Problem with serving late into the game

[tennis_hand]

I have problems with my serve as the match goes on. Last Wed I played a close match, but ended up losing 7:6(5), 6:3. My serve has let me down as time goes on. I double faulted more frequently in the 2nd set. I couldn't toss well any more and the motion, due to an imperfect toss, became not fluent and awkward.

Some of you said as matches go on, your serve becomes better and better. But for me, it becomes worse. Any tips, e.g. what you think, how you treat your 2nd serves, in your 2nd and 3rd set? What do you do to correct it after you double-faulted and tried not to do it again?

 

[Solat]

i would guess that you tend to "arm" the ball on your serve, as the match progresses you will fatigue and your arm will not accelerate at the same consitant pace.

If this is the case you need to work your body on your serve: leg drive, hip rotation, shoulder over shoulder. Get your strong core muscles to do the work and you should be ok to go the distance.

 

[tennis_hand]

Hmm. This sounds reasonable.

any other input?

 

[dunloplayah]

same problem here, my serve just disintegrates as the match goes on. I am very fit, practice (which includes cones on both service boxes and several hoppers of balls) several days a week along with my normal workout schedule, eat right, carb up properly, protein down after, hydrate, etc.

I'm just hoping that it's mental and nerves for me happening and the longer I play and taking private lessons now will help.

Solat has a good point. I catch myself tightening up my arm as I try to "arm" it, pound it in trying to get that ace or up the speed. Not very good form. I try to remind myself, better to powderpuff it and keep the ball in play than lose game after game on serve.

 

[Sakumo]

I have problems with my serve as the match goes on. Last Wed I played a close match, but ended up losing 7:6(5), 6:3. My serve has let me down as time goes on. I double faulted more frequently in the 2nd set. I couldn't toss well any more and the motion, due to an imperfect toss, became not fluent and awkward.

Some of you said as matches go on, your serve becomes better and better. But for me, it becomes worse. Any tips, e.g. what you think, how you treat your 2nd serves, in your 2nd and 3rd set? What do you do to correct it after you double-faulted and tried not to do it again?

I hit harder, but that is just me. It helps me whip more and get more topspin.

 

[LuckyR]

This is one of the few problems in tennis that is not Mental. It is fatigue, pure and simple. You get tired so you don't hit the second (or first for that matter) serve with enough racquet head speed to put enough spin to get the serve percentage high, hence double fault.

Like Sakumo said: Hit it harder.

 

[Mountain Ghost]

Serving When Tired

When people FEEL fatigued they often start compensating for what they think is a real weakness by changing their technique. On the serve, they use more muscle, they open up early, they swing down and not up, etc . . .

A run-away toss late in the game might look like the culprit, but the toss is actually the least physically demanding part of the serve, which would lead me to suspect those things “surrounding” the toss . . . stance, balance, backswing, arch of the back, or even the anticipation of a weak serve . . . as more probable issues.

My advice . . . Don’t compromise your technique!

When you feel you are tired, you need to temper your desire to add extra muscular effort or on-the-fly technical modifications. Take your time, get truly set and do what you know how to do.

MG

 

[Undrayon]

I often hit a heavy spin serve (I S&V every opportunity I get, so I switch between slice, topspin, and kick to pull my opponents off balance). I used to have the same problem that you have now, have you thought about your service motion in general? I changed my serve so that I reach up and hit it as high as I possibly can. Now even when I'm tired, I just make sure I have a nice toss, push off with my legs, and throws my arm as high up and over the ball as I can for spin.

I literally swing as hard as I can every serve, first and second. I'm surprised if I double fault more than once a set. My point is this, use a serve that you ENJOY!!! Feeling comfortable with the motion changes alot. I'm never worried because I know that by putting my shoulder up (that's how I describe reaching up high...I use the feeling in my shoulder to check if I'm reaching) and just swinging HARD over the ball, I have nothing to worry about.

If you're comfortable with your serve, then you can just do your thing : )