strategies for first serve: T serving or V serving?

[tennispal]

ok, for the first serve assume you can hit the down the middle topspin-slice and out wide slice with proficiency. assume the opponent doesnt have any obvious return weaknesses (ex: if he can't hit a backhand to save his life)

under these circumstances, i think there might be an advantages to adopting a V serving pattern (where most serves are out wide, ex:federer) instead of a T serving pattern (where most serves are down the middle, the higher percentage shot).

these are the reasons why i think so:
1. most people are used to ppl hitting down the middle and slightly defend the middle (i do this too!). i think its easier to hit the down the middle shot than an effective out wide shot.

2. you instantly start out with a big advantage in court positioning. thus, most of the time you are in control of the point

3. even thought your opponent gets more of an angle to attack, this should be ok because most people dont attack the first serve anyway (unless they are realy good)

so there you have it. any thoughts on my theory? any examples from expriences or the pro tour?

 

[5263]

My choice is the BH body as a righty against a righty. It tends to get me weaker returns overall and really sets up the wide serve to their FH, once I see they are looking to run around the BH body serve to hit a FH rtn.

Body serves tend to put players on their heels a little to set up wide serves, as well as being a very high % serve as well.

 

[tennispal]

good one 5263

 

[5263]

Thanks,

Don't know if u play dubs also, but good body serves give your poacher some good opportunity as well, against most teams.

 

[Ryoma]

It really depends on your favourite patterns. I prefer out wide slice on deduce court. Occassionally throw in a kicker down the T to mix it up. On ad side, usually angle or kicker outwide. Throw in occassion down the T to mix it up. Basically, mix it up enough so that my opponent is never sure where I am going to serve.

 

[OrangeOne]

Assuming there are three main serve types (flat, slice, and kick), and three main positions in the box (wide, body, tee), that makes at least 9 different 1st serve options.

If I can't find an obvious weakness, then I'll be rotating randomly through those 9 serves....

 

[toughshot]

Good call orange.

Most of the time i will bomb a first serve out wide, or into the body.

2nd serve is when i mix in the slice/kick into the 3 main positions in the box.

 

[tennispal]

anyone has any comments on the theory specifically tho?

 

[5263]

Guess I'd have to go in against the idea of going out wide as the main serve, unless it is just your pet shot that you can make almost all the time and hurt the rtner with. I prefer to set up the out wide more and make more first serves going with higher % targets most of the time. I also don't like helping my opponents to find more angles on the court, at least not enough that they can come to expect it.

 

[tennispal]

so nobody has any comments on the theory itself???