| The serve is the most important part of your tennis | | | | racquet drop, and THREE - turn and extend up and |
| game, and equally the most difficult stroke to master. | | | | into the hit. With practice, the tempo and three count |
| When serving well, everything falls into place, but when | | | | beat becomes habitual. |
| serving poorly and without confidence, your entire | | | | Spin - Side spin or topspin will make the ball curve |
| game often goes to pieces. The Five Keys to a | | | | down (and hopefully into the service box) as the ball |
| Dramatically Improved Serve are: | | | | crosses the net. To develop a spin serve, moving |
| Balance - Far too many players shift their weight | | | | toward (not necessarily all the way mind you but at |
| forward during the toss, rather than during the hit. | | | | least toward) a continental or volley grip will place the |
| Shifting forward too early robs the swing of power | | | | racquet on edge as it approaches the ball. |
| and rhythm. Release the toss with the legs evenly | | | | Snap - Whether using a wet towel in a locker room, or |
| weighted, consciously keeping your weight centered. | | | | even some type of whip, the secret is to pull forcefully |
| Effort - Unlike golfers who hit the ball farther when not | | | | and then stop the hand to snap the towel or whip, or in |
| trying, most servers tense up and try and hit the ball | | | | this instance the racquet. Good serves have a loose |
| hard, often producing just the opposite result. The first | | | | whip like look and feel, where at the top of the swing |
| key to an effortless service begins with a relaxed grip. | | | | the hand actually slows down while the racquet |
| Visualize the great servers - Sampras and Federer - | | | | speeds up. Loose and whippy are the keys. |
| and note how loose and flowing they appear, from | | | | Systematic Practice - Yes I said there are five keys, |
| start to finish. | | | | but truly none of this works in the "quick fix tip of the |
| Rhythm - The two parts of the serve are the toss | | | | day" method. Improving your serve will take repeated |
| and the swing, but often an overly high toss disrupts | | | | practice. Pay specific attention to your balance, tension, |
| the rhythm. Somehow when trying to "serve tall" that | | | | rhythm, and snap. And when you put this all together |
| prompt influences the toss rather than the hit, for when | | | | with a whip like hit at he top of the swing - ladies and |
| the toss is too high the swing comes to a dead stop | | | | gentlemen you will have arrived !!!!! |
| while waiting for the ball. | | | | To learn more, visit Essential Tennis Instruction and get |
| Serve to a musical tempo, where you can count | | | | a copy of a free report that reveals how to avoid |
| one-two-three. More or less ONE - start the arms, | | | | costly mistakes on your tennis serve. |
| TWO - toss, TWO and ONE HALF - knee bend and | | | | |