Serve Toss Placement

[RonP]

I have totally reconstructed my serve from pinpoint stance to a simpler platform stance, somewhat Federer-esque (although not as good, of course). I have been having trouble with my toss, and that is ruining the timing, footwork, weight transfer, etc. of the rest of my serve. The toss always goes to the left and lands near my left foot if I don't hit the ball during the serve.

My question is where and how should I toss my ball to have a consistent AND same toss for every type of serve and serve placement? Thanks in advance.

 

[David Payumo]

Get in your starting stance. Rotate your body so your body is parellel to the net. Extend your arm to the height where you hit the ball. This is where you want the toss to be when you hit the ball.

Any higher is going to result in a weak serve. Toss closer to your body and you will get topspin but you will lose pace. You should be able to hit a slice and flat serve with this toss.

Keep your tossing arm STRAIGHT at all times. Do not bend at the elbow.

Have your palm facing the sky when you release the ball. **** back your wrist.

You control the height of the toss by the height when you release the ball. If you release the ball at your head you are probably tossing too high. Try release around your shoulder.

Your goal is to have a no spin toss where the ball spins very little if at all. This can be done by having all your fingers on the ball. Imagine your are picking up the letter "T". Your thumb is touching the bottom of the letter. All your other fingers are touching the top of the letter with a little space between them. Now toss that letter with the thumb on top. The letter is upside down.

When you toss. The ball will arch because its very hard to toss a ball straight up and down. Understand how the toss arch and move your tossing arm until it toss right in front of your racquet at the point of contact. It will mostly like require you to toss with your arm at a 30 degree angle to the baseline.

These are the key points for that all important service toss.

At this point do not worry about the legs and torso. If you can't toss properly this other factors won't help you and will be a distraction.

Good Luck

If you have any questions post 'em on this thread.

 

[RonP]

David Payumo:

In the first paragraph where you mention how I should position my body, what exactly do you mean (as in feet position and such for platform stance)?

Also for the toss, what is meant by tossing the ball closer to the body? Where should the ball land if I go through my service motion but do not make contact with the ball? I am also confused by the "T" idea.

Thanks for your response

 

[David Payumo]

All that information in the first paragraph is about where your body is going to be when you hit the ball. All the starting stance stuff is nice but your body changes position when you hit the ball. I want you to know where your body is when you hit the ball when you serve. Its eye opening. By doing this you will know where the ball should be when you hit the ball.

When you toss the ball closer to your body people tend to hit topspin serve.

Where should the ball land if I go through my service motion but do not make contact with the ball?

In front of the baseline and to your right (if you are right handed).

The "T" idea is just my verbal way of making sure your palm always face the sky on the toss. If you see video of pros tossing the ball their palms are usual facing up when they release the ball.

 

[RonP]

Where should the ball land if I go through my service motion but do not make contact with the ball?

In front of the baseline and to your right (if you are right handed).

How far right and front, and is it when I land or not? That has always been my problem.

 

[David Payumo]

Go through your service motion and then stopping when your racquet is at the time and place of contact. That is where you should hit the ball and toss the ball.

You will know when you toss the ball properly because you will hit the sweetspot of the racquet and not feel any shock.