How To Serve: The Basics

Step 1: Adopt your position

When serving, you start each game behind the baseline, to the right of the centre mark.

Have your front foot at an angle but have your back foot running approximately parallel to the baseline.

This will, quite naturally, place you sideways on to the court.

Your aim is to put the tennis ball into the service box diagonally opposite.

If you're new to the game just aim for the middle of the box.

Step 2: Prepare your grip

The correct grip for the serve is the chopper grip, named this way because it's how you'd hold an axe for chopping.

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.

Step 3: Position the racket

Simply point your tennis racket forwards to the target.

Use your other hand to balance, by lightly supporting the throat of the racket.

Step 4: Bring the racket back

Bring your tennis racket back into a throwing position, angling your body away from the court.

Your weight will naturally shift onto your back foot.

Step 5: The ball toss

At the same time as you draw back your racket, your other arm prepares to release the ball.

Your left hand, if you're right-handed, moves up with the ball.

Tip: Keep your left arm straight. Don't bend at the elbow.

The motion of your arm upwards, kept straight, will power the ball.

Try to feel a smooth, co-ordinated action...both arms moving together.

Step 6: Your swing

As the tennis ball reaches its highest point, accelerate the racket head at the ball in a throwing action.

Tip: Reach up to hit the ball - the higher you make contact the more power you can generate.

Step 7: Follow through

Follow through across your body then recover quickly ready for your next shot.