What is the proper serve stance

Homiebslice

New User
Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting in this forum. I'm a male right-handed 4.0/4.5 singles player and I have a question about the proper serve stance.

I have a platform serve stance (feet are apart and do not move during the serve). It's what feels most natural to me.

However, my coach has been tinkering with the positioning of my feet on the serve stance recently. He wants me to point my front foot (left foot) at the middle of the net (perpendicular to the baseline). I used to place my front foot parallel to the baseline so this change feels pretty extreme to me.

The change in the positioning of my front foot has added some serious power to my serve. However, my accuracy is now completely off. Because my hips are pretty much facing the net, all of my wide serves on the deuce side are landing really out and really wide. My serves meant to go down the T on the deuce side are curving toward the middle of the box.

I tried moving 2 feet to the right but it still doesn't feel right and it leaves the left side of the baseline completely open. And on the ad side, it's really hard to hit a serve out wide without it landing somewhat in the middle of the box.

Serves down the T on the ad side land wide left. It's pretty annoying. A lot of power but less accuracy. (the power comes from the fact that placing the front foot forward facing the net simulates the throwing motion of a football or a baseball. My coach's reasoning is that it would feel awkward to throw a football with your front foot facing sideways so why would you do that on the serve?)

I know coaches traditionally want their students to point their front foot (left foot if you're right handed) at the right net post at a 45 degree angle but why do the pros all place their front foot parallel to the baseline? I might be wrong but it seems like Federer places his front foot parallel to the baseline during the serve. And when I place my foot like that, I can now hit any spot in the service box with my serve but I have significantly less power.

What's the proper foot positioning for the front foot for a right-handed platform stance server? This has been driving me nuts! Thanks in advance!

FYI: my actual service motion is fine. I rarely double fault and I usually hold 85% of the time on my service games. So if you could restrict your advice to strictly the serve stance, that would greatly be appreciated. Thanks!
 
Last edited:

heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
sampras-serve1.jpg
 

Homiebslice

New User
Thank you Henin Fan, but is there a picture of him facing the net? I want to know what the position of his front foot is.
 

Digital Atheist

Hall of Fame
So here's my take.

[..] but why do the pros all place their front foot parallel to the baseline?

Because they don't? Coupled with the Sampras images, a quick search reveals:

iu
iu
iu


I really think this is a non-issue given the front foot is somewhere between 45 and 20 degrees - but I would avoid fully parallel as the motion begins, because being so side on at that early stage makes it harder to coil (I think it's Ok for the front foot to turn slightly, becoming closer to parallel as you enter the trophy pose). Mcenroe was an exception of course. On second serves and on the ad court, I think you will find Federer's foot position is closer to parallel, which makes sense since the second serve requires a more side on body position through contact.

iu


But pointing your left foot directly towards the middle of the net; well, I will let others cast their opinions on that but to me it doesn't seem to offer any benefit, and I can't say I've seen any high level serve use that technique (I could be wrong). I wonder how your left knee feels after an extended serving session using this method? If indeed your motion is sound/optimal (no reason to doubt this), such a change shouldn't result in any significant power increase, so that strikes me as odd.

Having said all that, it is certainly possible and this guy starts the way you describe and has a good serve, but watch what happens as he begins his motion (that front foot does not stay pointing directly forward - check the thumbnail or pause at 1:24):

 
Last edited:

Raul_SJ

G.O.A.T.
Thank you Henin Fan, but is there a picture of him facing the net? I want to know what the position of his front foot is.

AFAIK no platform server starts out with left foot perpendicular to baseline. The left foot is roughly facing the net post (Federer) or parallel to baseline (Sampras).
At contact, the left foot will naturally rotate around...Not clear on what your question is.
 

Homiebslice

New User
Thank you for taking the time to write such a comprehensive reply! Appreciate it!

So here's my take.



Because they don't? Coupled with the Sampras images, a quick search reveals:

iu
iu
iu


I really think this is a non-issue given the front foot is somewhere between 45 and 20 degrees - but I would avoid fully parallel as the motion begins, because being so side on at that early stage makes it harder to coil (I think it's Ok for the front foot to turn slightly, becoming closer to parallel as you enter the trophy pose). Mcenroe was an exception of course. On second serves and on the ad court, I think you will find Federer's foot position is closer to parallel, which makes sense since the second serve requires a more side on body position through contact.

iu


But pointing your left foot directly towards the middle of the net; well, I will let others cast their opinions on that but to me it doesn't seem to offer any benefit, and I can't say I've seen any high level serve use that technique (I could be wrong). I wonder how your left knee feels after an extended serving session using this method? If indeed your motion is sound/optimal (no reason to doubt this), such a change shouldn't result in any significant power increase, so that strikes me as odd.

Having said all that, it is certainly possible and this guy starts the way you describe and has a good serve, but watch what happens as he begins his motion (that front foot does not stay pointing directly forward - check the thumbnail or pause at 1:24):

 
Top