How To Hit A Slice Serve?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Learn The Croatian Serve 🇭🇷 (FREE COURSE) 👉🏻 bit.ly/tcs1977

[@jodunkley3452]

The mental imaging of the scoop action and palm up finish is invaluable, I managed to get very nice slice doing this. Thanks again Nick I just love your tuition!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Jo, 💪💪👌

[@jaimemedina702]

Don’t you mean “valuable”? Not invaluable. Invaluable would mean that it has no value and therefor doesn’t help you out in any way

[@jodunkley3452]

@Jaime Medina 'In valuable' is just an upgraded version of valuable. For example valuable is useful. Invauable is better than useful. Either term fits the instruction Nick gives here.

[@johnnytang1]

Thanks Nic, some coach won't talk about the slice serve on the Ad side and you did a great job in explaining both sides.

[@siyungjung7162]

Now I understood slice serve. Especially, I was confused whether I have to pronate or not. I knew that it depends on persons. Thanks a lot.

[@cheriem9994]

Now that I actually HAVE a slice serve I can relate to the detailed explanation of why, where and how. Thanks for keeping it simple and covering everything off: stance, grip, toss, contact, angles, ad side, deuce side, curvature. Love this.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

🙏🙏

[@Fernwald84]

Very fine, in depth coverage, Nick. Thanks! I find I can substantially increase the slice if, instead of holding the racquet face perfectly straight up-and-down when I'm preparing the ball toss (both hands in the lowest position), to tilt the racquet face about 10 or 20 degrees away from my body (10 o'clock for lefties, 2 o'clock for righties).

[@tommorton512]

Best explanation of pronation. Many confusing videos regarding pronating during slice serve. I finally understand what to do!!! For me no pronation. Great Point about how hard it is to get the ball to bounce to the left on add court. Helpful to know what we should be expecting from our serve.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Tom, Thank You. Yes don’t worry about continuing pronation, it might happen or not. The ad side is tough, interestingly if you serve slower you can curve the Ball leftwards on ad side. But with pace it becomes increasingly difficult as the ball has more momentum on its slight rightward trajectory

[@lordbyron3603]

You explain things (body mechanics) so clearly.

[@matthewc1392]

seen many youtube video's on this subject - this is one of the best. I like his comments about pronation & non-pronation. Many instructors will tell you that you must pronate to hit a good slice, Nick correctly states that it's ok to do either but focus should be more on feel - 100% agree. stance & toss comments are also spot on. Cheers Nick !

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Matt, thank you. 🙏🙏

[@assimnaodamais]

Thank you Nick. It works perfectly!!! Another textbook instruction video from you and with no weird "innovative" and wrong guidelines as hundreds we find on KZbin.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Mauricio, thank you 🙏

[@Xunxunism]

I just find the best coach. Short, to the point, know what confusions people have and explain them plainly.

[@alfsearching]

GREAT STUFF - I am talking about all of your videos I have seen so far (5). Thank you. You cover a lot of details that other sites don't. Such as how much forearm intensity when hitting a forehand on contact and be on balls of the feet when receiving serve.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Keen Observer, thank u I appreciate it

[@jodunkley3452]

This is great Nick, I love the way you break down the mechanics of the serves, I've just mastered (sort of) a good Kick serve and now i'm off to the garden to try the slice. Thank you!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Jo, 👍👍

[@mrmoe9630]

i made the expirience that when i consciously exaggerate the pronate a bit, but in a relaxed way then it gives me a better straight flat serve and a bit extra power on it but you right it mess up pretty much the advantage of the slice the video cover up all the important questions of this topic with good examples not to short and not to long! over all a great video! very well done, thanks a lot!!!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

moe joe, thank you 🙏

[@kaushikpadmanabhan3090]

Also when doing a slice serve, you can toss EVEN Wider (like 2:30) and then weave the racquet around so then the ball's path will go with raw sidespin, thus bringing the ball even further out of the court. This is from experience, for I have been using a slice serve for 2 years now

[@alenx5455]

I always wondered why I tend to slice the ball much more on wide deuce than down the T ad, but never thought about this, now it makes sense!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Alen, the interesting thing is that with low pace it is easier to make it curve to the left on ad side, but if the serve is sliced very hard the rightward trajectory only becomes stronger. It takes a real master to hit the crap out of it and curve it to the left on the ad side (for right-handers).

