Short serve to compliment aggressive deep/spinny serves
Strategy
Donald Lawson Asked 9 years ago
Alois,
My deep topspin tomahawk serves (both traditional and reverse tomahawk) are usually very effective against my opponents for the first game or two (they miss many of them long and/or wide). Then my opponents get used to it and anticipate it and its effectiveness is greatly reduced.
I think that I need to use an aggressive short serve more often, to set up my long tomahawk serves. However, my pendulum (normal and reverse) serves are not very effective, nor is my backhand side slice serve.
What other short serves would you recommend I develop to compliment my deep tomahawk serves? And is there a video I can look at.
Thanks.
Don
Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago
Hi Don,
I think in this case variation is the key. Even though your other serves may not be as effective, they are a change especially if they are getting used to the Tomahawk serve. Throw in one of the other serves every 3 or 4 serves and that will make the Tomahawk more effective.
Also work on the subtle variation in the placement of the serves.Serve some to the middle as well as wide or a short one thrown in.
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Johan B Posted 9 years ago
Short tomahawk serve sounds like the obvious choice. Top spin, no spin, back, it all works. Remember to challenge their short wide forehand
Marius Darian Posted 9 years ago
I agree with Johan, it is crucial to learn to serve both short and long with the same service motion, so use the tomahawk when you serve short.
D K Posted 9 years ago
I would recommend to mix it up with some windshield wiper serve.
I am able to disguise both serves for the other,which has won me a vast amount of points against some opponents.
Johan B Posted 9 years ago
Thats a good one DK! I try to improvise one of those occasionally as well. There is of course also the reverse tomahawk
D K Posted 9 years ago
This is also a good alternative.
But the windshield is easier to execute.
Donald Lawson Posted 9 years ago
All are good ideas. I happen to like the reverse tomahawk.