To serve more effectively it is necessary to understand the mechanics of the three basic serves. These include the flat, slice and topspin serves. This month we will discuss the flat serve. In order to be able to execute any serve effectively two important components of the serve must be understood - the toss and the angle of contact. 

Let’s first address the toss. Try to visualize a clock which faces you and hangs over the top of your head. Twelve o’clock is directly above the top of your head. In order to hit a flat serve, the ball toss should be aimed at 1:00pm. To execute a flat serve you must pronate your arm before contact with the ball. Pronation occurs when you twist your arm just before contact so that you see the back of your hand (if you froze your motion) after you strike the ball. The ball is actually hit during the twisting process when the palm of your hand is facing your opponent.

Try this exercise to better understand the process. Place your racquet on your back so that the edge of the racquet rests on your shoulder blade. Note that the palm of your hand now is facing towards your ear. As you bring the racquet forward as if you were to hit a serve, twist your arm so that the palm of your hand rotates 180 degrees. If you froze your motion just after contact, you would see the back of your hand. Contact would have been made when the palm of your hand faced your opponent. To get maximum power make sure that you toss the ball high enough so that you can make contact with your arm fully extended while shifting your weight into the court.

George Haley