Tennisplyr
Rookie
Let's say you're in an important match. You're serving at match point 40-30 and you serve a drop serve...is this fair game??
Would you do this?
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schmke
Legend
Would I do it? No, I likely wouldn't consider it the percentage play for me at that point.
Is it fair game? Sure, no rule against it and if it works and you win the point and match, more power to you. But be prepared for the blowback from those that may consider it a bit underhanded to do so. Just because something is legal and allowed doesn't necessarily make it the sporting thing to do.
Is it fair game? Sure, no rule against it and if it works and you win the point and match, more power to you. But be prepared for the blowback from those that may consider it a bit underhanded to do so. Just because something is legal and allowed doesn't necessarily make it the sporting thing to do.
derick232
Rookie
It depends on the situation. If it's just a friendly match then sure I'd do it, it makes for a good laugh no matter the outcome. If it's a close match for a league or something then probably not mostly because I'm more confident in winning the point off my normal serve then catching them off guard with the drop serve. Nothing wrong with it though, and I think anyone who gets butthurt about it needs to lighten up. It's a part of the game and a legitimate tactic to get into your opponents head, especially if you succeed.
FlamingCheeto
Hall of Fame
it's fair game but you will always be known as a Richard
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
I've definitely done a drop shot return to win a match.
I don't think my drop shot serve is reliable enough to pull it out at 40-30. I'd probably stand a better chance with an out wide serve and follow that up with a hit to open court.
I think these kind of tactics are highly specific. If you have someone standing way back behind the baseline, a short shot is perfectly acceptable strategically. It's no different than hitting to the forehand corner when an opponent has run around his BH. If the opponent is going to put himself in a vulnerable position defensively, you absolutely attack the vulnerabilities.
I don't think my drop shot serve is reliable enough to pull it out at 40-30. I'd probably stand a better chance with an out wide serve and follow that up with a hit to open court.
I think these kind of tactics are highly specific. If you have someone standing way back behind the baseline, a short shot is perfectly acceptable strategically. It's no different than hitting to the forehand corner when an opponent has run around his BH. If the opponent is going to put himself in a vulnerable position defensively, you absolutely attack the vulnerabilities.
Slowtwitcher
Legend
It's probably ok if you're playing at a level that you have a "drop serve."
It is fair, but I wouldn't do it. My normal serve is better than any drop serve I could dish out.
JackSockIsTheBest
Professional
Since I live in Hawaii & we don't get much other people here so it's the same every tournament, why not right?
OnTheLine
Hall of Fame
IMO totally fair game. I wish that I had such a serve 
I don't really see the difference between employing a drop shot and employing a drop serve. Your goal is to win the point. Whatever legal means you execute to win that point .... it is all good.
Put a different way and solely on the service:
If my opponent has been seeing nothing but Flat T serves or slice body serves from me all match ... is it uncool if I hit a topspin serve out wide on match point? Isn't that really the same thing? As long as it is in the box, served from correct side and without a foot fault, it is a valid serve.
I don't think it is a Richard move at all.
I don't really see the difference between employing a drop shot and employing a drop serve. Your goal is to win the point. Whatever legal means you execute to win that point .... it is all good.
Put a different way and solely on the service:
If my opponent has been seeing nothing but Flat T serves or slice body serves from me all match ... is it uncool if I hit a topspin serve out wide on match point? Isn't that really the same thing? As long as it is in the box, served from correct side and without a foot fault, it is a valid serve.
I don't think it is a Richard move at all.
mmk
Hall of Fame
Agree 100%.IMO totally fair game. I wish that I had such a serve
...
I don't think it is a Richard move at all.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
It's clearly only a cool thing to do if you say "Match Point" immediately before hitting the drop serve. Follow that by a Primal scream "C'mon" and a few fist pumps.
Matthew ATX
Semi-Pro
Yes, of course it's fair game.
