Serves...

[SeekHeart]

I'm currently having an inconsistency issue with my kick serves. for some reason I can't get myself to brush up the ball all the way. Also I find my kick serves being nailed by drop shots a lot. Can anyone give me some advice as to how and when I should use a kick serve? Currently its my second serve, first is either slice or flat. Also I stand instead of adding leg drive because I can't do the lower body thing. help on fixing this please? Thnx and sry I don't have a cam for vids.

 

[BullDogTennis]

if you made a video that would be marvelous.

but if you arnt using your legs then you probably not hitting it deep enough, and it probably doesnt have enough spin so its an easy target to drop on. when you explod with your legs into the ball you get a lot more force causing the ball to spin and kick up alot more.

also another thing you can work on is throwing the ball a little behind your head, that will cause you to brush up more. but if you are at a level that you need to disquise your serves than that can be a quick give-a-way

 

[SeekHeart]

well I'm in hs so I doubt it. I just can't use leg drive, it throws off my serve and I shank it.

 

[Tennisman912]

Just because you are in HS doesn't mean you don't need to disguise your serve. Practice using your legs until it doesn't through off your timing. It is important.

Good luck

TM

 

[quicken]

Toss higher to buy yourself some time to bend those legs.

 

[SeekHeart]

What's a good way to toss the ball? For some reason whenever I do it I get a short toss, maybe I'm weak? xD like when should I be releasing and how fast I should move ball arm?

 

[BullDogTennis]

im also in HS, just finished my JR year.

a good place to toss your ball is just a little in front of your head, and maybe a lil left(if your right handed) at least it works for me. the ball toss needs to be thrown pretty high, and try to hit it as high as you can (which will force you to use your legs to get to it)

but kick serves are going to be non effective if you cant put your legs in it.

 

[LuckyR]

Your kick serves should be very consistent (that's why they are a popular second serve). You don't mention if you are hitting them out or in the net. If the latter you need way more racquet head speed which will give you spin and hence consistency.

 

[toughshot]

If you cant make the kick serve in.. why do you hit it as the second serve?

Why dont you just hit a slice or flat serve for the mean time

 

[SeekHeart]

My kick serves make it in 99% of the time. But 1% of the time it goes in net.

 

[toughshot]

Thats pretty @#!#ing good

So you're saying, if you only got 50% of your first serves in, you'd only double fault 1 in every 200 times?

 

[Deleted member 25923]

I Also can't hit my kick serve effectively. It seems like it turns into a moonball that slowly lands in the service box. It doesn't have the downward motion so that it can go faster.

 

[SeekHeart]

My first serves usually go in 65% of the time, and my kick serve is just insurance. and pretty much I rarely double fault. Currently its getting there, I managed to pull a serve and volley win.

 

[LuckyR]

My kick serves make it in 99% of the time. But 1% of the time it goes in net.

???? So what is the inconsistancy issue?

 

[SeekHeart]

Its just that I can't control it and I find myself shanking it.

 

[BullDogTennis]

well join the practice club.

go out to the courts and serve until your dead tired. then serve some more.

but dont just serve, practice moving the ball around.

 

[LuckyR]

Its just that I can't control it and I find myself shanking it.

If you are hitting it in 99% of the time, you are being too cautious. Increase your pace and spin potential by having a faster arm speed.

 

[Gyrik]

Gee, can you guys help me as well? Out of games I can hit really good kick and slice, but when I get into a game the only thing that goes in is a light toss and a light hit (kinda like a volley-serve thing). It's so soft my opponent just jumps on it and I've just lost another point.

Oh yeah, it's also worth mentioning that in games my soft serve sometimes doesn't make it.

 

[zapvor]

99%??? thats unheard of....

 

[BullDogTennis]

Gee, can you guys help me as well? Out of games I can hit really good kick and slice, but when I get into a game the only thing that goes in is a light toss and a light hit (kinda like a volley-serve thing). It's so soft my opponent just jumps on it and I've just lost another point.

Oh yeah, it's also worth mentioning that in games my soft serve sometimes doesn't make it.

sounds like you just need more reps, you can never have enough. you need to become extremely confident in it. also DO NOT be afraid to double fault, there gonna happen unless your pro(and even tho DF)

 

[SeekHeart]

well I'll try to increase racket arm speed.

 

[jb193]

The best tip I ever got on serving was "thumbs down" on the finish. For some reason, that added power and much spin to my serve. I know it helps with pronation, but I had no idea it would make that big of difference to me because I thought I was pronating plenty already. Anyway, I hope it helps.....

 

[SeekHeart]

I already do that, and my problem is pretty much getting fixed still needs to work some more ons but its getting good.