[@geoffhess2267]

Nick just like the previous comment by Jo, your emphasis on the necessary finish position for the racket face and palm made all the difference for my slice. Have been getting great slice serve results since I incorporated that.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Glad to hear that Geoff

[@felixschoenberg5251]

thx for your lessons! they are clear, informative and very helpful.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Glad you found them helpful Felix

[@joeldelrosario3109]

Big tnx for your unselfish sharing of your proven technics and rationale inclusive.

[@ripleypipe]

Very good Nick, I like the way you try things out on the fly.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

ripleygordon, Thanks 🙏

[@rkram3118]

Interesting analysis of the swing tyoes...now I think I know why my slices have a kick...I'm pronating maybe a bit more ...will try the scoop method 👍

[@IntuitiveTennis]

arkay, continuing pronation on slice is perfectly fine if it occurs intuitively. If you are forcing it it’ll create problems

[@Montemen1]

always nice tips, thx

[@PankajYadav-jm9gk]

Very good explanation

[@deepakthakur5212]

Great Lesson

[@pedrocastro6870]

Nice video will definitely be helpful when I’m playing thanks 😃

[@drakramkhan9675]

I was always confused about pronation, but now it is crystal clear about finish of slice serve Scoop & palm action Thank you so much 👌👍

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Hello Doc, Pronation might occur on the slice or it might not. You won’t know either way if you accelerate properly. Scoop and palm will give you slice 👍👍

[@tomdineen7]

Love your videos --- great job man!!!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thomas, 🙏🙏

[@lcervantes8505]

Good lesson. Still trying to get this serve to work with consistancy, especially down the T. I learned a version hitting the ball 8 o'clock 2 o'clock which if hit correctly touched down then crosses in front of the receiver.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

L, that sounds like topspin to me?

[@francisbel9905]

J'adore vos vidéos et vos explications très claires

[@PrecisionPointTennis]

Thanks for this!🎾🏆

[@IntuitiveTennis]

🙏

[@rbutthamilton]

Great vid. Also when serving down the T on the Ad side, one will likely add a bit of topspin unknowingly for control and margin. The topspin would counter sideway movement of the slice. Anyway, I’m happy to take a straight down the T any day.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Rb, yeah absolutely, Pat Rafter style. He used to put all kinds of quirky spins in all directions. 👍

[@handlehandle869]

Hi Nic. You're instruction is straightforward and very well explained. You present very complicated material so simply. It's rather ironic your channel is named Intuitive Tennis, when tennis technique and skill mastery is anything but intuitive. Would you please clarify in the video description whether you believe there is any pronation on the slice serve for all players at the higher levels? I've replayed your opening example slice serve many times and I see pronation. I just want others to benefit from my question, as some viewers are commenting that you stated, modeled and prefer a slice serve using no pronation and just a neutral forearm cutting action around the ball leading to the scooping action. I've found when just using the "cutting and scooping" method with no pronation, that the result is wicked slice, but very limited penetration and pace. Please clarify. Thank you!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Chris, thank you! At 4:05 I discuss continuing pronation on the slice. Continuing pronation will occur at times and other times not. Even at the highest level of the game on all serves kick, slice and flat. My other videos where I cover pronation and continuing pronation in detail: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXe2o5eqad-IkKc kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp7Vkqdsm9WUbs0

[@pedroramos5760]

Hello Nick, does the scoop and palm up finish makes the arm not to pronate? Thanks! Big fan of your work

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Pedro There’s no correlation between the palm up and continuing pronation not taking place. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXe2o5eqad-IkKc

[@EdmonBegoli]

Nikola - what is the ball contact point/path on your slice serve? (e.g., 1:30, etc.)

[@joemamrus9473]

Assume was above you looking down when you hit a slice and we had a flat clock around the ball. Where on the clock would you make contact with the ball ?? Thanks in advance for your help. Love all your videos.

