Lucky serve learn-able? (Drop serve?)

[fang510]

I mis-hit a serve and hit the ball with the very tip of my racquet, more specifically the grommets. The ball had so much spin that when it landed in the service box, it died like a hell of a drop shot. I've only accidentally done this twice but it was amazing. Once in practice, and once during a match, most satisfying ace ever!!!! My opponent(s) were dumbfounded, as well as spectators. God I wish it was recored to give a better picture.

Do you think this can be learned? From my perspective, it would be impossible to return. If learned, that person will have the most unpredictable service!

 

[technoob10]

I know what you're talking about. I hit it with the top of the racket, and it seemed motionless in mid air, but once it hits the floor, it side spins to the left. I don't think its easily done nor can one be trained to do it, it takes really really precise timing.

 

[Andre D]

Ill tell you this now, with no means of disencourage you, but If you are looking to improve, you shouldnt practice such an useless serve.
Why?
Its very likely that you can never master such serve, Its an easily returned serve when playing with strong opponents, they just know what to expect and they´ll rush in while you are in your motion.
Even If you could hit it, there would be a big chance that the ball would fly to other courts.
Its a cool thing to show your friends maybe, but If you are, like me trying to improve seriously, you can spend more time practicing more important aspects of your game.

 

[Strateon]

If you could train to hit such a serve on command, acing someone with a regular serve would be a piece of cake, defeating the need for learning the drop serve in the first place.

 

[fang510]

@Andre D. I never said I was looking into learning this silly move hardcore, like it will be a weapon in my game. I just simply asked if it was learn-able. Surely I also want to improve in a productive way, but doing something like this is fun, and not be 100% serious all the time with the sport. But thats me, I'm not you so I will not shoot you down for wanting to improve seriously.

@ Strateon, Your sentence don't really make sense. To me it seems like you're saying if I "was" able to use it on command, i can ace someone with a normal serve, but then you said I wouldn't need it at all. I just believe it would make the opponent guess harder, and guess with a higher percentage that they will be wrong.

 

[Steady Eddy]

I haven't seen that happen on serve, but I HAVE seen it happen on overheads. The ball get incredible spin, and jumps backward when it lands. I think it would always be a low percentage shot, though, and the orthodox method will win you more points.

 

[tiochaota]

Ya I get what you mean, I did it before , twice in a row in practice, amazing, hit it and when it lands, boom it flys left, but its pretty impossible to do in on purpose and have a high percentage serve.

 

[yellowoctopus]

Learning to mishit, I would think, is really difficult to do, especially while maintaining and improving your skill to actually hit the ball. Is it possible? Yes, I think it's possible, but I think it requires a lot of natural talent and the willingness to devote practice time to it.

Is it advisable? probably not, because the amount of time put into it is probably better spent learning a more effective way to deliver an ace that one can go home and dream about.

However, it is possible, and in my opinion productive, to also learn to change pace on the serve by putting various different spins on the ball. It won't result in the ball dropping in front of the net, but it will be as effective in fooling your opponent.

 

[panache5]

I have developed a extreme slice serve, im left handed and when I put 90% sidespin on it it floats in the air for about 10 seconds it seems, its low and hits the court about 2-4 inches near the net and just bounces towards the fence on the ad side

 

[mtommer]

I just simply asked if it was learn-able. Surely I also want to improve in a productive way, but doing something like this is fun, and not be 100% serious all the time with the sport. But thats me, I'm not you so I will not shoot you down for wanting to improve seriously.

Absolutely it's learn-able if you've done it once. You've shown it's possible and if it's possible, it's repeatable. Also, not only is it possible but because you hit in the course of trying to hit a "real" serve, it means it can be disguised and therefore a nice weapon to have.

For practice I would suggest bouncing a ball on the frame of your racquet, playing darts or pool; basically anything that forces you to get better at precision hand eye coordination because you're going to be hitting a small spot on the racquet to a small spot on the ball.

 

[highgeer]

About once a month I play a fast 4.0 whose strokes are consistent but ugly (I'm a 4.5). He is a true slicer and dicer, but I usually beat him easily. He knows that I do not like slow junk (I sometimes net slow serves), so about 10 times per match hits a slice serve that is going about 25 MPH,literallly. It will bounce 3-4 times in the box, and I've even seen him hit one that never leaves the box. 3-4 of those are hit into the net, 1-2 are aces, and 3-4 I hit an approach and come to the net. This serve is well disguised, but after the third time, it's easy to spot. So, I think it's kind of cool, but not really productive. He has nothing to loose against me, so I can't fault him for it. I think it would really work in 3.5 or so.

Mike