Second Serve-Tennis

Second Serve-Tennis

A second serve in tennis is associated with consistency. This normally means, at the higher levels of the game, using more spin while still accelerating the serve motion through the ball.

Grip

The grip is key in hitting a second serve. The Eastern grip does not allow the racket face to meet the ball at an angle proficient with putting spin on the ball. The  continental or one-handed eastern backhand bevels the racket face as your forearm pronates to contact the ball causing it to spin. Depending on the angle of pronation the ball will either have side spin(slice) or topspin.

Slice Serve

The pronation of the arm on the slice serve is similar to the action of throwing your racket at the side windscreen while your body is launching upwards and forwards. The racket will move across the back of the ball from left to right (right handers) or right to left (left handers) causing the ball to rotate sideways. As the ball moves through the air with wind pressure moving it down and sideways, the spin takes effect on contact with the court. The ball stays lower and moves sideways. By increasing the speed of the swing, thus increasing the rotation, the spinning effect pulls the ball down into the court and has a greater consistency of staying in.

Topspin Serve

The pronation of the arm on the topspin serve takes place from behind the back launching the racket in an upward motion causing the racket to meet the ball starting at the bottom of the ball and brushing upward towards the top. This is quite an awkward motion to undertake as the back has to arch and the ball toss is arcing up to a position that, if allowed to bounce, would land behind your left heel. If you happen to hit upward on the right side of the ball you will effect a slice topspin that will thrust itself forward and sideways on contacting the court. If you hit upward directly in the middle of the ball you will effect a true topspin similar to your forehand topspin, although that also could have some sidespin on it depending on how you contact the ball. If you hit from left to right up the back of the ball on your topspin second serve, you will have executed an American twist which means the ball will bounce opposite of the slice and with topspin as well. Playing a left handed player can be a cause of much consternation as we right handers are not used to the ball bouncing into, or away, from us with the opposite spin than we normally encounter.

Learning a second serve helps your game in many ways, some of which are:

-when serving in a pressure situation you are able to hit through the ball knowing the increased spin will have a higher consistency of landing in.

-you can use a second serve for a first serve when in a 30-40, or ad-out situation thus taking pressure off yourself by getting the first serve in.

-using spin can throw off the timing of your opponent causing a weaker return than normal.

Taking the time to learn a new grip for a second serve or practicing to get more speed, especially on a ‘kick’ serve, will add a new dimension to your game and is well worth the time spent learning it. It will also help your first serve (flat) by increasing your pronation, adding more power to your motion and speed to the ball coming off your racket.

 

About wdkealy

I retired from a career as a tennis professional to move to Portland with my wife to care for my in-laws and my mother in Abbotsford, BC. Not wanting to retire I took a vocational test and at the top was 'writer'. I have been researching and writing for about five years now and am looking to take more steps forward in pursuing this as a career. Time will tell whether I have the 'passion' to stay the course. My wife and I have three grown children with whom we are close. I had the privilege of coaching a high school team to a state championship in 2010. The team won by 1/2 point which was a credit to all team players. Looking to attend another writer's conference this year and grow. In the meantime I look forward to improving my social networking skills in order to have more meaningful contact with others who share a passion for life.
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