need help with serve swing

[tennisgirl5000]

Hi,

I'm trying to get my serve together. Been practicing just the upper body party, starting from the trophy position to work on my swing, because I'm not, in general, making contact with the ball high enough. It FEELS like I am, but when friends observe me that say I'm not. I just switched the continental grip, feel confident with my toss, but swing a bit too late so when I make contact, my arm is bent a bit vs being extended and reaching up then smashing down on the ball. I make contact maybe a foot lower than I should be.

The few times I do make contact in the right place, I'm not hitting it in the sweet spot and don't generate any pace (when I hit it lower I can generate a bit of pace and control.)

Any tips/drills you can recommend to get me to swing up higher and make contact in the correct place--and start generating pace and control?

Thanks!

 

[Mahboob Khan]

First of all let's understand the toss, and various components of the serve:

The tossing arm: The tossing arm is straight -- wrist locked, elbow locked. It will move only from the shoulder socket. Hold the ball in the finger tips and toss the ball at 1 o'clock for normal flat serve. The height of the toss could be 1 arm +1 racket + 8 inches.

For kick serve: toss the ball bit behind your head so that you can bypass the ball from 7 to 1 o'clock position.
For slice serve deuce court: toss the ball more to your right so that you can bypass the ball at 3 o'clock position.
For slice out wide serve in ad court: toss the ball bit to your left so that you can bypass the ball at 9 o'clock position with aggressive wrist-forearm pronation.

Component 1: Stance sideways, the arm-racket dangles down and back in a pandulem style.
Component 2: Left arm up under the toss, right arm-racket in a V trophy style; knees bent, upper body turn so that your chest turns toward back fence and your back is toward the net, eyes-head up looking at the ball.

Component 3: Racket in a backscratch position, left arm settled across your midsection, back leg comes forward in a pinpoint stance.

Component 4: You reach up to make contact with the ball, as you make contact with the ball (5) your left foot drives forward and the back foot drives backwards in a dual leg drive position.

Maybe your problem is lack of proper leg drive. The leg drive raises your right hip which raises your right shoulder which raises your hitting arm to make contact with the ball at its apex, and then follow-through.

You may watch some vids of top players to look at their feet as they hit the ball. You may like to see how both the feet react with each other in a dual leg drive position.

I believe if you fix your toss and learn the leg drive, your problem will be solved.

Cheers,

Mahboob Khan

 

[LeeD]

I'm more the neatherdahl method teacher, so I say, swing the racket in a service motion 200 times, then toss the ball high enough for you to have time to reach up and hit it.
Most females tend to toss higher, needing the time to coordinate the whole service mechanics into a workable stroke.
So practice without the ball first, then add the toss, higher than you'd think, to give you time to replicate your swing.
Vid would help, of course, or watch US OPEN vids....

 

[tennisgirl5000]

thanks!

I'm kind of taking both sets of advice into account: just practiced just the swing in the mirror til it looked right and plan on doing it (without the toss) a million times --then do the toss.

BTW--I found a great tip about the continental grip on this board. Since I'm new to the continental grip, I start out using continental and by the time I make contact, I've found that my hand moves into Eastern forehand grip. Someone suggested putting a pencil under your index finger (along bevel #2) to lock in your hand position and practice hitting like that. It works! teaches you to not move your hand position.

 

[LeeD]

I sorta remember the grip shift during swing problem a long time ago.
Another easy solve is..... practice volleys until you get good at them!
Not only volleys, but net play in general. Easier for a big serving lefty like me, but applicable for anyone who considers doubles in the future.
Since all net play is contigripped, from volleys to backhand overheads, overheads, halfvolleys, reflex volleys, wide or into the body, you learn to hold the conti grip solid and consistent.
So learning tennis is the best way to strengthen your conti serve grip !!:shock:

 

[tennisgirl5000]

Thanks, Lee.

I REALLY need experience with my volleying as well. Great tip, though...