The Most Fundamental Tennis Serve Drills

www.feeltennis.net/tennis-ser...
The serve is the most complex stroke in tennis and it shows - most players struggle with it.
But underneath the technical complexity of the stroke lies a relatively simple foundation - a swing and a throw.
The foundation of the serve are not the grip, the stance, the trophy position and so on.
The actual foundation of the serve is the biomechanics of a throw.
And today I want to show you my favorite drill for developing the relaxed swinging feeling combined with a throw.
You'll see how quickly and easily you can create a training tool for developing the serve which I believe is the essential exercise that develops a smooth and effortless tennis serve.
You'll also see an example of a player using this tool for the first time and how he learns to use it.
If you're struggling with your serve and can't find that easy power, then this exercise may be the most important one for improving your serve.
If I work with a junior player in the long term for example, I would have them use this and similar exercises every single time we work on the serve for a period of at least 6 months.
That's how important these exercises are in my view.
Join me on the blog for discussion and let me know your thoughts on the fundamentals of the tennis serve - perhaps from a different perspective.

[@Hard2beat2024]

From all the online videos on how to serve correctly, this guy understands without mind to muscle connection the serve is not possible.

[@jeffreybrewer8649]

This man is a coach's coach. Excellent video, excellent approach to teaching the game.

[@fodaseodinheiro]

Agreed

[@paddlepower888]

16:21 this is only the second video in a hundred (or more) that I’ve seen where they said don’t turn your head; keep it looking forward. This one "tip,” which may seem unnecessary to better beginners, improved my serve immensely. Before this I’d lose sight of the ball and have to find it again to hit- the details!

[@petemorrissey3468]

I used an old long soccer sock. Then put two tennis balls in the toe and measured the sock to the height of my racket and that has worked really well for me and was free!

[@Eric-xw7tt]

I love your detailed and clear explanations in every lesson. Perhaps you can say that all tennis strokes must be completely natural and nearly effortless to the human anatomy, otherwise no human body can play brutally professional, powerful tennis for five hours with very little drop in effectiveness. Mahut or Isner can only serve aces after ten hours of Wimbleon if the proper service motion is nearly effortless and completely natural and painless. It's not that Mahut or Isner or any other pro are superhuman; it's because the proper serve (or stroke) doesn't require brute force or exertion. I've always been impressed at the relatively skinniness of most pro tennis players (Fed, Novak, Dimitrov), yet they can serve and hit with amazing power.

[@feeltennis]

This cannot be said better, Eric, so I will point it out again: "all tennis strokes must be completely natural and nearly effortless to the human anatomy,". So to this I will add how do we "know" when a stroke is completely natural? We FEEL. ;)

[@nikolalalev732]

Best tennis instructions on KZbin hands down. Thanks for your invaluable work, coach!

[@anhvu3780]

Key points: - Smooth motion - Loose grip - Head still (can be tilted but keep looking at the ball) - Bring racket down on your left (Sampras and Roddick didn't do this b/c they were special) My tennis instructor taught me similar mechanics, like the bent elbow behind your back + throwing ball drill. Tomaz emphasizes on the whole swinging, twisting & turning of the body while facing the net. I think the idea is sound. My problem is entirely different. It's the timing of the toss. My "loopy" serve motion is usually broken/pause because my toss is a little too high, too far in front/back. You need both (smooth motion And consistent toss) to generate power serves. At my weekend-warrior level, I just need to serve consistently and placement. Thanks for the video...

[@haroldho19]

I was missing second loop all my 40 years of playing tennis with no pace . Now I can't wait to go work on the second loop swing. Thank you so much :):)

[@eyesOnJayda]

True tennis philosopher. Priceless advice

[@malteduring3746]

Tomaz, thank you so much for this video. I think this has to be one of the best videos on the serve ever. I have a solid serve already, but this drill showed me that I had somewhat of a pause at the drop - costing me racket head speed. The sloppy bag really shows if the movement is not fluid or smooth. Now that I focus on keeping the momentum I have more pace and less DFs ! Awesome. Thank you so much. Everyone: go and try the 6 balls in a shopping bag drill, it is eye opening.

[@JB-bc9nm]

Excellent!!! I have 8 balls in a bag. I'm doing this in my apartment in NY right now. Can't wait to do the throwing part tomorrow on the court. I'll work on finding my timing when tossing the ball. Thank you.

[@efrainramos5897]

This is the best online Tennis Instructions you could find on youtube. I am a tennis Instructor myself in New Jersey.

[@nessuno1641]

Your channel is MAGIC. I love how you teach that the power is building during the correct movement and not comes from pure strenght. So much compliment for your work. Thanks a lot

[@jamesgray9444]

Best instruction I’ve seen. I’m older , 67 and just can’t serve as hard as I used to. Enjoyed this video. I tried throwing a tennis ball, not good. So I need to work on my ability to throw. Going to start working on it.

