Left handed kick serve
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SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
What type of kick serve? Note that there is more than 1 flavor of kick serve. Kick serves are often categorized in 2 or 3 general types. All types have a heavy topspin component to make them kick up. The most common categories are topspin kick and twist (kick). A 3rd possibility is a topspin-slice kick serve. This version has a somewhat stronger slice component than the common topspin kick serve. The twist serve also has some slice but it contains a much stronger spiral spin component than the topspin kick.
The contact point for the topspin kick (and topspin-slice kick) is pretty much directly above the head -- the toss is placed in a manner so that the head can easily move under it as the ball is contacted. The contact point for a twist serve for a lefty is also pretty much above the head but often slightly to the right side of the head. The swing path for each of these various flavors of kick serves is somewhat different. The direction that the strings brush across the back of the ball also differ somewhat.
I would not be too concerned about pronation on spin serves. As long as you use a proper grip (Continental or Eastern Bh), a proper trophy position & racquet drop and an appropriate swing path, the pronation should take care of itself.
For a lefty twist serve, I'll paraphrase what was written on the Operation Doubles website.
"A twist serve is mostly topspin with some spiral spin and a little sidespin (slice). In other words, your racket brushes the back of the ball from about 5 o'clock to 11 o'clock.
But the back of the ball isn't exactly the back of the ball. Your angle of attack brings you around to brush up the right side of the ball so that you are hitting up and out toward your left. This action should produce the required spiral spin."
The contact point for the topspin kick (and topspin-slice kick) is pretty much directly above the head -- the toss is placed in a manner so that the head can easily move under it as the ball is contacted. The contact point for a twist serve for a lefty is also pretty much above the head but often slightly to the right side of the head. The swing path for each of these various flavors of kick serves is somewhat different. The direction that the strings brush across the back of the ball also differ somewhat.
I would not be too concerned about pronation on spin serves. As long as you use a proper grip (Continental or Eastern Bh), a proper trophy position & racquet drop and an appropriate swing path, the pronation should take care of itself.
For a lefty twist serve, I'll paraphrase what was written on the Operation Doubles website.
"A twist serve is mostly topspin with some spiral spin and a little sidespin (slice). In other words, your racket brushes the back of the ball from about 5 o'clock to 11 o'clock.
But the back of the ball isn't exactly the back of the ball. Your angle of attack brings you around to brush up the right side of the ball so that you are hitting up and out toward your left. This action should produce the required spiral spin."
SystemicAnomaly
Bionic Poster
For a good perspective on a lefty kick serve, check out the videos on the FYB web site. Will Hamilton is left-handed so will probably make it easier for you.
http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/video-tennis-lessons/serve/kick-serve
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http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/video-tennis-lessons/serve/kick-serve
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Toss over your head/ over your right shoulder, swing with a path that is parallel to the baseline and going up to the ball at contact (helps to keep your shoulders from opening by showing your back to the net).
It also helps to think about brushing up the right, outside edge of the ball.
It also helps to think about brushing up the right, outside edge of the ball.
KenC
Hall of Fame
I'm a lefty too. It might help to think of the back of the ball like a clock. Doing what Nellie just said, you start hitting the ball at 5 o'clock and finish around 11 o'clock. Note that you let the ball drop a little more than you would for a flat serve. The other important thing is at the finish of the contact you start to snap the wrist. This puts that extra "kick" in the kick serve.
For the twist kick serve you toss the ball a little more to the left and then hit it a little higher up going from 4 o'clock to 10 o'clock. This is actually the easiest to hit and is easier on the back as well. This is a great serve to hit to the backhand side on 2nd serves as it jumps away from your opponent. So in the deuce court its down the T and in the ad court its wide right.
..er dude...
OP is a LEFTY! You are telling him directions for a rightie!
Lefty twist is duece court out wide, ad court up the middle. Since lefty ad court wide top/slice is very effective, forget the ad court serve up the middle.
Since I stand with a CLOSED stance while serving, toss is behind my head, not off to the right or left.
Swing directions are spot on, thos.
OP is a LEFTY! You are telling him directions for a rightie!
Lefty twist is duece court out wide, ad court up the middle. Since lefty ad court wide top/slice is very effective, forget the ad court serve up the middle.
Since I stand with a CLOSED stance while serving, toss is behind my head, not off to the right or left.
Swing directions are spot on, thos.
KenC
Hall of Fame
Hey LeeD, maybe I'm not doing a real twist serve? My 2nd serves usually jump away from my opponents backhand with a small kick, much like Nadal's serve. I use a EBH grip for my second serve. I was taught that this is the easy 2nd serve, and the pure topspin is harder since it is thrown almost over the head, where my toss is still a little to my left. Maybe I hit a topslice serve? It was actually the first serve type I was taught as a kid because it is so easy to hit consistently and as a lefty this spins away from my opponents backhand. I know its not a pure slice serve because it clears the net by a good margin.
Help with terminology?
Kick serves are struck with an upward swing, to impart the high arc and high bounce, you and me lefty, bounces off to the right mostly.
Twist serves also struck upwards, but arcs to the right, bounces to the left, so you are correct.
Topspin/slice serves are tossed somewhat normally slightly left, bounce high, but not nearly as high as kick or twists, arc right, bounce right.
Topspin serves arc down, bounce up.
Twist serves also struck upwards, but arcs to the right, bounces to the left, so you are correct.
Topspin/slice serves are tossed somewhat normally slightly left, bounce high, but not nearly as high as kick or twists, arc right, bounce right.
Topspin serves arc down, bounce up.
