The Serve is Your Ticket to Winning in Tennis

Getting off to a fast start is your best game plan in tennis. The best way to get off to a fast start is to have a strong serve. Gone is the strategy that all you have to do is merely get the game started. In today's modern game of tennis, the serve is a vital part of your game-winning strategy.

You need to master the powerful, high velocity serve that is seen on the pro courts. Though it's not the only aspect of the serve, it is certainly one of the most noticeable. You do, of course, have to be sure that your serve is not always the exact same shot every time. You'll want to be consistently accurate and be able to depend on your serve to be in play and delivered where you want it.

The serve is a calculated shot. It's the only time during the game that you can absolutely count on having the time, the concentration, and the ability to choose exactly where you place your shot. So, use your most intense mental strategies when considering where and how you will serve.

In serving you'll have a natural advantage if you're considerably taller than your opponent. You'll have the advantage of placement, reach, and usually power. But, height alone will not be enough. Realize that without just the right mechanics of the serve being followed, you'll have a mere 8 inch window on your opponent's side of the court in which to place the ball. The proper amount of twist on the racquet will be necessary to land the serve successfully and enough speed must be behind the serve to prevent your opponent from hammering you with a simple kill.

Your goal with your serve is to increase the odds you have of gaining an advantage on your return shot, presuming your serve isn't an ace. Equally balanced in the equation of the serve is your ability to cause your opponent to make a mistake, or miss the return entirely. Not every serve has to be an ace. A weak return from your opponent, giving you the opportunity to play to your own strengths is equally advantageous.

Don't over-extend your reach when serving. Of course you want to strike the ball at the highest point possible, but you should always keep that point well within your a comfortable reach. If you have to stretch beyond a reasonable point just to hit the ball, you'll wear yourself out and reduce your accuracy and productivity. Use a variety of speed and pace in your serves, as well.

Remember that maintaining proper footing is as important as the power and speed of your serve. If your foot crosses or touches the baseline before you serve the ball, you'll be called for a footfault. As long as you pay attention to where your feet are before you even start your serve, you'll have a better chance at not being called for this mindless infraction. Almost every footfault is a lapse in mental judgment, fatigue, or allowing the pressure of the game to unnecessarily impact your performance. You'll never be perfect and avoid every footfault, but you can reduce them substantially with careful attention to your starting point while serving.