[@eyesonthetube]

Great video @nick. I remember Giles Muller had a nasty slice down the T which would regularly end up on the other side. I didn’t watch him a lot but he beat Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon serving like this. He also made contact virtually at the center

[@eyesonthetube]

unfortunately, the highlights dont know his slice serve but it crossed over before ball passed the baseline

[@catalinsimescu9872]

Another great video.Thanks again.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Catalin, thanks for your support 🙏

[@catalinsimescu9872]

I really used this scoop today and it worked most of the times..the thinking of making a scoop under the ball with the racket sending it in angle was funny..any angle....

[@IntuitiveTennis]

catalin, not sure what you mean by under the ball. Just make the metal image of having you racquet go to the right (towards net post) and then back around the body with the palm facing up.

[@catalinsimescu9872]

You said it better,thank you.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Catalin, thanks for the support. 🙏

[@thereisnogod3924]

pronation and internal shoulder rotation are 2 different things, pronation you have on every serve ( if not, you hit it with the frame ), but continiung ISR not always. the combination will give more power ( watch zverev slice around 175km ). As trainers we call the whole swing toward contact and after pronating to not make it to difficult for the students. You yourself keeps pronating

[@lcervantes8505]

Sampras hit this serve down the T on the ad side. Bent it so it hit the back fence 3-5' to the left of the center mark.

[@farishmzn]

great video on the serve but man that sky is lovely

[@IntuitiveTennis]

☀️

[@bitang2276]

Your're awesome...Than you for answering our request...

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Zandro, my pleasure

[@davidglow3]

Palm trees,blue sky,sunshine shorts and T shirt and a good tan..Makes me jealous in grey London

[@IntuitiveTennis]

🌞

[@hrabmv]

hi Nicky you give out great info.....because i noticed variances you talk about in serves topics and had no idea which one is correct, but realizing that tennis technique is like this a lot of small details with big impacts sometimes;) and there is no one way of doing it thanks so much....btw did you notice that you bounce of the ground 2 times with your left foot..heel goes up then down then up again...not sure if that is correct?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

hrabmv, you have a keen eye. It is a quirk of mine, I am however not aware that it is happening during the service motion.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

hrabmv, and thanks for your comment! 🙏

[@julianhommeyer9133]

Do you recommend hitting the back of the ball or somewhere between the back and the side of the ball (in reference to the baseline)?

[@purespin9064]

Scoop action, palm up, 12 or 1 o’clock toss

[@calvinlee4741]

Love how he said you can hit a slice without continued pronation! That's me - I find it very hard to pronate after hitting a slice. Thanks!

[@santhiyag1650]

good stuff

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you San

[@narsimha1089]

Thank you, Nick can you confirm whether for slice-serve contact will be at 3 clock and to hit on outside of the ball rather than hitting back of the ball?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2Wyf4iefbeGbZI

[@ryankiel4895]

What o'clock should the ball be struck for a slice? Dead center like a flat serve, or more towards three o'clock to get the slice action?

[@K4R3N]

Just hit an incorrect kick serve and it will become a slice serve. Works for me every time!

[@didanhtennis]

Is the slice to the T by the right hander on the Ad side is a function of shoulder rotation? This serve is really difficult to do as you said because of the geometry. Do you have tips on how to acquire and to improve this serve? Thank you

[@shriramoka]

Superb video nick.i have one query pls. Do we hit the slice serve at the apex of the ball toss or is it ok if the ball drops a lil like on the kick ? My reason for asking this is becoz my leg drive and racket drop gets affected if I try to rush into contact

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Never at apex kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5qVXqp6orN6fLs

[@sebastianmesserer3517]

Hi Nik, as someone who is trying to get the serve mechanics right from the start, do you recommend practicing only the flat serve first, and moving on to the slice & kick after mastering it? I'm especially thinking of the second serve. Should I do a slowed-down flat serve for the second, to continue getting used to the flat serve or should I start working on the flat and say the slice simultaneously? Thanks a lot!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Hi Sebastian, definitely flat mechanics first then learn slice, kick

[@b2m59]

I think Andy Murray do pronate, because the racquet head is pointing down very quick after contact.

