Increasing Serve Effectiveness

If there ever was a shot in tennis that could define the quality of a player, it is the serve. The serve is often viewed as a player’s weapon, or liability.

While the serve is only one of many shots that make up a player’s overall game, the serve can be compared to the drive in golf as defining a player’s general confidence and potency. In golf, while hitting accurate irons, chipping, and putting are considered the keys to lower golf scores, the drive is often the showpiece of a player’s game. “Drive for show, putt for dough” is the catchy phrase that epitomizes this concept.

In tennis, a player’s ability to hit a potent, aggressive serve can do far more for a player’s confidence than any other shot. In theory at least, a great serve can almost guarantee a player winning at least half of the games of any given set!

The serve is the one shot that should be every player’s weapon. No other shot is within the full control of the player; the server dictates when and where the ball will be struck. It is the one shot within any game that is not determined by an opponent’s previous shot and it is the only shot you get two chances to get right. In addition, the serve is one shot that can be practiced without the need of another player.

However, the serve is often considered one of the more complex strokes in tennis. The overhead motion is not as familiar to many players, especially those who had not played any overhead-throwing sports such as football, baseball, or softball. In addition, the element of holding an implement to hit another object adds to the difficulty of timing and spatial relationships as they apply to hitting a moving object.

Yet, the ability to serve well can be achieved by most anyone!

Great Serve Components

If we break down the serve, there are two components that must be achieved for a serve to be both effective and consistent; “Spin” and “Racquet Head Speed.” While both of these aspects must be accomplished within the framework of a repeatable, reliable swing pattern, these two elements are what separate a good serve from a great serve.

I mentioned spin first because the ability to create the right kind of spin will improve a player’s ability to hit an effective and consistent second serve. It has often been said that a player is only as good as his second serve. Without spin, a player can only rely on gravity, trajectory, and a relative amount of speed to get the serve to drop in. Unless a player stands over eight feet tall, without spin, no matter what trajectory, a ball hit too hard can’t possibly clear the net and land in. Even pros who serve at high speeds generate a great deal of spin.

But, one must understand that it isn’t just spin, it is the right kind of spin that must be applied. And this is where the average club player usually falls short. With the right kind of spin, a serve can be aimed very high above the net and still arc down to land easily into the service box, even with a high velocity.

The second point of a great serve is Racquet Head Speed. It is not uncommon to find players swinging so hard on first serves only to exponentially decelerate their swing speed for second serves.

I always ask my students, “should you swing harder or softer on your second serve for consistency?” This is a trick question, since most recreational players have served softer on second serves for decades. Many answer that swinging softer allows for consistency. After I remind them that the right kind of spin allows a player to aim higher over the net and still get the ball in, I ask them a second question, “Will more of this correct spin allow me to aim even higher over the net?” Of course, they answer. Thus, my final question, “How do we create more of this desired spin: swinging slower or swinging faster?” This is usually when the light bulb goes on.

How Do We Swing Faster?

Obviously, swinging faster decreases both the ability to hit the ball in the sweet-spot and the ability to direct the ball. However, if we employ proper swing techniques and balance, and create a repeatable swing pattern, there is no reason why a person can’t develop an incredible second serve.

Swinging faster within these controlling constraints can be discussed within the realm of physics. The speed of any serve is dictated by a couple mathematical equations: The equation for acceleration is Velocity divided by Time = Acceleration. Thus if we increase the velocity of the racquet or decrease the time in which we move the racquet, we increase acceleration of the racquet.

Too many players shorten their swing in order to feel like they are controlling the shot. While this is true within the simplistic concept of bunting a tennis ball, it severely limits a player’s ability to improve the serve.

We can increase velocity through body rotation as well. The more we coil our body, the further we can uncoil and the more our racquet can accelerate. Combined with the correct racquet swing path, we can gain tremendous acceleration through these aspects.

Another equation is that which describes momentum: Mass X Velocity = Momentum of a moving object. (M = mv) Momentum can best be described by comparing the swinging of a badminton racquet at a tennis ball to that of a regular tennis racquet. A light-weight badminton racquet will not apply much mass when swung at a tennis ball. The result; a tennis ball that does not go very far or very fast. If we increase the mass that is moving towards the tennis ball, we will pass the energy of momentum to the ball. How do we increase the mass? Gain weight? Nah…this will just make you slower on the court!

We increase the mass by moving our body into the serve. Leaning forward at the right time and thrusting our legs up and into the serve can greatly add momentum. Just watch any pro serve and you can see this for yourself.

Adding weight to a racquet can also add mass. However, if additional weight prevents us from generating maximum racquet head speed, then the weight can diminish our overall swing speed. There is one more equation related to momentum and acceleration: Acceleration is equal to the force applied divided by the mass of the object being moved. (A = F/M) Thus, as we add weight to our racquet, we will lose some acceleration according to this equation.

Finally, we can use leverage to create more speed. Most recreational players swing too much with the arm and don’t create or maximize the leverage by using the sequential action of the body, arm, and forearm to gain maximum racquet head speed.