SpinServes - Speed - Effectiveness

[Indiantwist]

I have a good spin/kick serve. However i noticed that whenever i tried to put in more speed on the ball , the opponent was able to return it easily. When i put in with a 3/4 pace it was very effective and the opponents were hitting it long or netting it or even better missing it altogether.

is it because....

1) i still need to develop more pace. The current highest pace iam coming up is just ideal for opponents hitting it back. Once i get more pace i will be fine.

2) With a slow serve, the opponet has to apply more force/power and etc and that is forcing them to make unforced errors. This will work with lower ranked players but once i move up,slow servers are sitters.

3) I need to develop more pace and also better placement.

can some1 help me out?

 

[Tennis Ball Hitter]

have a read of "peripatetic" post ... second one down in this link

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=54129

s/he explains it very well ... great post peripatetic.

In regards to placement, it always help if you can hit a corner or do a body serve. But my kick serve gives my opponents enough trouble without worrying about placement too much, I just try to put as much spin on it as possible. But this depends on your opponents, obviously as my/your opponents get better, placement will be more necessary.

 

[PugArePeopleToo]

When you went for more pace, were you producing just as much spin? If you were not, then chances are your serve became less effective.

 

[TwistServe]

The trick to getting penetration with a spin serve is to go forward while getting just as much spin as you were before. You cannot sacrifice spin for pace, but instead go forward more while still going up!

 

[TennsDog]

I agree, you are probably flattening it out too much, which puts it into their strike zone and is more predictable. I remember a match not too long ago where I was serving well, but I wanted to mix it up late in the match. I usually serve first serves around 90-100 mph, but this serve was probably around 50-60, but a lot more spin. This serve ball actually bounced over the kid's head without exaggeration. He made contact with the ball above head height and failed to return it. Increasing pace, even with the same spin, will reduce the effect of the spin, just as slower speed with same spin will increase effects of spin. I don't know that I would worry so much about increasing pace if it is less effective. Work on really getting that ball out of their strike zone and moving the ball around the box.