Next serve after a double fault

[tennisdad65]

After a double fault, for the next point, I generally throw in a topspin second serve as my first serve. This is a very conservative approach, but I hate to have second serve pressure after double faulting on the previous point. The score does not matter. I do this even if I am up 40-15.

wonder what the rest of you guys do? continue with normal first serves or take something off? or depends on the game score?

 

[Brutus]

I reckon tennis is 'point by point'.

Serve your first serve. Visualize the ace. Visualize cramping up your opponent. Visualize taking out the 'point'.

 

[BobFL]

DF is sunk cost for me. 15 seconds after DF I just do not care/remember...
Every point is separate event for me and there is no causality relationship between t and t-1...

 

[larry10s]

in a perfect world you develop instant amnesia and dont remember the faul. for doesnt work. usually i will pick a safer target like body serve (center of the box) and to be honest probably take alittle off for safety. i am proably not the only one because i once read a "tip" to look to punish the serve after a double fault because the serve is probably going to be a little cautios especially after 3 faults in a row.,

 

[Caloi]

All my serves have a lot of spin. I rarely hit a flat serve, just no confidence. My day's at the courts are about to double and most of it will be by myself, hitting serves. I will be working on placement specifically. I like my spin serves and if I can just get better at placing them I'll be a contender in my informal league this year.

To answer your question, maybe work in some spin on your first serves as well and then you won't have to worry so much about your first and second serve being so different. If your oopponent can say for sure you're going to hit a easy sitter of a second serve after a DF then you're doomed. If you keep him guessing on which spin the ball will have, what side of the body he's going to return from, and should he take a step forward to take your serve on the rise or back up a step risking your slice sailing too far out of reach, that's what I shoot for.

 

[SmAsH999]

you MUST develop an immunity to nerves on the serve. It's all about being able to put your mind over nerves, and letting it fly.

 

[Nellie]

Maybe you should be able to standup and drive an ace when needed, but the reality is that we get nervous.

I play just like the original poster.

You cannot double fault twice in row. So if the point is important -like a break point, use that second serve! It works for Nadal. Of course, his lefty slice is pretty good.

 

[LuckyR]

After a double fault, for the next point, I generally throw in a topspin second serve as my first serve. This is a very conservative approach, but I hate to have second serve pressure after double faulting on the previous point. The score does not matter. I do this even if I am up 40-15.

wonder what the rest of you guys do? continue with normal first serves or take something off? or depends on the game score?

Sounds like you play singles. If so, DF are a part of the game. If you are not getting DFs then your second serve is too high percentage and you are probably losing too many points on them.

 

[LeeD]

Top players almost never doublefault. My second serve % is close to 97 out of 100, and I swing FASTER than my first serve swing.
Why give away free points?
Jump that second serve head high to the backhand side, and when they figure that out, twist it away from their forehands (I"m lefty). When they dial that, slice into the forehand, or hard top directly into the body. Those are all safe 97 % IN second serves.
IF I double fault, I go for two or 3 aces with extra concentration, paying attention to form, and it actually sometimes happens

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

I wouldn't necessarily go for just a topspin serve in your case. Perhaps a little more aggressive spin serve, such as a slice or twist?

I know what you mean about double faulting twice in a row though. No excuse for SS, the Safina syndrome.

Matt

 

[Steady Eddy]

I'm like you. After a double fault, I don't want to get into a second serve situation again. Someone said that it is a sunk cost. That's true, but I know my own neurotic mind. If I get in a second serve situation, I'll be thinking, "Oh no, if I miss this, that's two doubles in a row!", and those thoughts will cause me to pull the ball down into the net. Even with top players, I can see the fear in their faces when they face a second serve after a double. I've never learned how to get that second serve in dependably in that situation. So I do everything I can to avoid that situation.

 

[raiden031]

It really depends for me. If I'm missing a lot of first serves and/or double-faulting a lot that day, I will switch to a conservative first serve. Otherwise I will treat it like any other situation and serve normal. When I'm down like 0-30 or 15-40, I always hit a conservative first serve anyways to reduce my odds of double-faulting the game away.

 

[LeeD]

Nice to see all the different mind sets from that same situation.
Sometimes, I get into a double fault funk.
Almost everytime, it's due to lack of concern, lazy, and disinterest. So next first serve, pay attention to all the things you need, forget that DB, and go for it.
That serve normally hits the netcord
It's OK, everyone says my second serve is much harder to return than my first anyways:shock: