The Flat, Slice & Kick Tennis Serve Lesson - Toss, Swing Path, Contact & When To Use Each

All three tennis serves in one compact lesson: the flat, slice and kick serve.
Differences and similarities in serve toss, the swing path, contact point AND benefits and draw backs of each.

If you want to get even more details, check out these separate videos of each!
Flat vs Slice Serve and how to master both:

0:00 Intro
0:34 Acceptable ranges of toss
1:22 Flat Serve Toss
1:52 Swing path Flat Serve
2:46 Djokovic Flat Serve
2:59 Uses of Flat Serve
4:24 Drawbacks Flat Serve
4:48 Slice Serve Toss
5:23 Swing path Slice
5:51 Dominic Thiem Demonstration Flat Serve vs Slice Serve
8:17 Uses of Slice
9:38 Drawbacks Slice
10:04 Qualities of Topspin and Kick Serve
11:00 Kick Serve Toss
11:46 Swing path Kick Serve
12:12 Dominic Thiem Demonstration Flat vs Kick
14:32 Uses of Kick

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[MeikeBabelTennis]

If you want to get even more details, check out these separate videos of each!
Flat vs Slice Serve and how to master both:

[dyrdee]

i know you don't get the views you want on these kinds of videos, but these deep dives are INVALUABLE and really display your expertise in a way that sets you apart from all the other youtube coaches. please set up a patreon when you get the opportunity so we can compensate you for these gems!

[johnmccane]

Thank you for this lesson. I am still struggling with my serves and this video helped me a lot. Especially when you showed how to toss the ball. Greetings from Russia!)

[saidtadros]

Perfect ✔️ and spot on 3 in ONE easy illustration of a very difficult topic - for many, even the good players👌

[ginawilliams]

Great video and especially liked to hear when you would/would not use the kick or the slice serve and why. Excellent as usual.

[catherinebush]

You are an amazing teacher and I have learned more from you than I have from my coach with weekly lessons. He is always impressed with my improvement. Thank you so much 🥰🥰💖💖

[andreugentzen]

By the way: great tip (from Jeff), which really works on the kick serve: place your left foot (if u'r righty), parallel to the line. It really works.

[rafaelmarquez]

Thank you Meike. Your video is really helpful.

[migelowsky]

The only thing that I would add, is that on the kick serve you stay with your body pointing more to the side. Don't open so soon. You already commented about that in your stand alone kick serve video, but just another tip if someone hasn't seen it.
Thanks 🙂🎾

[georgeloayza]

Just wanted to say : Thank you, thank you, thank you .
Finally I've found what I was missing in my serves.
Great videos!!!
Love the way you explained all the angles and shots.
Just Fantastic.

[AaeriosYT]

Best serve video I’ve ever seen. Thank you!

[thorcyar]

I'm going to only keep only you as my tennis videos source : your content is wayyy better than anything I've subscribed so far. Straight to the point. Very good explanations. No click 🪤. A touch of funny humour... Thank you very much!

[lenr]

That was the most concise and clearest discussion of the differences in the 3 serves that I have seen. Thanks!

[ethanw]

Best explanation and demonstration of the three types of serves. I’ve seen a lot of these videos, this one is easiest to understand. Great job.

[ChangeBeUs]

Amazing lesson. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video

[amirsanchez]

Great explanation, Meike! I use the flat and slice serve as my first serve, directed to the left of the deuce side or to the body on the ad side. For the second serve, mostly kick serve and a sometimes the slice serve, mostly to the body or the T on both sides

[christophergerber]

Ein weiteres grossartiges Video! Klasse, alle 3 Varianten kompakt und dennoch umfassend in ein Video zu packen. Die kleinen, feinen Hinweise sind spitze: „aim a little shorter“. „Take some pace off“ - gerade im Slice Seve! Auch der Hinweis, den slice von rechts aufs „T“ zu setzen (da er sich in den Körper des Returners dreht) - super. Der meiste Mist hier auf YT „empfiehlt“ (nur) den „curve ball out wide“…Auch die Hinweise zum ball toss, eben nicht zu weit nach rechts und in den court rein - mega! Weltklasse auch die „pros & cons“ zu jedem serve type. Praktikermässig. Ohne Verwissenschaftlichung (gilt auch für die Tatsache, dass Du Pronation und deren Bedeutung erwähnst, aber nicht überstrapazierst!). Wow! Ich denke, ein „Gegenspielervideo“ würde noch Sinn machen, konkret: Wie / wohin returniere ich am Besten auf die verschiedenen Typen (vorausgesetzt ich erkenne sie früh genug)? Spontan fällt mir ein: Wann setze ich einen (scharfen oder floating) RH-Slice als return ein, wann nicht? Wo gehe ich glatt durch. Wie muss ich den backswing ändern? Oder den Griff? Wann sollte ich besser chippen und wie? Wie reagiere ich auf ein nur reingeschobenes 2nd serve „Ei“ (footwork, stance, shot selection)? Was mach ich als Einhänder beim Klassiker „kick nach aussen in die RH“?

Ansonsten: weiter so! Die Videos und der Kanal sind der Hammer!!

[luisrodea]

Wow! Great video! I have not seen anybody explain these 3 serves like you...Thank you very much!

[robertaugustynowicz]

It s one of the most clear and understandable explenationes I ve heard. Very valuable especially to someone starting and trying to learn to serve on their own.

[andreugentzen]

Thanks so much Meike! Love the clear, insightfull and passionate way in which you explain every single detail of this wonderful sport. With Jeff (Salzenstein), you are the best comunicators. Congrats and again THANK YOU!!