Why the Tennis Serve is so Difficult & How it Can be Simplified

In today’s video, I explain why the tennis serve is so difficult and how it can be simplified by compartmentalizing the required movements.

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[PaulWolfe]

It's the only aspect of tennis that is entirely under your control. And yet it is still so difficult.

[stackems]

I'm by no means a serving expert but once I started slowing down the backswing up to the trophy "pose", I gained so much power it was insane. I still need to practice but when I hit it just right it feels great. Effortless power.

So if you're trying to figure out the key, take it slower in the beginning!!

[ziggy]

Great video Nick ! Everything you said was exactly the problem I was experiencing . Only recently I started to toss the ball higher so I could implement the correct mechanics for my service motion. You stated that a low ball toss was tied into the fear factor and that’s exactly what I was doing. I was rushing my serve and I never allowed the racquet to get into the “ pro drop “position because of the fear that I had of tossing the ball higher. Only after watching other players with higher ball tosses did I realize what I was doing wrong with my serve. I now feel more confident when I step up to the line with a higher toss.

[urbanbalena]

Great video Nick. I personally love the endless technical challenges of tennis. But when to simply initiate a point you have to throw the ball up 11 ft with your non dominant arm to a precise location while simultaneously performing a complex looping action with your other arm and time hitting a rapidly descending ball that has to clear a net and land in a small rectangle 18 metres kind of easy to see why Pickleball is surging in popularity:)

[cam]

Good summary. I play rec-level doubles matches at about the 4.0 level. I'm always amazed that so many players at the 4.0 level can have good groundstroke and volley games yet the serve (and particularly second serve) can be extremely flawed and they never practice it outside of playing games. I've been fascinated by the serve for years and regularly spend time on the court on my own hitting serves. So many tennis players at the rec level wouldn't do this, ever.

[dayostical]

So I watched this video on Saturday night and decided to try it out on Sunday afternoon. And it worked like a charm! All I did was focus on the lag aspect when serving, and I noticed my serves had more power and depth, with pretty much the same effort as before. You really know what you're talking about, and again have proven why you're one of my main go-to channels for tennis instructions. Keep up the good work!!!

[evilchemi]

The serve is so difficult because of the toss. The more tips and videos on the toss, the better imo!

[mylifeinsqft]

I'm glad you shared that. I have a low toss and I've been having problems during everything, especially the dropping of the racket down my back before coming up to hit it. I noticed that when my tosses are higher, I seem to serve better. Thanks for the explanation!

[germanslice]

Nick With the serve (I was taught to power serve by the national coach) and I'm just trying to figure out which serve motion is less complicated and less tiring for me to always do, so the serve has got less chance of breaking down. I find the abbreviated serve gives me much less time loading up.

The serve has to be done with the lag delay because its a lasso serve and to get enough time to lasso the ball in fully with the backswing (racquet drop) you need to delay the hitting arm. If you don't lag, you won't get enough lasso onto the ball and that pops the ball too flat past the lines at 100-130 mph. instead of clicking in at 100-130+ mph. You get more zip when you put lag in the serve.

I think this lag will also determine also how short and wide you can also lasso the serve as well. Because the lasso pulls the ball more down into the court when you do delay and it lassos the ball properly then you get those short wide big serves..

That's what I been finding out, sometimes I lag and sometimes I don't and when I don't, I end up rushing the serve and it don't have enough time to lasso the ball properly so it ends up missing the court lines. The lasso will feel weaker on contact and
not as strong if its rushed.

[rubengomez]

This is a great video analysis of the Serve Motion Most of the coaches cannot explain it and You end up confused They might say you don't toss the ball high enough You only use your arm only not enough of your body others Left Shoulder Collapse like Dementieva Nadal also struggled with his serve I learned my serve watching Roscoe Tanner John Newcombe Rod Laver Nastase but then someone said to me they toss at the throw meaning they start the throw motion before the toss A total Confusion Glad to see some comprehensive analysis from Nick that put things in order and clarify concepts. This is a video to keep and watch over and over Thanks, Nick!!!

[davebudge]

I saw a guy once at my club he was really overweight apparently useless at singles BUT he had an absolute monster serve both first and second a totally smooth service action he would routinely serve his way out of break points always in doubles he couldn't play singles, apparently he went to a tennis camp for a few weeks and did nothing but develop his service, it was a weird sight heavy set tummy sticking out but what a serve, speed, hitting his spots, kick, slice you name it.
He looked like hell but the serve was poetry in motion all but the strongest of club players couldn't break him. It was almost his party trick he looked like he had trouble climbing the stairs but had the best club level serve I ever saw.

[dankim]

nice I also remember alexandr dolgopolov having a low toss but v quick service motion

[Rorshacked]

I think a uniquely challenging component of the serve is that you likely never throw a ball with your opposite hand, let alone throw a ball and require absolute precision as you do with the toss.

[peterochester]

Tanner and Roddick are great examples of the abbreviated serve motion. I've tried that and can do for a while but it's just not natural. Always come back to something between the lag and arms together motion. These give time for you to bend knees and load after the toss. Thanks for the vid.

[eviljohn]

Thanks! I cracked up a little bit on the mic drop part haha.

[kumarsabaratnam]

Superb explanation of intricate differences of the 3 types of service motions. Thanks.

[johnsmith-lsrc]

This is a masterclass for people who struggle to maintain serve consistency and wonder why. It provides explanations that you could probably never work out yourself - or get from a local coach. It perfectly explains why my serve tends to deteriorate over time. I need a serve practice session on my own every few months, to recover my timing and stop making the shortcuts you demonstrate. I have also recently watched your explanation of post contact pronation (or not) on the slice serve - and why people get so confused by this aspect of the slice serve. It really is material of the highest quality, for people trying to understand and improve their tennis technique.

[Shaunsweeney-Kubach]

Hahe! You’re the best Coach Nick! Have you been watching my videos? You sounded like me at the end of the video. Hahe Your the best my friend. I laughed so hard I spit my coffee on myself.😅 GOD bless you my friend. That was funny because I never hear you say things like that, and it was hysterical my friend.

[palavsudesh]

Thank you Nick for this great tip. Adding a short lag between the toss & the rest of the serve motion has really helped me hit more Consistent & definitely faster serves. 🙏🏼

[niwrad]

I think the lag serve can be hard because you’re making one arm move in a different way than the other arm. It’s sort of like trying to rub your belly and pat your head at the same time. However, I agree that the lag serve does seem like the best option to learn with