Fixing A USTA 4.5 Slice Serve! | Tennis Serve Lesson

[@bournejason66]

The way you showed us the swing path by holding his racket is very helpful. And it’s quite different from carving the ball as some coaches teach.

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Hi Jack, Glad it was a helpful. Really, it is not possible to carve the ball...it is more of a cut. BTW, I will get to your serve review on Sunday. Best, John

[@SSJolt]

Randy is so GOATED

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Thanks Rhys😂

[@johnbenevoli2066]

THE ELBOW FORWARD CHANGED IT ALL FOR HIM. SOMETIMES ALL IT TAKES IS ONE ADJUSTMENT. I'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT TOO. Thankyou.

[@christopherbakriges6559]

The idea of ratio is quite helpful...thank you!

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Thanks Christopher! Best, John

[@darnellcaballes]

I feel his pain. took me almost a year to get the feel of tossing to my right on demand (and alternate tossing to hit range between flat, slice, top, kick). old habit was always tossing for top/kick

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Better late than never right? - Randy

[@markchan006]

Thank you John. I also wondered why my serve doesn't have lots of slice/cut even when I attempted a slice serve. Going to try what you said in this video!

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Great! Let me know how it works for you! Thanks, John

[@delatorresteveful]

Very informative video with a lot of useful, adaptive suggestions. Fun seeing the progression.

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful to you! Best, John

[@maciek_d]

This is exactly me. Always hitting the kick serve from the left toss and struggling to get a proper slice serve. I will use your suggestions. Thanks coach

[@sigmundochudzawa]

GREAT LESSON

[@johnbenevoli2066]

Hey John, why didn't you get him to just hit a flat serve down the middle and shift the angle of the racquet a few degrees which would have taken him 4/5ths of the way there? And to hit in front of course...just a thought?

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Those are good thoughts. Of course I was focused primarily on his toss adjustment. He usually tosses the ball even further left than presented in the video. Once he got the toss right, the slice came together. Thanks, John

[@davidneilbird8849]

Great lesson

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Thank you!

[@Lanten77]

Toss to the right, of course. But what would you think about a little grip change a few millimeters more toward the backhand to automatically adjust the racket face at contact to more on the right side of the ball? That would achieve both the curve and the angle. And he wouldn't have to try to adjust the face angle with his arm - - the grip would automatically adjust the face angle without a swing change.

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Thanks for your comment and contribution to the video. A grip change could have been an option, but the ball placement was really the main issue, as he serves with a true continental grip. Thanks, John

[@dwienner4]

It’s cool to see the student’s perception vs. what it really looks like. It shows how strongly our habits are ingrained

[@philippbehrens5121]

Great video. Where should I hit the ball? One, two, three or four a clock?

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

3 O'clock! Best, John

[@jimdauer]

Hey John. Great video. Do you find that players like Randy toss the ball too far left because they’re subconsciously driven to toss the ball towards the target? If so, what do you have players do to convince their subconscious that hitting towards the right net post won’t result in the ball bouncing off the right fence? For myself, when I am making shadow swings, I naturally swing out towards the right net post, just like you showed Randy how to do in the video. But when I actually try to hit a ball in the box, my logical brain takes over and redirects all of my energy towards the target.

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Hi Jim, thanks for your comments and questions. Randy tosses the ball to the left because he’s worked on hitting topspin / kick serve for a long time. I understand that it’s counterintuitive to swinging away from the target… Trust the process let me know how it goes. Thanks, John.

[@cp4christo]

What about his slice serve to the ad court?

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Great question. Once he gets the slice dialed in going wide in the deuce court, the next move is down the t in the ad court. Best, John

[@robertgreenbaum8911]

John: Do you have any suggestions to assist me in assuring that my elbow is up and out? In that I throw lefty and play tennis with the racquet in by right hand I am having great difficulty in serving/using a "hammer technique" in order to slice the ball.

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Hi Robert, The only way I could offer valuable suggestions is by seeing your serve...otherwise I am just guessing, which I don't want to do. If you interested, I do provide a very useful and economical video analysis service. You can review all the details here: performanceplustennis.com/performance-plus-serve-stroke-video-analysis-description/. Best, John

[@robertgreenbaum8911]

@@PerformancePlusTennis Thank you for the terrific lesson(s) John (and the offer to evaluate). For the time being, I am going to utilize the new pro that is now going to work here at North Shore Towers in Floral Park, New York. Certainly, if that does not deliver results, it will be on to Performance-Plus tennis.

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

@@robertgreenbaum8911 Hi Robert, How is your serve coming along? Please give me an update when you get a chance. Thanks, John

[@robertgreenbaum8911]

The elbow handicap is improving now that I am more fully utilizing the “knock off the birthday cap” routine.” Thank you for your interest John.

[@Better_Call_Raul]

11:45 'If you toss way off to the right there is only way you can go and opponent can see that...." If you toss way to the right (while learning the slice) isn't it more difficult to contact the *outside* of the ball? And you can easily go down the T with that toss. So opponent still would not know if you are going wide or T. 🤔

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Great question! The reality is the ball goes in the direction the string bed is facing at contact. You really don't hit the side of the ball, but rather sweep across the ball with the string best facing the target, so placing the ball to the right forces more of a sweeping effect. I hope this makes sense. Best, John

[@sunsioux444]

I can so relate to this player, my teacher kept telling me I was doing something, and I could not feel it for the life of me. But then, when I saw it on a video, I said oh no! Just like the student thought he was tossing the ball towards the right and sure of it, and couldn’t believe that he was still tossing more left. I can so relate, so video feedback is so important! I never dreamed I was doing something weird in my serve, but video proved it!

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Kindly, John

[@billthestinker]

Very nice lesson gradual progression thank you for sharing

[@mauricecatayan3406]

Obvious ultra high bar for comparison: Sampras was able to hit his 1st and slice serves from tosses indistinguishable to the eye at speed. They could very well be the same toss. It all depended on the hand's angle of approach towards the ball.

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Thanks for the comment. Federer could come very close to same, but for a different reason. When it comes to serving, Sampras is in a class by himself. Best, John

[@ericfreeman5795]

Great video. Sometimes it's just one detail that brings it all home. In this case it was your tip on elbow movement. Other instructors always say, turn your body into de ball, or the court on flat and slice serves. Maintain your body more sideways on topspin. Your way is more comprehensible. Lead with your elbow on flat and slice, keep your elbow back on topspin. This automatically affects your body turn, or lack thereof. But also, it's the arm that moves the racquet. For a beginner or intermediate, it's easier to concentrate on the elbow. If, from the trophy position you bring your elbow foreward, the body turns and the racquet goes from right to left. If you maintain your elbow behind you, the body stays sideways, and the racquet has no other choice than to move from left to right. The elbow only moves from flexion to extension. No rotational movement. Now I can't wait to get out on the court and put this in action. Thank you for the great lesson.

[@PerformancePlusTennis]

Hi Eric, Thanks for your comments and contribution to the video. Let me know how your serve is coming along. Best, John