What are your 1st and 2nd serves?

[Manus Domini]

I bring a pocket of quarter coins with me. I throw a quarter or two whenever I serve, hence the name.

seriously...

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

1st serve vary pretty much between hard flat, hard slice and heavy top to the backhand. I can hit these on either side of the box but my favorite location is a hard slice just off the backhand hip so it moves into the body for a righty. Then when the attempts to run around the ball happen I go hard flat in the same location or hard slice out wide.

2nd serve I vary between an even harder slice and a kicker.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

1st: Single Fault
2nd: Double Fault

J/K

1st: Flat, Roddickesque into the corners (subtract 30 MPH and 20% pct)
2nd: Federer like high kick serve to BH (again subtract...)

 

[35ft6]

1st serve: weaksauce
2nd serve: weaksauce

 

[HunterST]

For a first serve, I used to used to toss the ball in a fairly traditional 1st serve location and brush from about 7 to 1. Lately, though, I've been thinking about it as more of a drive rather than a brushing motion.

I'd be interested to see what someone like Tennis_balla does for a first serve. Is it a drive motion or a brushing motion?

 

[gahaha]

Just "let 'er fly" on 30-40? I'm curious. How does this work out for you? Do you find it works more often than not? Do you always do it? I'm asking, because I tend to just try to "get it in" on 30-40. I've never really tried my first serve as a second serve at 30-40.

It seems like where you are in the set would probably dictate this kind of aggressive game. I don't know if I could do it when my opponent had set point or match point.

Its just nerves in my opinion, and it all comes down to probability, if you're willing to risk it. The way I figured it is, if I do a safe second serve, my opponent has a good chance of being on the offense right away and I might lose the point. If I do my first serve then I have a much higher chance of winning.

But yea, the nerves makes it more likely to double fault. I try not to think about winning or losing, but just playing the point. Just getting it in is fine, but a lot of players will eventually attack the serve.

 

[gahaha]

First serve: Hard, flat serve with about 20% chance of going in

Second serve: Double Fault

No wonder I lose so many close matches.

Lol..I should try that sometime.

 

[Bahama Scott]

Alternate Topsin and Kick Serves.
Most often topspin up the middle in deuce court and kick serve to outside of ad court.

 

[Andre D]

What are your serve combination, how do you pull them off, what are your experiences with them?

My first serve is, and will always be the reverse spin serve.

2nd is a hard kick serve.

While my kick serve is faster than my reverse spin, the reverse spin worked much better for me, with a bigger margin for error of course.

1st serve goes over at 80+mph, nearly always land on the service line (or out), bounces very low with second bounce before baseline and is difficult to drive over, I've found that most people end up slicing them over, as compact strokes and drives usually end up with a service winner. I am an S&V guy, so this works well for me, I rush and try and take their slice out of the air.

2nd serve is to prevent my opponent from getting too used to my awkward first serve. Because both serves are opposites, reverse spin low bounce, and topspin high bounce, I end up mixing these two, because of the low toss for my 1st serve I can execute it in less than 2 secs, and purposely take a long time for my kick serve. When switching these two, i.e. taking a long time and doing a reverse spin, it really throws off my opponent and their positioning.

Of course I may run into extremely talented slicers with great touch, in that case I just use topspin serve for both, but still throwing in a reverse spin every now and then.

Also almost forgot to add, I try to serve to my opponent's weaker side, or down the T(if I am feeling adventurous).

I highly doubt that you can hit a 80+ mph reverse spin serve, because In my honest opinion you cant generate that much pace on a serve with a reverse spin serve, i know people who did it in the past as a mistake and they couldnt get it over 40mph, as for kickers, is a good second but i highly doubt that most people who claims that their second is a kick they dont know what a kick is, a kick is a serve with topspin and side spin that bounces( in my case that i am a lefty, to the left side) however its a hard serve to do because you have got to master the brush of the ball its not quite the easiest serve to do, i have quite a troublesome flat and slice for my oponents and I just started develloping a kicker, i am still having no success.

I mix it up like a kitchen aid. Flat, kick, slice, short deepp, wide, down the t etc. etc. Ist serve or second serve does not really matter to me.

It also depended on who I was playing. If i high kick to the backhand is working why change it? Sometimes I would pattern serve at the beginning and mix it up later. I even used an underhand serve slice out wide on the add side a few times. What the hell...why not. I practiced it.

Mixing up you stance positioning is effective too. Even soft serveing can be effective sometimes against certain players (counterpunchers).

