A powerful serve sets the tone for your game. It is the only shot you fully control — no opponent, no surprises — which makes it the highest-leverage hour in your training week. Here is how our coaches rebuild it, step by step.
Start with the stance, not the arm
Most club serves leak power before the racket moves. Stand sideways with feet shoulder-width apart, front foot pointing at the net post, and weight settled on the back foot. If you feel rushed, you are standing too open — close up and let the coil do the work.
The toss is the whole serve
A consistent toss turns a guessing game into a routine. Release the ball from the fingertips at eye level, arm straight, with no flick of the wrist. Practice by placing a towel where the ball should land: twenty tosses a day onto the towel fixes more serves than any grip change.
Rhythm beats muscle
Count it out — one (toss), two (coil), three (strike). The pause at the trophy position is where power loads; rushing through it is why serves fly long. Film yourself from the side once a month and compare the pause, not the pace.
Want eyes on your motion? Bring this article to your next session — our coaching studio films every private lesson and reviews it frame by frame.