Win more service points with RANDOMNESS

[lendl1986]

I once played my young instructor, Matt, in a tournament, and was expecting to be “blown” off the court by his serve. Instead, he served with such unpredictability that he essentially “confused” me off the court.

Here’s the “thinking man’s” way to win matches with the serve.

Don’t hit every first serve flat.

Most of my opponents serve in a familiar pattern: Flat first serve, spinny second serve. Flat first serve, spinny second serve. It’s easy to read. But Matt randomly mixed in flat, kick, and slice serves on his first serve. He was very clever to set up off-speed serves with fast, flat ones. When he sensed I was expecting another bullet…and promptly served up a slow but high bouncing serve. The result: an early swing, an error, and another easy point for him.

You probably serve to your opponent’s backhand TOO much.

This is probably the most predictable tactic I find at my level (4.0). And it does work for a while, but on the way to the end of the first set I’ve returned so many serves with my backhand (I usually slice them back) that it actually becomes MORE reliable than my forehand. Serving to the backhand is a fine tactic, but choosing that side any more than 66% of the time is too much.

Disguise your intentions with a hard-to-read ball toss.

What good is a random serving pattern if your opponent can “read” it after a few games? Try to place your toss in the same spot each time regardless of how or where you’re hitting it. Here’s a great discussin on camouflaging your intentions:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/archive/index.php/t-234289.html

Original article as posted on VolleyCam blog:
http://hdtenniscamera.com/tennis-serve-tips

 

[Limpinhitter]

Too complicated. What I do is toss the ball, turn and set up exactly the same way every time - as if I'm going to hit to the right side of the service box. When I want to hit to the left side, or the middle, I just come out of my turn a little sooner. That way, my opponent doesn't know where I'm going with my serve until after I hit it.

In fact, my primary first serve is out wide on both sides to open up the court. But, my opponent doesn't know that. I may go down the middle on first serve 5-6 times a set to keep my opponent guessing, especially if it looks like he's setting up for a serve out wide. My primary second serve is a kicker to my opponent's weakness to prevent him from attacking with his strength. But, again, I may hit to his strength if it seems he's looking for it to his weakness.

 

[Larrysümmers]

just do what i do and hit 144 mph kickers up the t all day :twisted:

 

[arche3]

just do what i do and hit 144 mph kickers up the t all day :twisted:

I agree. Much better strategy!

 

[Nostradamus]

Very simple stretegy in serving. I was taught this by Vijay, the indian pro. Serve to the body for 2 points, then serve to the backhand for 2 points then go out wide to the forehand 2 times in a row. Then you rotate this pattern. You will hold serve 90 % of the time.

 

[spaceman_spiff]

Don't forget to throw in some randomness on your second serve as well.

Normally, I hit kick serves to the backhand. But, I'll sneek in some slices to the forehand as well. I get quite a few aces that way against opponents who try to get an early jump on the second serve. They move one way, I serve the other.

 

[Jay_The_Nomad]

It might work if you haven't got a weapon.

But IMO, if you got a particular shot that you're really good at, it is best to use it over and over again and throw in the change up once in a while to catch your opponent off guard.

It makes absolutely zero sense to change things around when it is working well.

 

[firepanda]

Variety is the spice of life.

Now, eat three spoonfuls of chili powder.

If a tactic is working well, don't change it. My lefty slice serve will get most opponents on the stretch, and they can't do anything about. If they're going too far right, or I'm worried about angle, I go down the line, but there is no point changing a tactic that works.

I remember Rafa in '09 AO final used his slice serve every single point except during set points and break points, where he when down the middle for an ace. It's your best serve for a reason.

 

[spaceman_spiff]

The problem comes when your go-to shot isn't working; i.e., your opponent doesn't struggle with your favorite weapon.

For example, a lefty on my team relies heavily on his slice serve, which works fine against righties. But, when we face a lefty, he's up a creek because he hasn't developed the variety in his game to hit many other serves. Another example is a guy I played who relies on people struggling to return his kick serve. When he plays me or anyone else who doesn't struggle with kick serves, he's up a creek because he doesn't have any other serves to fall back on.

The assumption in the argument for randomness is that you're not facing an opponent who simply can't adapt to a particular type of serve. Solid returners will pick up on your patterns and adjust accordingly.

 

[LeeD]

Good 4.0 should slice wide, twist the other direction, and get both in 60% of the time on first serves, 95% on second serves.

 

[WildVolley]

My serve is naturally inconsistent, so I don't need to worry about it being random.

However, if I'm serving particularly well with a flat first serve, I find that I can usually force an error by hitting a topspin serve as a first serve. Most of us have difficulty adjusting to a large unexpected change in pace.

 

[LuckyR]

I once played my young instructor, Matt, in a tournament, and was expecting to be “blown” off the court by his serve. Instead, he served with such unpredictability that he essentially “confused” me off the court.

Here’s the “thinking man’s” way to win matches with the serve.

Don’t hit every first serve flat.

Most of my opponents serve in a familiar pattern: Flat first serve, spinny second serve. Flat first serve, spinny second serve. It’s easy to read. But Matt randomly mixed in flat, kick, and slice serves on his first serve. He was very clever to set up off-speed serves with fast, flat ones. When he sensed I was expecting another bullet…and promptly served up a slow but high bouncing serve. The result: an early swing, an error, and another easy point for him.

You probably serve to your opponent’s backhand TOO much.

This is probably the most predictable tactic I find at my level (4.0). And it does work for a while, but on the way to the end of the first set I’ve returned so many serves with my backhand (I usually slice them back) that it actually becomes MORE reliable than my forehand. Serving to the backhand is a fine tactic, but choosing that side any more than 66% of the time is too much.

Disguise your intentions with a hard-to-read ball toss.

What good is a random serving pattern if your opponent can “read” it after a few games? Try to place your toss in the same spot each time regardless of how or where you’re hitting it. Here’s a great discussin on camouflaging your intentions:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/archive/index.php/t-234289.html

Original article as posted on VolleyCam blog:
http://hdtenniscamera.com/tennis-serve-tips

I don't absolutely disagree with your thoughts, but I wouldn't use the fact that your instructor beat you using it, as your "proof" that it is a good plan. Your instructor should beat you with their B game, yet their A game is superior.

I will say one thing as a corollary, a fast, flat serve seems (and acts) faster if the previous serves were spin serves. That is why I try for placement serves early in service games and finish up games with faster serves.

 

[LeeD]

Would be silly and losing strategy to randomly change your serves when you know the returner cannot touch one of your serves, whichever one.
Just hit the one they can't touch. Why waste time showing all your various serves in this case?

 

[lendl1986]

Would be silly and losing strategy to randomly change your serves when you know the returner cannot touch one of your serves, whichever one.
Just hit the one they can't touch. Why waste time showing all your various serves in this case?

Good question.

I can't tell you how many times an "untouchable" serve become touchable because my opponent over-used it. Usually it's guys with very fast serves that do this...I get good at blocking it back.

Matt used plenty of flats too. But he mixed in kicks/slices too, which have more margin for error and can produce the same effect: an easy point.