How to Serve in Tennis

Sports are always great things to do, particularly when the weather starts to become increasingly more warm outside. One activity that's a lot of fun to do is tennis. However, it isn't always the easiest game to play if you've never played before. These are some tips for learning to or improving one of the most fundamental aspects of the game: the serve.

First, make sure that you have a strong grip on your racket. The stronger the grip, the more powerful the force is when you hit the ball. Try to grip close to the bottom of the handle. If you hold your racket in the middle of the handle, the bottom of it will poke your wrist and get in your way as you swing.

Second, adopt a wide stance. Your feet should be about eighteen inches to two feet apart, at about shoulder level. Bend your knees as you toss the ball in the air, allowing you to rise as you hit it.

Next, make sure you hold the ball with your thumb and all four fingers. Bounce it a couple of times in order to get a good grip on it and feel for it. When you throw it, make sure that you throw it upwards, higher than the level at which you will be hitting it. By letting it fall a few inches, this allows your hand eye coordination to kick in, best allowing you to visualize where it is in relation to your racket.

Finally, the stroke or swing is perhaps the most important aspect, where all of the elements come together. Hold your racket up and at a slight curve. As you swing it towards the ball, keep your racket perfectly balanced in your hand (this is where the aforementioned strong grip comes in) and swing it straight. Keeping the racket straight is one of the most difficult parts of learning to serve, so you will want to practice this several times without a ball. Some simple wrist exercises will make it easier. Because you won't be hitting the ball until it has fallen a couple of inches, anticipate where that position is for you.

When you finally follow through and make contact with the ball, your grip should be strong, your stroke straight, and the impact should be powerful.