One question....What is reverse spin serve....is that slice? Reverse slice...Ive seen that before. Tough to pull off though.

I agree, I usually hit flats and mix up the slices on second, depending on the game, if Im playing on clay, my percentage of flats will be shortened, kick in clay is considered very good for those who can pull it off, i usually do slice topspin...

1st: Flat serve or extremely heavy slice depending on the opponent
2nd: Heavy Slice/kick/semi-twist serve/underhand cut serve



-Fuji

How does that work with the underhand cut serve? I bet you probably get a return ace on that serve, if it were for me and i was expecting it either i´d drop shot you or hit out a winner, that serve cant go past the 30mph as well imo.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

They really should give lesser players like us a third serve.

 

[gahaha]

I highly doubt that you can hit a 80+ mph reverse spin serve, because In my honest opinion you cant generate that much pace on a serve with a reverse spin serve, i know people who did it in the past as a mistake and they couldnt get it over 40mph.

This is where you're wrong, I've aced on many people, and have been serving like this for about 2 yrs, I don't know what kind of serve you are thinking of, but with an overhead you can generate 80mph+ easily with any serve (much harder with reverse spin). Your opinion is appreciated but please do not go questioning my skill, or others, this only leads to flaming and being banned, thanks.

There was a former pro that actually used this serve, from what other forum goers told me and he served it over 105mph.

Here's another link of how to do this serve
http://www.tennisserver.com/turbo/turbo_05_12.html

Unlike me, the guy uses eastern for more pace. I use western for spin.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

They really should give lesser players like us a third serve.

But then instead of 10 double faults a match, I'd have 10 triple faults.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

Actually, the two serves I handle OK. Maybe I should get three groundstroke mulligans per set. That'd take care of 3 out of 30 stupid shots I hit in a set.

 

[goober]

They really should give lesser players like us a third serve.

Actually that would be an interesting option to play with for fun. You can take 3 serves but if you triple fault you lose 2 points instead of one OR if you take 3 serves one point you get only one serve on your next!

 

[Larrysümmers]

1st is either flat or twist. 2nd is kicker.

 

[sampras98]

First: Flat about 110-120
Second: Kick to the backhand everytime
Serving = <3

 

[Limibeans]

Keep in mind... im a midget at a whopping 5'6" so my first serve % is very low. My first serve is also a minimum of 110mph which also does not help its consistency. I did an approximate calculation of one of my bigger first serves with the framerate/distance/frames calculator I found online and it was almost 135 mph!

1st serves:

Variant #1

Huge. I try to put as little spin as possible and square up that face with the target at impact (flat). This goes in about 30% of the time. I compare this one to your classic Roddick full power serve. Continental.

Variant #2

First serve toss, second serve spin. This is the serve I default to if I want to do big second or a slow first if I know the opponent has a weakness on one side. This goes in about 60-70% of the time. This serve is basically a first serve toss with a second serve cut. I compare this serve to Nadal's new serve. Continental or backhand, depends.*

2nd serves:

Variant #1

(*repeat from above)
Only difference here is that i'll try on occasion to get that beloved twist serve when I try it as a big second.

Variant #2

Second serve toss, second serve cut. The toss is usually half way between the flat serve and the "must get" serve location. This serve is good about 80%ish of the time and has decent pace about 80-90 mph but wont kick as high or as wide as Variant #3. As long as its deep enough people dont abuse it too much. If this serve starts getting abused I will likely start serving TWO of First Serve Variant #2 instead and give up on First serve Variant #1 since its such a low % and the ability to ace people becomes quite hard after a while.

Variant #3

The "absolute have to get in because its match point in tie breaker and I cant double" serve goes in about 95% of the time and is a deep second serve toss with a second serve cut. I will not usually have to do this one... as id rather go down in flames than serve this... which usually goes about 60-70 mph but thank god it kicks like 10 ft in the air and its almost always going to be to the backhand side.

 

[gahaha]

Sorry to sound skeptical, but not many regular people serve over 130...

 

[Limibeans]

Sorry to sound skeptical, but not many regular people serve over 130...

It's a video approximation and wasnt actually measured by radar. The actual serve could have been anywhere between 125-135. I just say 135 because there are a lot of people that can serve 125! That 10 mph gap is huge.

 

[gahaha]

It's a video approximation and wasnt actually measured by radar. The actual serve could have been anywhere between 125-135. I just say 135 because there are a lot of people that can serve 125! That 10 mph gap is huge.

Lol k, but 125 is a pretty big serve, not many people I know who can do this consistently, well..at least serve it in. I know a lot of 100-110 servers though.