Would I do it? No, because I have a higher percentage chance of winning a point with my regular first serve than with a drop serve.
Would I do it? No, because I have a higher percentage chance of winning a point with my regular first serve than with a drop serve.
SeeItHitIt
Professional
The question is, would Nick do it? Sure he would. And if you can pull it off, you should too.
i've done it in a mixed dubs usta match (because the guy was having trouble with my serve, and visibly took an extra step back)
he didn't shake my hands after
What a sissy (not shaking hands).
NTRP_3.75_Patrick_Rafter
Rookie
I had this exact opportunity in a match in November in a doubles final in the tiebreak. In retrospect I should have tried it.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
Are you talking about a drop serve that is an overhand serve or an underhand serve? I have never seen a drop overhand serve and don’t know at what level it has a chance of working. How immobile does the returner have to be to not be able to take advantage of a slow, shallow serve? I guess it would be OK to hit one, but the chance of it working at a 4.0+ level is slim to none.
If you are talking about a drop underhand serve with crazy side spin, it has a chance of working partly due to the surprise element. I think it would be considered unsporting by many players and might ruffle some feathers. I certainly would never dream of trying it. Isn’t it easier to just go for a big first serve which is usually what I would do on match point?
If you are talking about a drop underhand serve with crazy side spin, it has a chance of working partly due to the surprise element. I think it would be considered unsporting by many players and might ruffle some feathers. I certainly would never dream of trying it. Isn’t it easier to just go for a big first serve which is usually what I would do on match point?
PaddyDutch
Semi-Pro
If it was any type of contest, go for it.
The only time not to do this on matchpoint is if you’re up 6-1 5-1
The only time not to do this on matchpoint is if you’re up 6-1 5-1
tennytive
Hall of Fame
Ha. I bet the opponent was thinking "What a sissy" (drop serving on match point)
I've only done it in fun rec play after another guy tried it on us. We play old man doubles, so it can work if we're not aware. Mine was a little different in that I used the normal serve motion with the high toss, then letting the ball drop down to my knees and side spinning it in the ad court. Got the point and a good laugh and never used it since.
mental midget
Hall of Fame
i trust my regular serve odds-wise much more, but in terms of...moral qualms? none whatsoever, totally legit play anytime, anywhere. hopefully tennis has moved past that silly prejudice, i think it's a lot of fun when people go for it.
Maybe, as he was packing his bag and sulking to his car.
I generally return from inside the baseline unless I'm facing some huge basher,
but he/she would have no need to serve underhand if that is the case.
I do play several folks that stand deep and hit returns off their shoe tops.
Whatever blows your dress up. Just don't be hooking and we're good.
sovertennis
Professional
As well, I would presume you had not tried the "drop serve" previously in the match because if you had, the element of surprise--crucial to its success--would be lacking, so pulling it off would be high risk.
Anyway, if I had played well enough to get to match point, I'd just use the shots/strategy that got me to that point, not some untried trick shot.
I didn't have a drop serve that I had actually practiced and had any confidence that I could get it in, but in a sectionals match to determine who went to nationals, I purposely took all the pace off my first serve on match point and hit a slicey floater to try to induce an error, and sure enough, after 2 hours of serving hard, flat first to them, the guy badly overhit the floater on match point and we went to nationals.
darrinbaker00
Professional
I wouldn't have the nerve to do it, but if someone had the nerve to do it against me and the expertise to pull it off, more power to him.
just curious... why wouldn't you do it?
because some moral code?
or because you don't have confidence in the effectiveness of you underhand serve?
I tried it as a joke last night in my contract court (so social tennis between friends), but not on match point. I missed the serve badly. LOL.
Flootoo
Semi-Pro
I wouldn't call it a moral code, but it's awfully sneaky.
Also I've never trained to do it, so it probably wouldn't even work.
Slowtwitcher
Legend
F*ckina did it today setpoint down. He lost. Went on to lose the match.
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