[@j0e72]

If you change your toss according to the type of serve, then the opponent may read your serve earlier. Is it really a good idea to change your toss on the slice serve?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

I’ll cover that in the near future

[@omarsultanov362]

Not the best performance, esp when it comes to the ad side. Also not enough dwelling on the RF pronation on the slice serve - if it's not the best idea why then Roger sticks to it. GOAT can do anything it's clear, still there must be some idea behind, no? Still got a very good advice which much overshadows all the moments above - the finish of the slice serve. Very very useful! Many thanks! 😊

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Omar, continuing pronation should never be the focus of any serve. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp7Vkqdsm9WUbs0

[@BarathManohar]

What is difference between slice and kick serve?.Is kick serve basically a serve with lot of spin and bounce.?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/honXaIGYrtKqiNk

[@BarathManohar]

@@IntuitiveTennis Thanks for the video:)

[@asiaticonaeuropa]

I am still unsure about the contact point. Shall I hit the side of ball for slice serve? I've researched it on youtube but it is controversial. Some say not, some say yes. Could you please give some guide ? where is the exact point on the ball shall I hit ? thanks a lot Nick

[@IntuitiveTennis]

I talk about it here kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqWxo3qcrLZkgcksi=Z9bwgydnLe9wn4lr

[@asiaticonaeuropa]

@@IntuitiveTennis thanks a lot Nick!!!

[@VillaJou]

Hi Nick! I seem to be having a hard time getting the first bounce of my slice serve in the service box (the ball usually goes wide in the doubles alley). What do you think I should do to try and fix this? Many thanks from Brasil!!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Hi Jonatas, could be many different things. I don’t know wo seeing it.

[@omarsultanov362]

Yeah, agreed, Nick. Pronation on a slice serve = flat serve. How RF manages to avoid it is a $1 billion secret of this greatest of all time (who was that bastard who coined GOAT? Instead the term might be GF = the Greatest Forever and it would rhyme as RF = GF 😂).

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Omar, What about Djokovic? He might pass all records. 🐐 😂

[@omarsultanov362]

@@IntuitiveTennis For sure, Nik. Nole can beat anything. Afraid however he'll never be loved by the fans as RF. Pardon for saying this (for you must be proud of Nole) but too much showoff from him and too often esp in 2011 and those years, some tricks as well with bouncing balls too long and several tries, toilet+medical breaks to break the opponent momentum, praying to the skies and thanking the Allmighty and kissing the cross (which is not welcome on the Orthodox culture and by any true believer). Parodoxically all these "pecularities" are almost totally gone, some for an objective reason (25 sec limit), some because of the age, maturity and personal problems to be overcome (as in 2018), but the reputation is still here... Apart of these subjective things Nole is still unconvincing at the net. Even Becker didn't help much with this. It's much much better then before but the true GOAT must not look that way at the net. Maybe in the future (near future?) with the rackets, balls, courts technology serve and volley would die altogether (even now it's a low percentage bet) and the baseline ONLY game would be considered as a new normal, then Nole would be much more appreciated? But GOAT with such a moderate net game level hardly be a real GOAT for the time being.😲 Again pardon for this stuff, Nik. 🙏

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Omar, well said. I’m actually a die hard Rafa fan, always have been. These 3 guys have brought tennis into the superlative level that most likely will never be matched. You could make an argument for each one of them as being the GOAT, purely looking at the numbers. If you looking for the most complete player of all time, you are right, that’s Federer.

[@omarsultanov362]

@@IntuitiveTennis great to hear that Nik! Rafa is the greatest warrior on the court (probably ever, at least I'm convinced so).🙏💪 He is the ultimate epitomy of bushido and honour. The one who fights till the last drop of his blood (pittbull, not the horny stinky animal). My reading of why RF lost to Tsitsipas is that RF was subconsciously afraid of seeing Rafa next. Cause what Rafa was doing until the final of the AO-19 was literally intimidating. The memories of the Wimbledon final 2008 (and many others save RG) are too dip in the Roger's psycho I'm afraid...😓

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Omar, excellent points.

