Serve (tennis)

A serve (or, more formally, a service) in tennis is a shot to start a point. The serve is initiated by tossing the ball into the air and hitting it (usually near the apex of its trajectory) into the diagonally opposite service box without touching the net.

Types of serve

There are different types of serve: a flat serve, an American twist serve (or kick serve) and a slice serve. Each type has its tactical advantages. The different types of serve, not to mention the placement of the serve, allows the server to have many varieties and thus a major advantage. A widely used tactic is to hit a hard flat serve on the first serve, and a twist serve on the second serve.

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Flat serve

A flat serve (in the old days sometimes called a cannonball serve) is hit very hard and with relatively little spin. Since it generally is hit quite close to the top of the net, it has a smaller margin for error than spin serves. A flat serve is generally used as a first serve, when the server can afford the greater risk of hitting a fault, in an attempt to win the point outright, possibly by an ace. It is executed by hitting the ball squarely with the racquet held in an Eastern or Continental grip. Since it has very little clearance over the net, it is most often hit straight down the centerline, where the net is lowest, either to a righthander's backhand in the deuce court or to his forehand in the ad court. The flat serve is commonly the easiest to learn, particularly for a relatively tall person, who has more court space to hit it into than a shorter player. A good server in the ATP can hit a flat serve with the speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) or more.

Related Topics:
Racquet - ATP

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American Twist serve

An American twist serve (or kick serve) is hit with topspin and travels at a lesser pace than the flat serve. The ball travels in a higher arc over the net than a flat serve. It then dips quicker and bounces higher, generally away from the receiving player's backhand. The kick serve in general is safer to hit and is often employed for the second serve. A twist serve is harder to learn, however, because it is hit somewhat behind the head of the server and requires slightly more complex mechanics. It is hit with a Continental grip or a Eastern forehand grip. The American twist serve is useful for second serves, serve and volley tactics and many other circumstances.

Related Topics:
American twist serve - Serve and volley

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Slice serve

A slice serve is hit with sidespin, which causes the ball to curve and skip sideways. A right-handed player hitting a slice serve would cause the ball to curve to the left. The slice serve can be used to either draw the receiving player away from his initial stationary position or to "jam" him with the serve as the ball curves directly into his body. In either case, it is generally more difficult for the serve to be returned. The slice serve is made by bringing the racquet around the side of the ball and can be hit with various grips including the Continental and the Eastern backhand. A severely sliced serve is sometimes called a "sidespin".

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