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How To Serve: The Basics
Love tennis but can't get to grips with the serve? Or are you a regular player and would like to perfect your game? Follow this video to learn important tips about how to master the tennis serve.
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You will need
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Step 1:
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Adopt your position
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When serving, you start each game behind the baseline, to the right of the centre mark.
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Have your front foot at an angle but have your back foot running approximately parallel to the baseline.
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This will, quite naturally, place you sideways on to the court.
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Your aim is to put the tennis ball into the service box diagonally opposite.
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If you're new to the game just aim for the middle of the box.
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Step 2:
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Prepare your grip
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The correct grip for the serve is the chopper grip, named this way because it's how you'd hold an axe for chopping.
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Just hold your tennis racket as if it were an axe. The V of your thumb and forefinger should be just to the left of the top of the grip.
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Step 3:
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Position the racket
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Simply point your tennis racket forwards to the target.
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Use your other hand to balance, by lightly supporting the throat of the racket.
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Step 4:
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Bring the racket back
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Bring your tennis racket back into a throwing position, angling your body away from the court.
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Your weight will naturally shift onto your back foot.
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Step 5:
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The ball toss
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At the same time as you draw back your racket, your other arm prepares to release the ball.
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Your left hand, if you're right-handed, moves up with the ball.
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Tip: Keep your left arm straight. Don't bend at the elbow.
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The motion of your arm upwards, kept straight, will power the ball.
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Try to feel a smooth, co-ordinated action...both arms moving together.
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Step 6:
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Your swing
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As the tennis ball reaches its highest point, accelerate the racket head at the ball in a throwing action.
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Tip: Reach up to hit the ball - the higher you make contact the more power you can generate.
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Step 7:
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Follow through
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Follow through across your body then recover quickly ready for your next shot.
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