How can i improve my second serve?

[Lloyd Barcenilla]

Sorry no video but...

My thoughts to second serve are try and have an aggressive one and then build consistency. I am quite consistent with the kick serve, but sometimes in games, they start to drop into the net maybe twice in succession, and then when i try to fix it, it goes long.

What could my problem be?

 

[abenguyen]

serve is all about timing. all i can say is practice practice practice

 

[shindemac]

Get a topspin serve.

 

[Lloyd Barcenilla]

Get a topspin serve.

kick = topspin

 

[es-0]

kick = mix of topspin and slice

 

[Duzza]

kick = topspin

No. Not really.. Topspin serves will roll over and bounce up. Kick serves "kick" to the side after the bounce.

 

[MTXR]

how to increase speed in a topspin/kick serve? Coaches are always saying more spin/racquet head speed and hit through the ball a bit more... but it always flys way out if i try to hit through the ball and kick/topspin it at the same time.

 

[Duzza]

how to increase speed in a topspin/kick serve? Coaches are always saying more spin/racquet head speed and hit through the ball a bit more... but it always flys way out if i try to hit through the ball and kick/topspin it at the same time.

Hmm...well I agree with the coaches.

My part time coach always tells me to hit my 2nd serve as hard as my 1st, as in racquet speed, but aim to spin it more. I think this is how Pete Sampras did his spin serves, fast racquet speed. It works well for me..

 

[Swissv2]

topspin + slice = american twist.

 

[SFtennisGG]

practice....obviously its the pressure of the match...we all experience this. the only way to combat this is to keep practicing so that you're comfortable and confident when faced with the second serve.

 

[mucat]

topspin + slice = american twist.

No No No!!! Topspin + slice = topspin-slice serve

American twist is whole different animal.

 

[Lloyd Barcenilla]

say the ball is a clock,
WHere do you hit from and to when hitting a i) topspin
ii) Twist/kick serve.

At the moment, i hit from about 7 to 1

 

[brtennis]

when your second serves become shaky, try to get the first serve in by either holding back some of your first serve power or using second serve as your first serve.

 

[dave333]

It might be toss location. If its too close, it'll go long, too far, it goes into the net.

Or if it is going into the net, you might not be swinging hard enough.

 

[shindemac]

You should aim to hit it 2-3 feet above the net and still have it land in. Your swing speed needs to be about the same as your first serve. If you can't do that, then you don't have enough spin on your serve. This serve will take a long time to master.

 

[Swissv2]

No No No!!! Topspin + slice = topspin-slice serve

American twist is whole different animal.

gotcha. I will correct myself: American Twist Serve --> Reverse Twist Reverse.

 

[mucat]

gotcha. I will correct myself: American Twist Serve --> Reverse Twist Reverse.

No, it is not, and I don't see a smiley.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=72198&page=3&highlight=twist

I don't like the clock face analogy, the clock face is only limit to 2D but the tennis ball is a 3D object.

 

[lecter255]

ok, to improve your 2nd serve, first thing you do, is to try to get your 1st serve in =D that way you won't have to hit the 2nd serve you aren't comfortable with.

2nd, yea, get a topspin serve. pure topspin, get that down first, then try other stuff like slice.

 

[Lloyd Barcenilla]

okay,

I went out today, and served some second serves, i found that they were dipping in, none really in the net, but they didnt really kick... they bounced.

why is this?

 

[mucat]

It can be the trajectory of the ball before it bounce, if the ball has a close to flat serve trajectory (small net clearance) and high pace, it will not bounce as high. Also, are you using old balls or new balls?

 

[Lloyd Barcenilla]

It can be the trajectory of the ball before it bounce, if the ball has a close to flat serve trajectory (small net clearance) and high pace, it will not bounce as high. Also, are you using old balls or new balls?

They were new-ish. about 1 hour worth

I think it is the net clearance then, (trajectory)
its not very loopy

 

[mucat]

This is a great diagram of topspin serves (by TennisAsAlways)

 

[Lloyd Barcenilla]

This is a great diagram of topspin serves (by TennisAsAlways)

SHould i use a topspin/slice or twist serve?

 

[mucat]

SHould i use a topspin/slice or twist serve?

Not the twist, it is more difficult to hit. You can see the racket will be attacking the ball at a steep angle for the twist.