[@paddlepower888]

I’m 66 and have played since late 2019. I used to arm the ball when serving and it would bounce twice before hitting the fence. With tips from Tomaz and other channels, my flat serves regularly hit the back fence before the second bounce. Also see Online Tennis Instruction: How James added 10 mph to his serve. And Performance Plus Tennis: every serve needs this. Both videos helped me improve my throwing. My kick serves bounce high when I think of throwing and swinging.

[@MrPolos64]

Briliantly simple, thank you Tomaz

[@supermanwhereareyounow3081]

I stopped playing tennis for about two and a half year because of Covid...I just started again yesterday and I watched your videos before my first tennis lesson...the videos were regarding forehand readiness....shoulder and hip rotation....pronation...and they all improved my first day so much...I was impressed....I will try this today...Thank you so much...Hello all the way from Indonesia..do not forget people to pick and choose from these videos and do them 30 minutes before your tennis lesson..impressive...

[@benjenkincpa]

That was such a relief when that guy finally got it.

[@lanlam879]

I love the separation of fundamentals from techniques. I am working on correcting my serve, hoping to get more power by ridding myself of the waiter tray serve.

[@KitchenGuitarist]

Very nice. At 14.02 the student suddenly get‘s it, for teaching purpose this sequence is probably of much greater value, than just demonstrating a proper serve.

[@monstertrucktennis]

Agreed. Tom me, showing the corrections as the student continues to experiment is helpful.

[@AlexanderGr8]

Genius Tomas. Great stuff!

[@michellem9392]

I've only tried this drill for the past hour, but I can tell an improvement already. I can't wait to come back out tomorrow and practice again. Thank you so much for this video! You have a new subscriber starting today!

[@sergiosimbula]

This really resonates with me... But I'm a bit conflicted, because Nicola from Intuitive Tennis (whom I have in high regard) says the serve is nothing like a throwing motion. He backs it up really well too. Plus he was a great player himself with a great serve and he has a long and impressive coaching career. I find it really interesting but also a bit frustrating that two great coaches can have such a big difference in philosophy.

[@Djagomas]

One of the best videos on the serve Fundamentals I have ever seen. Thanks Tomaz!

[@mwdnasa]

Hi Tomaz, I want to thank you for this awesome video. I am an advanced player but this drill really showed me where I was losing power in my serve: my racket paused too much in the drop position, making my serve more a hit than a swing. Everyone: try this out, the feeling is fantastic. Just have to time the toss properly which is the other piece of the puzzle.

[@rommeljumawan173]

yes sir, I really appreciate your teaching. I'm 46 years old, late to play tennis.i just started last February this year. I watch all your basics and fundamentals in KZbin that's why it's easy for me to learn what is proper in playing tennis. you did a very patient and done in a carefull way of teaching. keep up a good work sir...

[@gianz73]

Fantastic video, Tomaz! A drill is often better than a thousand words (which you add when really needed). Thanks so much for this!

[@feeltennis]

Glad it was helpful, I know some of the drills here look silly ;) but they are really the most effective long term development drills for the serve.

[@mauriziodenapoli873]

Great tips on this video. First of all ( and most important) the difference between foundamentals and tech. details. I think I will have a step back starting to re-learn from the basis the foundamental, right this evening in my room with that bag!!

[@junec7816]

Love Your coaching style

[@halalan2706]

Genius at work here, best explanation on KZbin! Thanks Thomasz

[@chrisf247]

This is fantastic, thank you!

[@agdt2004]

Thank you for the tip, coach! Will try this technique soon.

[@prjacobs1]

This is great! I just started doing this today and it is totally natural for me. I was a baseball pitcher as a kid... it also really helps your timing on your upward jump! For me, I have to make sure I stay relaxed - and not overdo it 😊.

[@yourjusticeonline]

Fantastic training aid. I love the way it developed a smooth momentum

[@caesar6698]

i am beginner and have been watching some all of your instructional videos and its helps a me a lot. i feel tennis!!XD Thank you.

[@jackiepower2439]

So helpful!! You explain so well! Thank you!

[@jaquevius]

Excellent. Thank you 🙏

[@hrida]

Brilliant coach , the best ever

[@scooner67]

Nice video, one of the issues I have is pausing right before I'm ready to strike the ball. This will help me develop fluidity with my serve.

[@paddlepower888]

I‘ve been using the bag o' balls for about two weeks now. Its use had a very positive impact on my service speed and consistency. As I gained skill with the bag and translated the motion to a swing with a racket, I began to understand the necessity of a fluid motion. It is pointless to talk about pronation, foot position, toss technique and the grip without learning this motion. It would be like trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle without a table on which to put the pieces. Once I attained some skill with this and using a racket, I could add pronation, work on the toss and begin hitting balls. I could adapt the motion for a kick serve as well as for flat/slice. I have the bag o’ balls in my bag so I can swing it before and during serve practice. Thank you, Tomaz!

