Serving in the sun

[Deleted member 25923]

It really sucks, and it turns out that i'll have to deal with the sun all season long! Our courts are setup where the sun is directly to my right on the serve on a particular end of the court.


Any tips for dealing with it?

 

[Steady Eddy]

You've gotta change your toss. You want a low toss, out to the side. Generally, a 'quick serve'. It might not win points outright, but it should go in alot. Also, practice it, it's too hard to all of a sudden, make it work in a match.

 

[In D Zone]

Yes, low ball toss and work on to master you serve with one fluid motion (automatic).

I would stare up the sky for a few second before each serve. It helps me to get adjusted to the bright sky.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

I would agree that you need to learn to adjust your toss slightly. You can't fix it completely, but you can at least find a spot where you can still see for your next shot. You see this all the time at the pro level. They throw up a practice toss or two and then go from there.

 

[ttbrowne]

I've also seen some pros flatten their tossing hand and put their fingers together after the toss to block the sun for an instant. I've tried it and it works fairly well depending on the conditions.

 

[Geezer Guy]

It takes a lot of practice. You've got to go out on sunny afternoons and practice serving into the sun.

I have a fairly high ball toss, but the technique that works for me is to look into the sky first and focus on a spot to the right or left of the sun. Then, toss the ball into that spot and hit it.

 

[Nellie]

In the sun, the kick serve is tough (ball is tossed overhead)

Instead, go for a slice server so the ball, when tossed, is to your side.


Other things you could try - you may be better off serving from out wide (like the doubles position)

Worse case, I would rather serve underhanded than double fault 20 times.

 

[Cross-court]

Do pros serve with the sun directly facing them too?

Screw serving with the sun. You'll go blind or develop eye problems. Tell them to switch for every service game haha.

 

[charliefedererer]

Do you wear a hat and a good pair of wrap-around sunglasses?
If this is your home court, you may as well be prepared, and its a good idea to protect your eyes. I like polarized amber colored lenses that let the ball stand out, and don't just turn the ball into a dark blob.
I like the idea of not just moving the toss, but your body position as well. And consider using either a slice or twist serve on first as well as second serve, depending where in the sky the sun is, and whether you are serving to the deuce or ad court. Be prepared to switch your serve choices on the next service game.

 

[Ripper014]

Just move your toss to where you can see it. You might be able to adjust your stance slightly as well.

 

[pmacino]

It takes a lot of practice. You've got to go out on sunny afternoons and practice serving into the sun..

Even while wearing hats...this approach still works. It will take time, but now I can adjust pretty quickly. Today I found I was serving stronger into the sun...don't ask me why. It just doesn't affect me that much anymore.

 

[OHBH]

Hit some kick serves. Get the ball behind the head just a bit and you won't be looking into the sun.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Play doubs and con or blackmail your partner into serving on the bad side. Better yet, get a lefty for a doubles partner (if you are a righty). You can set up the serving rotation so that neither of you have to deal with the sun very much. Of course this gets screwed up when playing tie-breakers (unless you play the USTA tie-breaker).

 

[Deleted member 25923]

Play doubs and con or blackmail your partner into serving on the bad side. Better yet, get a lefty for a doubles partner (if you are a righty). You can set up the serving rotation so that neither of you have to deal with the sun very much. Of course this gets screwed up when playing tie-breakers (unless you play the USTA tie-breaker).

I actually screw myself over since I have the stronger of the serves in my pairing, and I don't want to give my partner more to deal with.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

I actually screw myself over since I have the stronger of the serves in my pairing, and I don't want to give my partner more to deal with.

So you just need to be more selfish.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

I actually screw myself over since I have the stronger of the serves in my pairing, and I don't want to give my partner more to deal with.

How do you screw yourself over? By serving before you partner does, regardless of the side? If so, and you win the coin toss (or racquet spin), you ca elect to make your opponents chose 1st so that you can serve either the 1st or 2nd game from the side you prefer.

 

[ManuGinobili]

Chuck Norris would stare at the sun until it ***** itself and runs away in fear.

 

[Bud]

It takes a lot of practice. You've got to go out on sunny afternoons and practice serving into the sun.

I have a fairly high ball toss, but the technique that works for me is to look into the sky first and focus on a spot to the right or left of the sun. Then, toss the ball into that spot and hit it.

Bingo!!!

 

[featherlight]

use your tossing arm to cover the sun

 

[mikeler]

Serve left handed

 

[Jaewonnie]

What I do is I toss the ball up and see for a bit how fast and at what direction its travelling in until it gets hard to see from the sun. Then i just guess where the ball should be and hit it.

 

[LeeD]

Sun is just a reality of outdoor tennis, as is wind and noise.
You correct for the sun's angle, and hope that you guys switch court positions once in a while.
That's why you have slice serves, topspin serves, kick serves, and each have their different placements by different preps so you can use some of those alternatives that don't force you to look directly into the sun.
And consider not charging up to the net on every serve.

 

[jmjmkim]

I throw the balls to the side for an extreme slice serve. It has slower pace, but the spin still makes it a little difficult, and stays low. I hate playing into the sun, but what's worse is playing on windy days...!