Serving
Hello
I have two questions about spin vs forward momentum.
Dima makes two serves at 2.38 that clearly shows his ability to make a strong spin with not so much forward momentum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5qeMkdeaQ0
I have a real hard time trying to make this without the serve tends to be like a lob serve or what you call in your videos a "slow" serve(the ball hitting close to the net on my side.) Do you you have any advice/tips for this. I find that with the reverse pendulum serve this is easier to do but not with the regular.
Also his famous backhand serve, I really can't get that much spin on the ball. To have a lot of spin one would need to use a lot of wrist which I feel difficult in this serve. Do you have any tips how going about this serve to get maximum spin.
Best regards
Jesper
Hi Jesper,
The topspin serve is a bit tricky. Try to hit right up the back of the ball with a flat bat. Push forward with your racket on contact. This will get the ball moving a bit faster. Also make sure you are hitting the ball from quite low.
Take a look at our video on Serving Short & Fast.
To generate more spin on the backhand serve alter your grip slightly. Release the little finger and ring finger from the racket. This will allow more wrist movement.
A brief overview of what we'll cover in Serving Secrets series
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Jesper Franzen Posted 7 years ago
Hello
Ah I never thought this serve to be a topspin serve because when I do it they put it more into the net than up(never). I tried to copy the result of Dimas serve and it was in the right alley. So I have a hard time seeing this as a topspin serve. Am I missing something?
It depends on the contact you get. He is getting an upward contact. It is easy to then go under it a little bit to get a backspin contact. You may be going under slightly.
Marv Anderson Posted 7 years ago
I can get a lot of spin on a backhand serve by letting my wrist be very loose and whipping the racket very sharply with my forearm. The wrist really moves fast.
It will take a lot of practice but it's worth it. You can serve long and fast with all kinds of different spin this way, and with more practice, you can have a spiny half long serve as well.
Nigel C Posted 7 years ago
Just as a variation to my backhand serve, I sometimes keep my wrist quite rigid, but brush across the back of the ball keeping the face of blade vertical. I try to make as little forward motion as possible. This results in a ball that keeps short and low over the net but is loaded with sidespin. you must keep the ball low and short or a flick shot can easily put this away for a winner.
I have won quite a few points using this serve, I think this works because people do not see a large wrist movement and assume there is not much spin on the ball. The brushing contact is the key.