How to serve tennis?

The match starts with one side serving. The serving order changes hands after each game throughout the match. The serving player must serve from behind the back line. The first serve in each game is served from the right side of the center line and thrown into the service area to the left of the opponent’s court. The second serve is served from the left side of the center line and is thrown into the service area on the right side of the opponent’s court.

Then serve from the right and left respectively until the end of the game. Players can serve in two ways: overarm and underarm.

What should I pay attention to for a good serve?

1- First of all, let’s start with the racket grip. Our grip should be “continental” grip for beginners and intermediate level. Although the grips of good level players vary, this is the grip used 90% of the time, and as Tennis Istanbul, we recommend “continental” grip for everyone when serving. What I need to do for the grip in question is to hold the racket like a handshake.

2- How should we position ourselves? For right-handers, my left foot should be in front with the tip of the toe crossed, facing the right side of the court, the tip of my right foot should be behind the heel of my left foot and facing straight ahead.

3- Where you throw the ball is very important. If you throw it to the right place, your serve will be better. For right-handers, you need to grasp the ball with your left hand with your first 4 fingers like holding a cone and release it slowly upwards without throwing it. You should throw the ball 2 racket lengths up and meet the ball as it falls slightly. Think of the ball as a square in front of your left foot (for right-handers) and try to drop it into it.

4- After you start meeting the ball by doing these 3 points, we recommend that you also use your knees. You can bend the knees a little bit and take power and transfer your body weight forward so that your swing is faster. Along with your knees, shoulder rotation will also help you accelerate the ball.

5- Finally, how should the racket be closed? Again going back to right-handers, the best scenario would be for your racket to go slightly outwards at the moment of the stroke, but at the moment of closing, it should be turned inwards and end next to your left leg.

As a result, you need to concentrate well on the serve and work hard on it. When I watched the practice sessions at the US Open during my university years, I saw many top players enter the court and serve for only 1 hour and then leave. As we said, the most important stroke in tennis is the serve. For example, you can watch players like Sharapova, Bouchard, Muguruza, Federer, Feliciano López. You don’t need anyone to practice your serve, just a bucket of balls and a court.