Kick/Twist Serve and Flat Serve

[LightningZI]

I've encountered a roadblock in my game and I just needed some tips on what to do with it. To make it simple, My flat serve is horrendous and my kick serve is amazing.

Although, My coach says I need both, which I do agree with. But just the timing of my flat serve, toss, everything is always wrong. Probably 2/5 go on. I play a Serve & Volley game, so I think a flat serve would help with aces. My kick serve isn't fast at all maybe topping 50 mph.. But there's a lot of spin on it that helped me win a match yesterday only using my kick serve, I started off with flat and started to lose 0-2 and then switched to Kick serves for First AND Second serves. I can't control placement of the shot but I can obviously tell that my kick serve is probably my best serve (One of the Pros said in my match that my serve was "dangerous", Probably cause it kept hitting the other player:-|). For the kick I use a EBH grip and for Flat I use Continental. I don't know what to do? Spend a few more months getting a decent flat or make an amazing kicker. Tennis season is in 2 months :? One player told me that no one uses the kick serve except for 1st and 2nd singles (Hard to believe but probably true, I'm from an area where Tennis definitely isn't the most favorite sport or people are amazing at it)

I'll try to post a video sometime later when I'm at the courts (Sunday maybe).

Also I've never learned Slice Serve might try that later.

 

[tfm1973]

i used to think that my twist serve was killer. and against 3.0's, 3.5's and 4.0's it really does win me easy games and free points. used to serve it 1st and 2nd serve.

then i ran into a couple of 4.5's and higher. takes them about 2 serves (or less) and they are literally teeing off on my twist serve. like batting practice for them to crush their returns. it really only works if i mix it up sparingly against good players.

bottom line -- you're going to wanna have a flat serve, and a slice out wide and a 3/4 top that you can put anywhere in the box AND that kick/twist that you have already.

 

[charliefedererer]

Keep practicing your twist and flat serves. You'll always need both.

On improving your flat serve:
1. Are you servinging "up the mountain"? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlPVdppfYGs
2. Do you have a consistant toss?
3. Are you getting your front hip forward in your trophy pose so your body is in a "bow" shape with a deep knee bend and and with your back shoulder much lower than your front shoulder? http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/vid...technique/leading-with-your-hip-when-serving/
4. Are you getting a full racquet drop as you push off? http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/vid...ique/trophy-pose-to-racket-drop-when-serving/
5. Are you pronating enough? http://www.essentialtennis.com/video/2009/11/sampras-serve-comparison/
6. Are you in good enought shape to hit a hundred practice serves a day, and not develop a shoulder, elbow or wrist injury? www.asmi.org/SportsMed/media/thrower10.swf

 

[LeeD]

The more weapons, the better.
For flat serves, either grip, toss out about shoulder width to the right of your head, pronate hard, and make sure the toss is slightly into the court if you're staying back after your serve. If you choose to come in, try to toss the ball so it's about 18" inside the baseline, your body moves in under your toss with forward momentum.
Practice. Kinda fun watching people inch back to receive your first flat serves, and when they do, it's time for a wide twist.
Bounce height is hugely different.

 

[Funbun]

I have the same situation: I have a very powerful kick serve, yet I can't land a consistent flat serve without either framing it or hitting it into the net or far out.

charliefederer, that's a very useful post.

 

[Zachol82]

I've encountered a roadblock in my game and I just needed some tips on what to do with it. To make it simple, My flat serve is horrendous and my kick serve is amazing.

Although, My coach says I need both, which I do agree with. But just the timing of my flat serve, toss, everything is always wrong. Probably 2/5 go on. I play a Serve & Volley game, so I think a flat serve would help with aces. My kick serve isn't fast at all maybe topping 50 mph.. But there's a lot of spin on it that helped me win a match yesterday only using my kick serve, I started off with flat and started to lose 0-2 and then switched to Kick serves for First AND Second serves. I can't control placement of the shot but I can obviously tell that my kick serve is probably my best serve (One of the Pros said in my match that my serve was "dangerous", Probably cause it kept hitting the other player:-|). For the kick I use a EBH grip and for Flat I use Continental. I don't know what to do? Spend a few more months getting a decent flat or make an amazing kicker. Tennis season is in 2 months :? One player told me that no one uses the kick serve except for 1st and 2nd singles (Hard to believe but probably true, I'm from an area where Tennis definitely isn't the most favorite sport or people are amazing at it)

I'll try to post a video sometime later when I'm at the courts (Sunday maybe).

Also I've never learned Slice Serve might try that later.

A kick serve is a great serve to have. Since you're already consistent with it, I would just recommend upping the level of your kick serve, and by that I mean get more pace on your kick serves!

A flat serve is great to have, and I would recommend you to learn it as well, but in all honesty, you don't really need it if you can increase the pace on your kick serve.

People usually fear first serves that go in, not a fast first serve that has a 50% or lower chance of getting in. That being said, 50mph wont be very effective later down the road, so still work on getting more pace out of it!