which side is more effective for a righty's kick serve?

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
I feel the slice serve is more effective on the deuce side as a righty because it goes out wide, but for a kick serve, wouldn't the righty be more effective on the ad as it could pull the opponent very wide? I'm just not sure of the answer, but that would be my guess.
 

Vision84

Hall of Fame
I agree cause it also puts it on their backhand (if they are right-handed). If your opponent uses a one-handed backhand then this will often be a big advantage. I get a lot of success with this tactic playing one-handers who don't know what to do with high backhands.
 

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
I agree cause it also puts it on their backhand (if they are right-handed). If your opponent uses a one-handed backhand then this will often be a big advantage. I get a lot of success with this tactic playing one-handers who don't know what to do with high backhands.

I think it looks cooler going into the deuce court, but I don't see it being as effective from that angle. I have to believe that a kick out wide to the ad would give more trouble to the receiver. I don't think I've ever seen Andy Roddick hit a 2nd serve to the ad court that was up the T.
 

Nellie

Hall of Fame
I generally kick to to the backhand, slice to the forehand. I don't know why - it just seems to happen from the toss. Also, guys will just crush the kick serve to the forehand, even it it is pretty high. My best serve, however, is the wide slice to the ad side, because it stays low, and makes the returner move wide and hit up and over the net, usually as I am coming in for a volley.
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
I'd say you've got it. A rh server can create a lot of open space with either a deuce court slice or a kicker out wide to the ad court - if you serve and volley, these two serves tend to open up a barn door for you to volley through because they can pull your opponent out beyond the alleys... sorry for mastering the obvious there.

Another good thing to remember is to feel out an opponent with either spin when you serve right at them. Some may be absolutely helpless in trying to get out of the way of the ball, yet also read it well and react to its funky bounce. Sometimes a kicker right at someone will fly up off the court and end up in their armpit and a slice that swerves right into a returner can make them look like they're trying to fight off a PO'ed hornet. The wide serves are awesome, but the net is higher out at the sidelines, so keep the other options open, too. You'll land a lot of first serves and keep the receiver in the dark with the variety.
 

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
Another good thing to remember is to feel out an opponent with either spin when you serve right at them.

You got that right. I was playing doubles with someone who was so used to playing the ad side that his backhand returns were phenomenal. I decided to serve to his forehand instead and bam, his returns weren't as solid.
 

scotus

G.O.A.T.
I think it looks cooler going into the deuce court, but I don't see it being as effective from that angle. I have to believe that a kick out wide to the ad would give more trouble to the receiver. I don't think I've ever seen Andy Roddick hit a 2nd serve to the ad court that was up the T.

Maybe that's why some top pros have a fairly easy time returning Roddick's serves? It must be somewhat predictable.
 

watermantra

New User
I feel the slice serve is more effective on the deuce side as a righty because it goes out wide, but for a kick serve, wouldn't the righty be more effective on the ad as it could pull the opponent very wide? I'm just not sure of the answer, but that would be my guess.

I would agree, as well Rickson. (How about that? We agree on something! Well, one handed backhands, too.) I like to also use my kick serve into the body of a tall player, or a player that seems to be bothered by shots into the body. It seems to flummox them a bit as a jamming shot.
 

gunbuster

New User
For pulling wide, I agree with the slice to the deuce, kick to the ad. However, a kick serve into someone's body from the deuce side can be effective too..
 
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