Serve Technique

Tennis / Popular

Build the service motion from toss to contact and follow-through.

What coaches agree on

  • Hold the racket in a continental grip, with the big knuckle of your index finger and your heel pad on the second bevel.
  • Swing up to the ball leading with the racket's edge, and let your forearm and shoulder turn the strings square right at contact — that turn is pronation.
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  • Turn your chest and shoulders away from the court as you load, so there is a coil to unwind into on the way up.

Common mistakes

  • Taking the racket straight back and shoving it forward at the ball — a short linear motion that leaves no runway to build racket speed.
  • Flicking the wrist and bending the elbow to toss the ball, which sends the toss off line.
How To Hit A Flat Serve?
Beginner

How To Hit A Flat Serve?

Coach's take: Excellent - specific cues, clear reasoning, real pro comparisons. This is how you teach a serve.

3.7
How To Aim Your Serve
Beginner

How To Aim Your Serve

Coach's take: Simple, effective drill progression for learning to aim a serve.

3.2
5 Tips For Faster Serves
Intermediate

5 Tips For Faster Serves

Coach's take: Solid — good cues like resting the racket on the ball to coil as a unit.

3.1
How to Aim Your Serve
Intermediate

How to Aim Your Serve

Coach's take: Real coaching gold - explains WHY aiming ruins your serve and gives you a drill to fix it.

3.0