Twist/Kick serve-Toss Question

[acer]

Hi

I have read several articles and posts on the Kick (topspin serve) and American Twist. I am a little confused about something however and I was wondering if someone could clarify something for me.

I know that the toss should be to the left (I am a lefty but to make it easy to explain I am explaining it from a right handers point of view). For a Kick serve or American Twist they said that the toss should be to the left at around 11 or 12 o'clock on an imaginary clock in front of you. (I know that it is better to disguise the toss but I am just starting to work on the twist serve). Now my question is should the toss also be more backwards over your head (i.e. backwards as in towards the fence behind you, the fence parallel and behind the baseline) or forwards towards the court? Everyone seems to mention the more to the left part but I read something somewhere that the toss should also be back towards the fence.

Secondly, should the toss itself be lower?

Any help appreciated?

Thanks

Acer

 

[Geezer Guy]

Back as in over your head, or maybe even a bit behind you.

 

[acer]

Geezer Guy?

Back as in over your head, or maybe even a bit behind you.

Thanks for your repsonse, Geeser. So to clarify, you are saying that besides tossing to 11:00 - 12:00 o'clock that you should also toss more backwards, i.e. towards the fence behind you (the fence that is parallel to the baseline).

Correct?

 

[Geezer Guy]

Depends a little on your stance, I guess. If you stand directly facing the net, then "behind you" would be toward the fence back behind the baseline.

I stand at more of an angle toward the netpost, and "behind me" is more back toward the corner where the sideline fence meets the baseline fence.

 

[raiden031]

11 o'clock, isn't that a bit awkward? I would think you'd need to bend your back into one hell of an arch to hit it at that spot. Normally you serve a little to the right and in front right? So wouldn't a little to the left mean straight above your head?

 

[Geezer Guy]

You're holding a two-foot racquet in your hand. It's pretty easy to hit a ball that's slightly behind your head (at the 11:00 position).

 

[es-0]

you shouldnt bbend your back too much for it, that'll hurt it... get more knee bend and push your hips forward to get under the ball more

 

[tennisfanatic]

Hi

I have read several articles and posts on the Kick (topspin serve) and American Twist. I am a little confused about something however and I was wondering if someone could clarify something for me.

I know that the toss should be to the left (I am a lefty but to make it easy to explain I am explaining it from a right handers point of view). For a Kick serve or American Twist they said that the toss should be to the left at around 11 or 12 o'clock on an imaginary clock in front of you. (I know that it is better to disguise the toss but I am just starting to work on the twist serve). Now my question is should the toss also be more backwards over your head (i.e. backwards as in towards the fence behind you, the fence parallel and behind the baseline) or forwards towards the court? Everyone seems to mention the more to the left part but I read something somewhere that the toss should also be back towards the fence.

Secondly, should the toss itself be lower?

Any help appreciated?

Thanks

Acer

Hi acer,

It is better that when you toss the ball that you put it a little inside the baseline. I mean when you are trying to serve a twist serve you do not have to toss the ball backwards or above your head. The idea for a better twist serve is to contact the ball "inside the baseline" and you will not be able to do this if you toss the ball backwards. But remember that the contact point should be "above your head." By tossing the ball a little in fron of you, it would be easier for you to accelerate the racket head up and out.

Also, I suggests that you also let the ball drop slightly before contact.

Good luck.

This is what i'm talking about: http://www.tennis4everyone.com/tips/latest.html

 

[acer]

Hi acer,

It is better that when you toss the ball that you put it a little inside the baseline. I mean when you are trying to serve a twist serve you do not have to toss the ball backwards or above your head. The idea for a better twist serve is to contact the ball "inside the baseline" and you will not be able to do this if you toss the ball backwards. But remember that the contact point should be "above your head." By tossing the ball a little in fron of you, it would be easier for you to accelerate the racket head up and out.

Also, I suggests that you also let the ball drop slightly before contact.

Good luck.

This is what i'm talking about: http://www.tennis4everyone.com/tips/latest.html

Hey Tennisfanatic thanks for your reply. I just want to clarify something. When you say toss the ball inside the baseline but the contact point should be above my head. Am I correct in that the contact point being above my head simply means that I should toss the ball at 12:00 on a imaginary clock in front of me but toss forward into the court. Correct?

Thanks

Acer

 

[tennisfanatic]

Hey Tennisfanatic thanks for your reply. I just want to clarify something. When you say toss the ball inside the baseline but the contact point should be above my head. Am I correct in that the contact point being above my head simply means that I should toss the ball at 12:00 on a imaginary clock in front of me but toss forward into the court. Correct?

Thanks

Acer

Yes, that is correct. if you look carefully on the link i gave you, the one serving a twist serve tosses the ball right in front of him (inside the baseline) and not above his head parallel to the baseline.

The imaginary clock in front, i think can help you visualize the placement of the toss.

Good luck!

 

[AJK1]

Hitting the ball on the way down with the racquet tilted forward will give you enormous spin.

 

[acer]

Yes, that is correct. if you look carefully on the link i gave you, the one serving a twist serve tosses the ball right in front of him (inside the baseline) and not above his head parallel to the baseline.

The imaginary clock in front, i think can help you visualize the placement of the toss.

Good luck!

Thanks Tennisfanatic, I am going it give it a try.

Acer

 

[drakulie]

double post.

 

[alan-n]

And don't forget that you are going to brushing from the back of the ball OVER THE TOP of the ball.. usually 8-2 o'clock. If you can generate awesome racquet head speed try doing it from 7-1 o'clock for more kick.

 

[Byakuya]

At what height should u hit the ball at? and also in what position should the elbow be in when the racquet makes contact with the ball?

 

[mucat]

Now my question is should the toss also be more backwards over your head (i.e. backwards as in towards the fence behind you, the fence parallel and behind the baseline) or forwards towards the court?

Forward to the court, but not as forward as a flat serve.

Secondly, should the toss itself be lower?

No. The contact point is lower, but the toss can be the same height.

 

[alan-n]

At what height should u hit the ball at? and also in what position should the elbow be in when the racquet makes contact with the ball?

Depends on where your contact point is at What you should do is practice and visualize the motion and brushing the ball without actually tossing a ball up. Elbows should always be in the extended position on contact without over reaching for the ball unless you want golfers or tennis elbow.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

For the kick, hit the ball when it's above your forehead. For the flat, above your chin. That's what Federer does. Also try to have the head parallel to the baseline (from chin to forehead). This insures you have a proper upper body and hip rotation and knee flexion.

Anything more to your left and your shoulder and back are in danger.

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

At what height should u hit the ball at? and also in what position should the elbow be in when the racquet makes contact with the ball?

you should make contact at full extension always for all serves and therefore the elbow should be as high as you can comfortable extend your arm fully.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

you should make contact at full extension always for all serves and therefore the elbow should be as high as you can comfortable extend your arm fully.

Full extension is correct. However, this doesn't mean your upper arm should pass close to your right ear. That would generate impingement problems in the shoulder.

The recommended angle between the upper arm and the trunk/upper body is 110 degrees IN THE TROPHY position.

While from there the elbow rises higher during the swing towards the ball, the trunk should bend a bit into the court away from the ball (to the left for a rightie) in order to avoid impingement.

Thus the arm goes straight to the target/ball, first the upper arm, then the elbow, then the wrist, but the upper body/trunk should be a bit inclined away from the ball.