[@vicmulyk5775]

Looks like I'm part of the GOAT club. I can do the slice down the tee ;-) I aced Jason this way! He had the look of 'what the heck was that serve' on his face!

[@quinby123]

I would say it's easier to hit a slice with supination rather than pronation resulting in the palm up finish you referred to.

[@venomfurious5018]

I can't get power. Any tips?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Try this 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGWakH6wpdSqndk

[@zainashraf3492]

What's the difference between a slice serve and kick serve?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Zain, there are a lot of differences Here’s my kick serve video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oGfGYoqGftielZo

[@opalpearl3051]

I noticed when watching the pro's second serve, their back seems to be more arched (e.g., humpback whale) , is this due to the scooping action you refer to.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

That’s a kick serve not slice. It’s due to the toss and sideways positioning of the torso

[@OFboysup]

When I hit a slice serve, my misses are always out wide on both ad and deuce side. Is it because I’m opening my shoulder too early?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Could be many things, I don’t know

[@chasewilso]

Slice for righty, good against lefty with lefty returning

[@cullenholmes9455]

I have a tennis player that's learning to hit a slice serve, but she is leading with the racquet too much, as if she is literally hitting the right side of the ball and isn't going over the net. How can I help her fix it?

[@kgill99]

Medvedev is a more modern player with an excellent slice in the ad court, he really curves it a lot!

[@hochiglenn]

Is the ball thrown into the court?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Yes

[@chinesefashionmodels]

my slice serve often going to net. what's the solution ?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

kit, there are innumerable reasons for net errors. I can’t diagnose wo seeing it.

[@gdevelek]

It's also very helpful to be tall, so make sure you're at least 6'2" when you serve. There.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

G, Serena is 5’9, best WTA Serve in history. There

[@gdevelek]

@@IntuitiveTennis Indeed, the advise is for men to be 6-2 and women 5-9. I'm 5-9 but male so... SOL.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

G, Sébastien Grosjean same height as you, big serve.

[@gdevelek]

@@IntuitiveTennis Yeah, the exception that confirms the rule. I bet you'd love to be 5-9 too.

[@bluewaterhorizon]

your serve at the beginning of the video was an outwide serve but not a slice serve (having an outward spin)

[@laykefindley6604]

I'm sorry, you are wrong. They both had pronation as you can clearly see the other side of Murray's strings after serving in the example clip you provided.

[@g10s]

Interesting concept on pronation. I haven't watched your pronation video yet but i will. As I saw it on the slow motion continuing pronation example, the ball was long gone from the strings when he pronated(dwell time on strings roughly 3 milliseconds). You definitely pronated on the opening serve in the video. The main difference was the direction os swing when compared to you continuing pronation example. So what's the explanation as to why he would produce kick? Thanks for making this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHTIe2iigd13j6c

[@IntuitiveTennis]

g10’s, thanks for your comment. The forced pronation on the slice serve is interesting. You will not see a scooping action around the ball (either with or without continuing pronation), but rather an abruptly stopped action to the right (similar to the kick serve). The reason for this is that the player is consciously trying to pronate and is therefore abruptly stopping and slowing down his motion. Continuous pronation must happen intuitively with the player not being aware that it happened. Only then the player will have his/hers maximum acceleration.

[@g10s]

@@IntuitiveTennis that makes sense. Thanks for your videos

[@IntuitiveTennis]

g10s, thank you 🤝

[@junkmail75034]

Myth has it that Sampras hit all kinds of serve with same body motion, toss, and racket path. Is this credible?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Only the same toss, body and swing path different. However, he often used first serves as seconds which could explain the myth

[@michelmillette9218]

LEFTIES ADANTAGE??? Leftie against rightie deuce side no advantage Leftie against rightie ad side advantage Leftie against leftie deuce side no advantage Leftie against leftie ad side no advantage 1 advantage 3 no advantage.... for lefties Rightie against leftie deuce side advantage Rightie against leftie ad side no advantage Rightie against rightie deuce side no advantage Rightie against rightie ad side no advantage 1 Advantage 3 no advantage.... for righties And you would think thats is equal....but no, the rightie has a small advantage because the first serve start on the deuce side.

[@FairwayJack]

good stuff