Short, Slow, Angled Slice Serve?

[JackB1]

I play at 3.5 level and sometimes have good success using an "offspeed" slow slice serve that just makes it over the net and dives off the court.
This is serving from the duece side. I try and slice it hard but keep the pace slow. If I do it right, it's almost like a "drop shot/serve". It's very effective against slow footed players that are standing way back past the baseline while receiving. I know you never see this type of serve at higher levels, but at my level, it can be very effective as a "change of pace" serve to use every now and then.

Anyone else use a similar serve?

 

[tes]

I play at 3.5 level and sometimes have good success using an "offspeed" slow slice serve that just makes it over the net and dives off the court.
This is serving from the duece side. I try and slice it hard but keep the pace slow. If I do it right, it's almost like a "drop shot/serve". It's very effective against slow footed players that are standing way back past the baseline while receiving. I know you never see this type of serve at higher levels, but at my level, it can be very effective as a "change of pace" serve to use every now and then.

Anyone else use a similar serve?

Most players mix in a sharp angled slice but they try to hit it hard. That will work even better against a slow footed,way behind the baseline, not really paying attention type player.

You might get away with a angled,drop-shot,slice serve...once on player.
If he falls for it again he really doesn't care.

 

[cneblett]

If you hit a consistently "hard" serve, then a much slower slice wide to the forehand can give you free points. I do this about once or twice a doubles match. Since I hit fairly heavy spin serves, when I take 20 MPH or so off it, I win the point almost everytime, because the returner gets so far ahead of it they mis hit the serve. you can't use it consistently or it is just a kill shot by the returner. The key to getting the point with this serve I think is to use it as a true change of pace off the same serve setup and swing. And if it is different in speed by a fair margin of what you use 90+% of the time. Just like a pitcher throwing an extreme changeup.

 

[LuckyR]

I play at 3.5 level and sometimes have good success using an "offspeed" slow slice serve that just makes it over the net and dives off the court.
This is serving from the duece side. I try and slice it hard but keep the pace slow. If I do it right, it's almost like a "drop shot/serve". It's very effective against slow footed players that are standing way back past the baseline while receiving. I know you never see this type of serve at higher levels, but at my level, it can be very effective as a "change of pace" serve to use every now and then.

Anyone else use a similar serve?

Great serve for the first point of the game. They totally don't expect you to go to their FH. Once you embarrass/ace them, they won't automatically cover their BH side which opens that up for the remainder of the match (fewer inside out FHs off of serves to the BH).

 

[Jack Romeo]

i use this serve about 20% of the time for variety. my "default" serve is a flat or slightly overspun serve to the backhand (left side). if i am playing a lefty, i will use this slice serve more often.

 

[LeeD]

Used to practice against a medium ranked B player who used this as his main serve, forcing the returner out wide and well inside the baseline to hit from an awkward position.
Took me several matches to figure it out, and best option I found was to blast for a winner into either DTL corner or short angled CC him off his court.
He did confound a few players before they figured him out.
He was 6'4", had a HUGE flat first serve, but mostly liked to toy with opponents by using this screwball slice.

 

[only4theweak187]

i hit a medium-paced reverse serve (i'm right handed) out wide on the ad side sometimes as a first serve, prettty funny watching my opponent see the opposite spin and bounce the ball takes.