How to aim a serve?
- Thread starter markch
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SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
If your serves are hitting the net a lot, you might benefit from visualizing a serve with more net clearance.
Most often I will visualize areas of the service box where I want my serve to land. However, when I'm trying to jam the returner, I am visualizing which side (or part) of his body I'm going for
Most often I will visualize areas of the service box where I want my serve to land. However, when I'm trying to jam the returner, I am visualizing which side (or part) of his body I'm going for
1. develop a serve with decent shape (ie. spin)
2. focus on where i can make solid contact with shape
3. notice the direction of the "yellow flash" off my strings
4. map the direction of the flash to where it lands in the box, refine in practice..
5. when choosing the target, focus on simulating the flash that corresponds with the area (typcially the center of a "3ft target area") of the box i'm aiming at.
personally when i think about hitting a spot in the box, the serve shape tends to become too flat.. instead i have to think about the "right arc" kinda like i'm shooting a basketball or tossing a softball into a milk jug (where i focus on the right arc more than a specific spot on the target)
my $.02
2. focus on where i can make solid contact with shape
3. notice the direction of the "yellow flash" off my strings
4. map the direction of the flash to where it lands in the box, refine in practice..
5. when choosing the target, focus on simulating the flash that corresponds with the area (typcially the center of a "3ft target area") of the box i'm aiming at.
personally when i think about hitting a spot in the box, the serve shape tends to become too flat.. instead i have to think about the "right arc" kinda like i'm shooting a basketball or tossing a softball into a milk jug (where i focus on the right arc more than a specific spot on the target)
my $.02
fuzz nation
G.O.A.T.
I personally focus on my landing spot and don't really use the net as a reference. Two reasons: If my toss location and motion are about right, I should be clearing the net and taking it out of the equation. Since I'm also serving from different locations - further out near the singles sideline for doubles and more near the center for singles - I prefer to focus on the landing zone instead of any particular spot on the net.
In theory, I think I'd also recommend targeting a landing spot instead of a spot above the net if you hit both a flatter serve and a spin serve. Better to develop instincts for directing either the straight ball or curve ball to its landing zone, since it's tough to predict the amount of sideways movement on that slice serve... in theory.
When I'm teaching folks a slice serve and they already have a basic flat serve going on, I just have them move their grip position slightly more toward a backhand grip (about a half bevel change in the grip position from their flat serve) and also aim to a landing zone about six feet more to the right (for a right-handed server). Doing that seems to get them into the right neighborhood pretty quickly with that new sort of oddball slice serve coming off the racquet at more of an angle compared with the flatter serve.
In case you're trying to sort out your natural alignment toward your target - the right orientation of your feet and body when you're set to serve - I sometimes recommend standing just inside the baseline to hit a few practice serves and try this on both sides (hitting at the deuce box and ad box). If we square up at the same "angle" to the baseline when serving from either side, we're going to have the wrong alignment in at least one case, maybe both. Taking the baseline away can help with building a better impression of setting up relative to your target from wherever you're positioned along the baseline.
Bagumbawalla
Talk Tennis Guru
Say, for example, you are playing darts or throwing a baseball- how
do you aim?
Much of the aiming process is
1. Having a good, repeatable technique.
2. Developing a "feel" that you (unconsciously?) adjust- in increments
until your physical motion and mental image begin to synchronize.
But there are some basic things you can do/try.
1. Hold up the racket in the position where it would strike the ball
so that the racket face is like a mirror reflecting your target/placement point.
Adjust your Continental grip so your wrist flexes naturally toward that target
(like waving bye-bye). Now, your service motion should bring your racket face
to this position and the rest involves adjustments in basic motion, timing and follow-through.
2. As you strike through the ball realize that the forces affecting the balls flight
are no different than controlling the direction and spin of a forehand. The rackets
path through the ball will determine its flight.
3. Get some baseballs and, standing behind the service line, throw the balls
alternately to different markers (towels?) or placement points to get the feel of
controlling the ball by altering the service/throwing motion.
4. Practice.
do you aim?
Much of the aiming process is
1. Having a good, repeatable technique.
2. Developing a "feel" that you (unconsciously?) adjust- in increments
until your physical motion and mental image begin to synchronize.
But there are some basic things you can do/try.
1. Hold up the racket in the position where it would strike the ball
so that the racket face is like a mirror reflecting your target/placement point.
Adjust your Continental grip so your wrist flexes naturally toward that target
(like waving bye-bye). Now, your service motion should bring your racket face
to this position and the rest involves adjustments in basic motion, timing and follow-through.
2. As you strike through the ball realize that the forces affecting the balls flight
are no different than controlling the direction and spin of a forehand. The rackets
path through the ball will determine its flight.
3. Get some baseballs and, standing behind the service line, throw the balls
alternately to different markers (towels?) or placement points to get the feel of
controlling the ball by altering the service/throwing motion.
4. Practice.
Chas Tennis
G.O.A.T.
With a Waiter's Tray serve, the face of the racket closes as the head moves forward. The WT is easier to aim in azimuth (side-to-side).
With a high level technique, the face of the racket closes & rotates in azimuth - from ISR - as it moves forward.
See the azimuthal (side-to-side) rotation of the racket head as it moves forward to impact (between the red arrows). Biomechanics for ATP serves. That timing vs angle of ISR has a significant effect on aiming. In all serve types of serve, the Projection Angle of the serve is down. (Maybe 1 degree up for some kick serves.)
See high speed videos for a more accurate description and additional motions of the serve.
With a high level technique, the face of the racket closes & rotates in azimuth - from ISR - as it moves forward.
See the azimuthal (side-to-side) rotation of the racket head as it moves forward to impact (between the red arrows). Biomechanics for ATP serves. That timing vs angle of ISR has a significant effect on aiming. In all serve types of serve, the Projection Angle of the serve is down. (Maybe 1 degree up for some kick serves.)
See high speed videos for a more accurate description and additional motions of the serve.
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Hit 'em clean
Semi-Pro
I always aim for where I want the ball to land in the box, but along with that I also have a trajectory in mind above the net. On flat serves the trajectory is more about the right height over the net and it's a small window. On spin serves I'll think about trajectory a lot more, but still have where I want it to land as the ultimate goal. On slice up the middle I might aim for the non-returning doubles partner as my starting point. I know the ball doesn't cross there, but it really helps my brain understand I really need the ball to curve left if it's going to go in the serve box. Kick serves it's about height and starting direction as well.
Focus on where you want the ball to start direction wise and where you want to finish. If a spin serve have the trajectory in mind as well.
Focus on where you want the ball to start direction wise and where you want to finish. If a spin serve have the trajectory in mind as well.
ichaseballs
Hall of Fame
if going wide, i have to almost aim out in the alley. otherwise it lands in the middle of the box.
With whatever technique you are using: you just know after serving like 1000 serves.
The more correct the technique, the easier it is to control the ball.
Then you can aim with different spins (slice/top/kick/etc).
Yup, it all comes down to finding the 'easy effort' technique (mainly how to load the arm). It's a little complicated haha.
Also, let the ball drop a little on the deuce side.
The more correct the technique, the easier it is to control the ball.
Then you can aim with different spins (slice/top/kick/etc).
Yup, it all comes down to finding the 'easy effort' technique (mainly how to load the arm). It's a little complicated haha.
Also, let the ball drop a little on the deuce side.
