Kick serves

Nigel C Asked 4 years ago

Alois,

Last year I faced an opponent who had a very effective kick serve. My first return wasn't on the table, the 2nd and 3rd time he used the serve I got the ball on the table but they were weak returns and I still lost the point. I'd very much like to learn a kick serve. My understanding is that the ball kicks due to the unexpected amount of topspin on the ball. Am I right in thinking that a kick serve will not usually be very fast - fast serves are more likely to have lots of top spin so are not so unpredictable. This means that a kick serve must have a high amount of spin compared to speed. Is it then possible to make any top spin serve action (suitably disguised) into a kick serve if you can get the spin to speed ratio right? i.e. can a backhand or tomahawk be used as a kick serve? 

Alois Rosario Answered 4 years ago

Hi Nigel,

 You must have read our minds. We filmed a tutorial on the Kick serve the other day. It should be it soon. 

You are right that any topspin serve can be a kick serve as long as there is disguise. However it can be fast as well to add the element of surprise. If it is too slow your opponent has too much time to adjust.