 

[Limibeans]

Lol k, but 125 is a pretty big serve, not many people I know who can do this consistently, well..at least serve it in. I know a lot of 100-110 servers though.

Well that's the trick isnt it?

Like I said, when I go for the big first serve I only get it in about 30% of the time which is why I had to develop more of a variety of serves because I cant have a 30% 125+ first serve and a 95% 70mph second. lol~

Being only 5'6" I struggle with the big flat serve consistency. All of my other serves are just fine.

 

[gahaha]

Well that's the trick isnt it?

Like I said, when I go for the big first serve I only get it in about 30% of the time which is why I had to develop more of a variety of serves because I cant have a 30% 125+ first serve and a 95% 70mph second. lol~

Being only 5'6" I struggle with the big flat serve consistency. All of my other serves are just fine.

Yea, margin of error goes way up each inch you drop, what can you do?

Anyway personally I prefer to return a 120mph flat serve over 100mph kick serve any day lol, or the high jumping ones..god I hate those..

 

[greystar403]

1st-flat serve with a bit of slice (touches 100 mph)

2nd-high kicker (+head level)

 

[LightningZI]

This is where you're wrong, I've aced on many people, and have been serving like this for about 2 yrs, I don't know what kind of serve you are thinking of, but with an overhead you can generate 80mph+ easily with any serve (much harder with reverse spin). Your opinion is appreciated but please do not go questioning my skill, or others, this only leads to flaming and being banned, thanks.

There was a former pro that actually used this serve, from what other forum goers told me and he served it over 105mph.

Here's another link of how to do this serve
http://www.tennisserver.com/turbo/turbo_05_12.html

Unlike me, the guy uses eastern for more pace. I use western for spin.

Well, for answering the question of the thread

1) 1st Serve, Either a Righty-Kick serve to corners, Or a Lefty-Kick down the middle, Usually use a mix of conti-eastern, I've gotten atleast 80 on this serve, But never used a radar so that could be less lol
2) Kick Serve mainly in the center, Not to fancy with the 2nd Serve till later in the match, where I get more comfortable. conti-eastern grip again If the previous was 80, This would be 60


Not to completely doubt you but I've seen this serve used before at a Round Robin a year ago, and its kinda a pathetic serve, no offense. It may be hard to return and whatnot the first few games, as I had no idea what the kid was doing to the ball to make it bounce so low, or if the courts there were just bad, but after looking at his High to low motion, the serve really just turns out to be a less cheap version of the underhand serve. With this serve, the highest speeds are probably 60ish, Not sure never measured, Just the way you say you hold it itself would make me think yours is even less, Holding Eastern and serving down would kill your wrist and elbow, Seems to me you're just hitting an exaggerated slice that's overhead, Unless you actually are using an eastern grip and slicing down.

But the main part of this serve that failed to impress me was how easily someone can drop shot this serve. The kid I played hit it around 50-60 for a first serve with underspin serves, but just a touch-slice return made it drop perfectly. It's probably why you don't see it being used almost at all in the pro game. That, and the fact that returning it with a reverse forehand with heavy topspin just works realllllyy well, for me atleast.

At first I thought you were talking about using Lefty spin serves for A Righty, or vice-versa lol.. But It really seems highly unlikely you're getting the speeds you're saying, especially with a grip like that, I've seen serves with a western grip and it was like a windshield wiper motion serve, just overhead, didn't work out too great for the kids wrist when he cranked it lol, it didn't go in either so all the pain for practically nothing >.>

 

[gahaha]

Well, for answering the question of the thread

1) 1st Serve, Either a Righty-Kick serve to corners, Or a Lefty-Kick down the middle, Usually use a mix of conti-eastern, I've gotten atleast 80 on this serve, But never used a radar so that could be less lol
2) Kick Serve mainly in the center, Not to fancy with the 2nd Serve till later in the match, where I get more comfortable. conti-eastern grip again If the previous was 80, This would be 60


Not to completely doubt you but I've seen this serve used before at a Round Robin a year ago, and its kinda a pathetic serve, no offense. It may be hard to return and whatnot the first few games, as I had no idea what the kid was doing to the ball to make it bounce so low, or if the courts there were just bad, but after looking at his High to low motion, the serve really just turns out to be a less cheap version of the underhand serve. With this serve, the highest speeds are probably 60ish, Not sure never measured, Just the way you say you hold it itself would make me think yours is even less, Holding Eastern and serving down would kill your wrist and elbow, Seems to me you're just hitting an exaggerated slice that's overhead, Unless you actually are using an eastern grip and slicing down.

