Improving swing path during serve (kids)

[bsardana]

I am seeking tips to improve a kids swing path during serve. The grip for the serve starts with continental but somehow I have a feeling it changes after the ball toss. The resulting swing path makes the racket face appear open - much before it hits the serve. The result is more of a push serve motion rather than a fluid motion serve.

I am seeking tips on how to improve this - any specific drills?. I have emphasized that the beam should approach the tossed ball, from the back scratch position, and open just before ball contact.

Thank you for your help.

 

[burosky]

The instructions you give them should be appropriate to their age or physical ability. Teaching serve to a 6 year old will be different from teaching serve to a 14 year old. I exaggerated the age difference to point out the difference in physical development. How about giving a little more background about your kids?

 

[bsardana]

The instructions you give them should be appropriate to their age or physical ability. Teaching serve to a 6 year old will be different from teaching serve to a 14 year old. I exaggerated the age difference to point out the difference in physical development. How about giving a little more background about your kids?

Good point. The kid is 10 years old and has been playing tennis for few years now. The idea is to continue and refine what you observe and provide instructions that can help - slow motion videos, examples of sample serves etc. I agree that it is a slow and diligent process with kids but am seeking pointers that can assist in this process.

 

[Jonny S&V]

Good point. The kid is 10 years old and has been playing tennis for few years now. The idea is to continue and refine what you observe and provide instructions that can help - slow motion videos, examples of sample serves etc. I agree that it is a slow and diligent process with kids but am seeking pointers that can assist in this process.

My suggestion is to get a long pole with a rope and tie a tennis ball onto it. Teach your child where his racquet should be (harp on extension) at contact on the serve. Then, spend time working on the toss. You should spend more time on the toss then the actual serve. To keep my students interested, I make them toss 2-3 perfect tosses and then let them hit a serve. Do this for about for an amount of time equal to how serious they are:

Beginner: 15 min total per week
Intermediate: 30 min total per week
Advanced: an hour total per week