Effect of tightness on kick serve?

EddieBrock

Hall of Fame
I've heard that if you're tight and don't have a relaxed wrist the kick serve will not work well. I'm able to hit amazing kick serves in practice and double fault all the time when it counts so I'm thinking that having a tight wrist might be the culprit. How can I tell from my serve result or feel if that's what's happening?

The other day I played a singles match where I was actually in the lead until I threw in some double faults to lose my serve and ended up losing the match. Very frustrating because I'll never double fault in practice and it's costing me matches and fun just playing with friends if I start double faulting all the time.
 
C

Chadillac

Guest
Tightness = less racket speed (on all strokes). If you kickers were going long, then its most likely related.
 

scotus

G.O.A.T.
I've heard that if you're tight and don't have a relaxed wrist the kick serve will not work well. I'm able to hit amazing kick serves in practice and double fault all the time when it counts so I'm thinking that having a tight wrist might be the culprit. How can I tell from my serve result or feel if that's what's happening?

The other day I played a singles match where I was actually in the lead until I threw in some double faults to lose my serve and ended up losing the match. Very frustrating because I'll never double fault in practice and it's costing me matches and fun just playing with friends if I start double faulting all the time.

When you double-fault, do you usually hit long or hit the net?
 

EddieBrock

Hall of Fame
When you double-fault, do you usually hit long or hit the net?

Normally long. Although occasionally the ball dumps down into the bottom of the net and the middle of the court on the ad side or bottom of the net and towards the doubles alley on the deuce side. Those are the worst feeling ones.
 

scotus

G.O.A.T.
Normally long. Although occasionally the ball dumps down into the bottom of the net and the middle of the court on the ad side or bottom of the net and towards the doubles alley on the deuce side. Those are the worst feeling ones.

If you have sufficient net clearance, try this:

Serve from a foot behind the baseline. There is no rule that requires you to serve from right behind the baseline. This may very well allow you to swing more freely and give you more speed and spin in addition to the larger margin for error.
 

2nd Serve Ace

Hall of Fame
For the kicker your hand does need to lag behind your shoulder with the toss a little right of your head (if righty) with lots of acceleration near impact.

If it's going long I think your hand is too far ahead of the shoulder or else a bit of a decel through the hitting zone.

Sent from my SM-T560NU using Tapatalk
 
D

Deleted member 23235

Guest
I've heard that if you're tight and don't have a relaxed wrist the kick serve will not work well. I'm able to hit amazing kick serves in practice and double fault all the time when it counts so I'm thinking that having a tight wrist might be the culprit. How can I tell from my serve result or feel if that's what's happening?

The other day I played a singles match where I was actually in the lead until I threw in some double faults to lose my serve and ended up losing the match. Very frustrating because I'll never double fault in practice and it's costing me matches and fun just playing with friends if I start double faulting all the time.
how do you practice your serve?
after i've hit say 10 kickers in warmup, i could probably hit another 90 in row and not miss (grooved)
in a match, i'm hitting 6-10 serves (ie. i'm warming up every time)
try modifying your practice by hitting 1-2 serves, then sprint to run to the other side (simulate a point)... serve another 1-2 then sprint back, etc..
how do you do?
maybe you need a better routine?

that said, on big points, sometimes i just get tense, and get the yips... happens... you need to figure out how to deal with the yips (maybe go for a less aggressive target, better routine, more practice, etc...)
 

EddieBrock

Hall of Fame
how do you practice your serve?
after i've hit say 10 kickers in warmup, i could probably hit another 90 in row and not miss (grooved)
in a match, i'm hitting 6-10 serves (ie. i'm warming up every time)
try modifying your practice by hitting 1-2 serves, then sprint to run to the other side (simulate a point)... serve another 1-2 then sprint back, etc..
how do you do?
maybe you need a better routine?

that said, on big points, sometimes i just get tense, and get the yips... happens... you need to figure out how to deal with the yips (maybe go for a less aggressive target, better routine, more practice, etc...)

Usually I practice my serve by hitting out of a bucket as a coach is watching me. I usually start with kick since I would like it to be reliable and then go to slice/flat then switch to the other side. Then I play some practice games against the pro where I'm obviously hitting both serves.

I took a bucket of balls and practiced just hitting serve after serve and like you said after I'm warmed up I won't miss. The same day I practiced in the morning I played in the evening and served great for a few games then double faulted long. After that I hit some where it just falls into the bottom of the net. In practice I couldn't hit in the bottom of the net if I tried while doing a kick serve. That's why I'm trying to figure out what's physically happening in a match/pressure situations that causes the serve to fall apart.
 

RetroSpin

Hall of Fame
That's why I'm trying to figure out what's physically happening in a match/pressure situations that causes the serve to fall apart.

Why guess or rely on a coach's eye? Get someone to video you during a match. Then compare to your practice serves and compare both to some pro serves.
 
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