T serving tips...

[misterg]

I have a decent slice server wich I use for first and second serve. I can direct it well and with average pace in all directions except... to the T serving from the AD court. Serving from the deuce court i can direct serves easily in all directions: to the T, to the center of the box and wide to the left. But serving from the AD court (from the left side) I can put serves only to the the right (wide) or to the center of the box, but NOT down the T. No way! I try to aim, focus, or flatten the slice stroke but all of my serves are "slipping" to the right side of the box. I use a slice serve and a continental grip. Any tips? Please help!

 

[shindemac]

Turn your entire body more. That's usually how I aim my serves. Look at where your ball lands when you serve. This will give your mind feedback so you can adjust for the next serve. Make minor adjustments to your body and racket angle. Serve, and repeat this procedure until you get it right. Then practice so it's drilled into your head.

 

[misterg]

Shindemac, when you mean turn the body you mean turning the body while serving (shouders, hips) or you mind changing the serving position (for ex. more open or closed stance). Turning the body while serving down the T you impart even more spin...?

 

[takeuchi]

What helped me the most when placing serve: aiming at the back of the ball (right at the back for up the T and on the side a bit for out wide)

 

[Rickson]

If you're right handed, toss a little more to the right and it should go more up the middle than to the right on the ad side.

 

[shindemac]

I mean change your serving position. If you draw a line from your back toe to your front toe, it should point where you want to serve. Of course, you will telegraph where you want to serve.

 

[misterg]

Thank's for the tips guys, I'll make a list to refresh my memory on the changeover (like the William's...). I'll let you know if it work's afret triyng it on court! Thank'again.

 

[TennsDog]

I know it seems obvious, but if you are aiming for the T and you get the middle, aim more to the left. Just keep exaggerating your aim to where you want it to go until you get it there. It does seem like an obvious thing to do, but many people don't do it. Try aiming more towards the middle of the deuce service box. It doesn't matter where you aim the ball, it only matters where it goes. If you have to aim for the bottom of the net in order to make the ball go over, then so be it. In practice, try hitting a few just to the left of the T from the ad court. Get used to hitting sliced in the part of the court. If you get used to hitting there, then hitting more the the right of that spot shouldn't be so hard. And it is just practice, so don't worry about missing long or wide or whatever, just do what it takes to get your arm used to putting the ball near the middle of the court from that position -- small adjustments can be made later.

 

[misterg]

As promised, here I am again giving you some outputs about your tips for serving down the T from the Ad court. I tried it all in play, and the thing that seems to work for me was the Takeuchi advice "to aim at the back of the ball". I wasn't serving great (no aces down the T, actually non even 1 ball in the box) but balls were going in the right direction... I think it has to do something with watching the ball !?! Thank's

 

[papa]

yeah, keeping your head up = not netting as many ball = more service wins.

 

[takeuchi]

As promised, here I am again giving you some outputs about your tips for serving down the T from the Ad court. I tried it all in play, and the thing that seems to work for me was the Takeuchi advice "to aim at the back of the ball". I wasn't serving great (no aces down the T, actually non even 1 ball in the box) but balls were going in the right direction... I think it has to do something with watching the ball !?! Thank's

I do that to aim my second serve since its a topspin serve. Mine is definately not very powerful. For my first serve i just figured out that i need to vary the toss placement a tad to hit to the corners. A little bit to the right to go out to the left and a little bit to the left to go out to the right. The toss differences are minor so it is still hard for someone to read the serve (last opponent actually commented that he had no idea where the serves were gonna go).

Good to hear you are having a little bit of success. Keep practicing!

 

[Marius_Hancu]

check Serve Placement in the Sticky thread at the top of the forum

 

[Marius_Hancu]

your weighting transfer/rocking motion is not right.
you should "fall" into the intended direction.
check the Sticky for pointers on the rocking motion.

 

[tommyho]

I remember my coach used to place can of ball at the T, and we had to aim for it...if too far on left of the bottle, i moved to the right more to find the angle...I got the T but left the court open on the left by being too far on the right...
To remedy this i started serving with my back facing the net a bit more( more shoulder turn) and with tossing the ball more in front as if pretending to serve-volley. ( chk Dent or Sampras serving motion)