru to your right. To go left, you followthru more to your left.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Surprised that you have problems with the ad side. This is where most lefties have the greatest advantage. Consider adding more topspin to your slice serve. A topspin-slice deep to the outside corner can be very effective. Also consider jamming the righty on their forehand side or go right at them. Many will try to run around the breaking ball to hit the forehand and may have trouble if you successfully jam them.

For your 3rd serve -- very wide on the sideline (but not deep) -- try doing this primarily with topspin. It can also be accomplished with a topspin-slice, but a simple topspin serve about half-way (or shorter) up the sideline can be very effective.

I would not employ tosses that are significantly different for different placement. I do vary the toss for different types of serve, but not so much for placement. Instead, lean your body a bit forward and a bit to the left or right after the toss to achieve different serve types and serve placements. Along with these body adjustments, you will need to alter the swing path of the racket a bit for various serve types & placements.

Try to find optimal toss placements for different types of serves. Visualize your target area (your placement) and closely watch your ball toss to achieve these placements. Keep your right hand extended (arm nearly vertical) until the racket drop (scratch position). Notice the position of the tossed ball relative to your extended right hand (a spatial reference) -- this should help with your timing as well as your placement of the serve.

 

[KenC]

I'm a lefty. This video might help you understand the mechanics of the slice serve a little better. It also helps that Will is a lefty.