Pronating for topspin serves

[tennisdad65]

For a Flat or Slice serve, I have no problem with pronation.

However, if I pronate the same way for my topspin serves I hit them too flat, even though I stay sidewards through contact for topspin serves. I have been told by coaches that I open the racquet face too early (pronate too early) and hit it too flat.

I have never been able to prevent opening the face too early for my topspin serve, even though I stay sidewards. So, over the years, I ended up using a milder pronation with a very high finish to get good spin.

So, my question is:
How do prevent pronating too early for topspin serves?
Or do you pronate slightly differently for the topspin serve like I do?

 

[Captain Ron]

What grip do you use?

 

[tennisdad65]

I use continental. I tried Eastern Backhand for about 6 months, but switched back to continental.

 

[LeeD]

Toss location and SLIGHT change of grip.
Toss more over your head, not to the side, for a topspin serve.
Use a slightly more eBACKhand grip, so full pronation still gives you a spin serve.

 

[Captain Ron]

I use continental. I tried Eastern Backhand for about 6 months, but switched back to continental.

Continental should be fine (I use EB for all serves).
For a pure topspin serve, I will think about having the racquet moving closer to straight up at contact and rotating forward through contact.
This may sound counter intuitive but you may want to also throw your toss slightly more into the court and slightly more to the right (for a righty) than a kick serve.

 

[Tight Lines]

To me, there are only three things that are important for a topspin serve: 1. staying sideways through contact which means your swing path will be very closely parallel to the baseline, 2) tossing the ball to the left of your head and 3) ulnar deviation just before contact.

Like LeeD said, try tossing the ball directly over the baseline (not in front) and to the left by at least one head size to exaggerate the brushing action.

If that doesn't help, try consciously using ulnar deviation (wrist going from left to right) before contact.

Harry

 

[Captain Ron]

To me, there are only three things that are important for a topspin serve: 1. staying sideways through contact which means your swing path will be very closely parallel to the baseline, 2) tossing the ball to the left of your head and 3) ulnar deviation just before contact.

Like LeeD said, try tossing the ball directly over the baseline (not in front) and to the left by at least one head size to exaggerate the brushing action.

If that doesn't help, try consciously using ulnar deviation (wrist going from left to right) before contact.

Harry

Are you hitting a pure topspin serve or a kick serve?

 

[Topspin Shot]

Can you post a picture of your contact point? Your question is very common, and very often, it has to do with the hitting arm structure at the contact point.

 

[dominikk1985]

I use an eastern BH grip.