Coaching Tips - May 2007
The SERVE is the most important tennis stroke, it either puts you on the front foot or the back foot in matches and therefore developing a strong and reliable serve can be crucial to your success on the court.
Unfortunately the serve seems to be the first shot to “go south” if you are under pressure during a match. This happens at all levels of the game (just think of Anna Kournikova; 30+ double faults in 1 match) but is especially common in junior or intermediate players.
If your serve begins to fail you out on court remember these handy “quick fix” tips which may correct your serving woes.
You’re serving into the net:-
- Your ball toss is too far out in front of you.
- Stay tall and stretch through your motion.
- Don’t bend at the hips ,
- Keep your head up and drive upwards with your knees,
- Don’t drop your ball toss arm dramatically.
- Remember, the net is the first obstacle, get the serve over the net as first priority.
You’re serving too long:-
- Ball toss is not far enough in front of you.
- Increase the spin on the ball
- Try and “snap” your wrist at contact point.
Most importantly have a slow and relaxed approach to your serve. Bounce the ball a few times, roll your shoulders, loosen your grip on the racquet; tension never helped anyone. Like golf, the server has no one else to blame for failure, so serving is where players experience the most frustration.
Just remember nobody has ever regularly served 4 aces a game and a consistent well placed serve is highly recommended. Ensuring a high percentage of “good” first serves is far more effective than trying to hit aces that go in 1 out of 10; and then “dinking” in a weak second serve.
This months coaching tip is bought to you by Global Sports Coaching.
For the largest collection of tennis drills, tennis articles, tips, coaching advice, fitness drills and exercises, lesson plans, resources, global coaches tennis chat forum and much more visit Global Sports Coaching!
Coaching Tips Archive
January 2007 Tip - Play the right shot at the right time.
February 2007 Tip - Getting the Advantage in Windy Conditions
March 2007 Tip - Take the ball at the top of its bounce
April 2007 Tip - Play Practice Sets
