Service

Chapter 2

Service and Service Return

1. Service

2. Service Return

Service

The service is the only time in a match when you have total control of the ball, racquet, your opponent and timing of your shot. Therefore, you must take your time and think through exactly how you want to serve. What is the objective of the serve? Make sure you are prepared both mentally and physically for the next shot.

The overall aim of the serve should be to force a weak return and immediately put you in a dominant position. You should never hit a weak serve and allow your opponent to attack. This puts you under pressure and in a vulnerable state.

The service is not just the start of the rally!

The Lob Serve

Pete's Top Tip: "The most important thing about the lob serve is that it hits the side wall high and at the point where your opponent would normally volley had there been no side wall. You want to make your opponent feel that they have to step forward and extend to catch the ball before it hits the wall, or alternatively retreat into the corner and either volley a difficult falling ball or wait and take it off the back, by which time you are in control of the T and therefore the rally"

Service: Lob 1

Service: Lob 2

Service: Lob 3

Service: Lob - Keyframe Analysis

1. Approach: As with any shot, including the serve, you should start in a good solid position with shoulders turned, extending the leading leg and using a full back swing.

2. Delivery: Now that you are in a great position, pick your spot on the front wall and serve.

3. Impact: As you are trying to get height on the front wall, keep the racquet face open and strike the ball at a height above the hips. It is a common misconception that you should let the ball drop and go from low to high. At impact my arm is fully extended and taking the racquet away from my body. Therefore, I am already moving towards to the centre of the court to control the T.

4. Follow Through: After impact it is very important to allow the follow through to naturally continue its path to the completion of the stroke. Without this the consistency and accuracy of the shot will be impeded.

The Hard Serve

Pete's Top Tip: "Other than hitting the ball onto his racquet, the direction of the hard serve is not too important. It is the element of surprise and the change of pace which is more significant with this serve. The majority of the time you are looking for a weak return. However you can hit outright winners by clipping the back wall or side wall nick, or even your opponent’s body."

Service: Hard - Keyframe Analysis

1. Approach: The score has just been called. Looking over my shoulder I see that my opponent is just preparing to receive serve. I take the racquet back into a ¾ back swing whilst still standing relatively relaxed and looking like I am not ready to serve.

2. Delivery: I pull my right leg away, allowing my shoulder and therefore racquet to come through quickly to add an element of surprise. I throw the ball high in order to get an aggressive downward trajectory on the path of the ball. This will minimise his time to react to the situation.

3. Impact: Although having got to impact very quickly from a neutral position my body is still and solid at impact. My arm is fully extended at impact, taking the ball early and high to create pace on the ball.

4. Follow Through: After impact the racquet is on a downward plane propelling the ball low and towards the corner. By doing this I do not allow my opponent any chance to volley, therefore already putting me in a strong position. The path and speed of the racquet will naturally move me towards the T.

The Centre Serve

Pete's Top Tip: "A vital factor with this serve is that it looks exactly the same in preparation as a normal serve. Ideally the ball will hit your opponent, immediately ending the rally. However normally he will move in time and the ball will rebound off the back wall. Your opponent will be out of position and hopefully will hit a weak return."

Service: Centre - Keyframe Analysis

1. Approach: You are trying to make sure that your opponent is unaware at this stage of the type of serve you are about to throw at him. Pick a spot on the front wall in relation to where he is standing.

2. Delivery: From a standard serving position you speed up the process, again to produce an element of surprise.

3. Impact: As with all other strokes the arm is fully extended at impact taking the ball away from the body. My body and head are perfectly still ensuring the serve is accurate and producing the desired outcome. The racquet face is relatively flat, closing on impact, which assists in the disguise of the serve.

4. Follow Through: At this stage the shot truly becomes a hard centre serve. Rather than following through and towards the opposite front corner I pull the racquet down and back towards myself, thus ensuring the ball straightens up with pace.

The Body Serve

Pete's Top Tip: "This is a very similar shot to the centre serve. However, I aim more towards the body / side wall rather than the body / centre. The aim is either to hit your opponent or, if he leaves the ball, it should then hit the back wall then head towards the side wall. Therefore, if he does not deal with the serve early he is immediately forced deep into the back corner."

Service: Body - Keyframe Analysis

1. Approach: As with the centre serve you are trying to make sure that your opponent is unaware at this stage of the type of serve you are about to throw at him. Pick a spot on the front wall in relation to where he is standing.

2. Delivery: Again as with the centre serve, from a standard serving position you speed up the process, again to produce an element of surprise.

4. Follow Through: At this stage the shot truly becomes a body serve. Rather than following through and towards the opposite front corner I pull the racquet across my body. This again allows me to deceive my opponent up until the last second.

Conclusion

The serve is a very important part of the game that is overlooked by most players. To start a rally in the right manner is crucial to the outcome. Take your time, find the spot on the front wall and remember that variation is the key.