But the main part of this serve that failed to impress me was how easily someone can drop shot this serve. The kid I played hit it around 50-60 for a first serve with underspin serves, but just a touch-slice return made it drop perfectly. It's probably why you don't see it being used almost at all in the pro game. That, and the fact that returning it with a reverse forehand with heavy topspin just works realllllyy well, for me atleast.

At first I thought you were talking about using Lefty spin serves for A Righty, or vice-versa lol.. But It really seems highly unlikely you're getting the speeds you're saying, especially with a grip like that, I've seen serves with a western grip and it was like a windshield wiper motion serve, just overhead, didn't work out too great for the kids wrist when he cranked it lol, it didn't go in either so all the pain for practically nothing >.>

Think of it as an overhead smash, but hitting the ball in front and I guess about arm's length of you and chin to head level. It's really an unorthodox serve, and 80mph is slow for a serve. I'm not reaching triple digits here, it just has a lot of spin. It's not the same motion and swing path as your regular serves with continental. Read the link, it describe the serve really well, and its easier to do with eastern than western, because with western you kind of have to strain your wrist and elbow a little bit to get some power.

Drop shotting serves works great on weaker players, but experienced players will easily catch it, as they have forward momentum already from the serve and it'll end up being free points for them if you keep repeating drop shots.

Just click on the link I provided and read. I can do the serve fairly fast, fast enough that if you're standing flat you won't get to it.

 

[Will Wilson]

Non - kicker second serve?

As I get older, my second serve has become more of a liability. I used to hit a kick second serve but it doesn't kick anymore. I believe this is just due to age with insufficient back bend / flexibility.

I am trying to hit a "regular spin" (mix of topspin and slice) second serve with inconsistent success.

Has anybody else made a similar transition? Advice?

 

[rst]

OK, its like an underspin serve. Yes those are pretty effective albeit low margin (Unless your really. really tall). Its pretty much imposiple with a normal service grip. I can do it a little but I basically have to bring the toss down really low and hit a sidearms serve. Kinda like hitting a high slice forehand.

They are difficult to return though. Pretty much block or slice. Very effective for setting up the netman in doubles. Unorthidox maybe but effective. Especially if you can get some pace behind it. If it sits up your done.[/QUOT

i tend to do this with a frying pan grip. im 6'3 and have 36" long arms with a little bit of jump left. i **** the racket behind and i throw the ball well in front of me and leap towards the ball while bring the raqcket face down the top back of the ball to the bottom. fast backspin, iow, it goes nearly linear in trajectory when i hit my spots and most of the time stays less than 12" high. 70-ish mph maybe?? duece court is easier to drive down the T with mininimal ball rise.

 

[PhrygianDominant]

As I get older, my second serve has become more of a liability. I used to hit a kick second serve but it doesn't kick anymore. I believe this is just due to age with insufficient back bend / flexibility.

I am trying to hit a "regular spin" (mix of topspin and slice) second serve with inconsistent success.

Has anybody else made a similar transition? Advice?

I can't really hit a kick serve. I am trying to learn it. I just hit my first serve (the toss is already over my head), but I hit up on it more. It doesn't kick much, but it goes in more, and it isn't slow (by my standards).

 

[Dimcorner]

 

[Baxter]

1st Serve: Lefty spinner to righty's BH.
2nd Serve: Slower lefty spinner to righty's BH.

 

[mike84]

First serve: ace hunting flat serve, try to get down the t, out wide and sometimes jam serve to body. Average 115-120MPH sometimes higher...success rate on first serve ~30% lol

Second serve: kicker, slice to weak side of opponent ~95mph average
can go few sets without double faulting


unfortunately that's the only thing I excel at thanks to my height 6'4,,,backhand is garbage and forehand can kill someone on bad days

 

[Mikeplaystenniss]

120-125 flat anywhere I want or a huge kick serve. Lately I've been hitting a crazy slice on my second to throw off some regular opponents too. I prefer to serve and volley aswell. Main part of my game

 

[3fees]

1st flat or slice depending on where opp stands,,add court,,slice or twist depending on where opp stands.

 

[Topspin Shot]

1st serve is a power kicker 100-110 mph (very little topspin). 2nd is a slower kicker 80-90 mph (some more topspin). 1st serve goes out wide more times than not, 2nd goes more to the backhand.

 

[The Isomotion31]

I kind of approach serving like a baseball pitcher. Different situations and how I feel will determine what my first serve will be.

second serve is always a kicker as it is my most consistent.