[@feeltennis]

Thank you very much for sharing your feedback, Jeff! Yes, the fluid motion is the first step to building a good serve and swinging the bag teaches that gently and gradually over time. I use the bag drill with every single player I work with on the serve...

[@decebaltuturici497]

Great! Great!!! I can do the drill from the first moment correctly, but after a minute I begin to feel that i can add power from my back leg. To know this theoretycally is one thing, to feel it is another thing. Feel tennis! Great! Thank you!!!

[@johtodev]

wow i never thought of this .thanks for this.

[@deepseadiver8191]

Love your videos Tomaz. Perfect form on that baseball pitch :)

[@danielgomezgarzon]

Great video !! Thank you !!!

[@hrabmv]

soooo true!!!! fundamentals 1st. i will do this now every time.

[@oooodaxteroooo]

thanks to your way of using images, ill try to see the racket as a/my hand next time i play. ;) continuous and pattern swing for each type of serve gave me good accuracy and confidence in my serve. also i liked to warm up doing precisely the type of swinging motion you did with the bag. my people actually do it like this. concentrating on the swing and feeling it gives great results.

[@loumyasitcomes700]

Thanks...great advice.

[@user-zx5un1zk5k]

thank you. you are the best

[@marlowe1969ify]

Great video like Always...Tomaz ...best coach

[@shazeemalichishty7322]

Great instructions

[@paulbaldie]

Thank you very much!

[@derrickmorrison5832]

I am a left handed tennis player. My left hand is my skill hand that I write with but my right hand is my strength hand that I throw a ball with. I have been playing tennis for more than twenty years and think that I have a fairly good serve but was shocked that when I tried with my left hand to throw a ball from the base line over the net I could get maybe 5% of the balls barely over the net. With my right hand barely 50% of the balls and not far over the net. I found this video very interesting as it tells me that I am severely lacking in the fundamentals of throwing a ball whereas I am always practicing the techniques of serving.

[@leisurefarm]

oh you're back in Singapore!!! Welcome back!

[@guitesch]

Thanks, Tomaz!

[@dorisruiz4801]

Your are amazing!! The best!! I tried today at my apartment with the balls. Then, the feeling of the raquet is very light. Tomorrow I have a match, but regarding my result, this is something that make sense as all the tips you give in all your videos. Please keep posting. Rgds.and THANKS

[@paddlepower888]

Did you win?

[@anirudhchandrabhanjdeo5445]

Thank You Coach I am a beginner it helps me a lot

[@BowWowProductionsLTD]

Absolutely brilliant! Tony Costa. Tennis Wales Ambassador.

[@ronniekanhai1608]

Great video

[@ChaudharySomvirDalal]

Your instructions are unique sir

[@his1ojd]

Great video Tomaz, I tried your technique during my practice yesterday and found, once I had moved onto hitting balls, that within a basket of tennis balls my serve was just as consistent as it was beforehand, but I would estimate that I was adding 10-25% to my service speed. I was also not trying to hit the ball as hard as beforehand, as often I fell into the trap of trying to "muscle" my serves. I'm hoping that with some more practice I can improve my consistency so that my serve is more consistent than what I was achieving beforehand, because with your technique I already feel that I am achieving greater levels of topspin than I could before. Thanks once again tennis guru Tomaz.

[@feeltennis]

Thanks for sharing your feedback, much appreciated!

[@vladimirvidov6202]

Thank you very much smart logical and usable it's very very good thanks a lot again keep going I like your style of coaching 🕺🎾🌴👍🥇🌟❤️

[@zoheirjavaheri1605]

tnx alot...great

[@agdt2004]

Good job, Sameer!

[@rodneymene8747]

Gr8 concept! Tnx! Question? Can I use a pillowcase in lieu of a shopping bag?

[@gregorye.219]

Nice!

[@arzoo82]

I find moving my back foot behind the front heel helps me turn my shoulder more.

[@sleepinglion1192]

Your a tennis genius

[@jortalca]

Exelente ejercicio no hablo mucho ingles pero te entiendo bastante y me serve mucho para trater de mejorar mi saque muchas gracias

[@user-hd5ii1nq6x]

Thank you tomas. I'm from South Korea. great video for me like a weak sever. have a question. How many swings at one time do you recommend? I felt some pain on my shoulder after 30swings. I wonder the pain is right thing or not. I know too much exercise makes me painful haha.

[@metdejmon493]

Great video. This is the most important step in tennis serve learning. Some people will never get this feel. I want to ask you if this motion is same on the Kick serve just that then you dont turn your body so fast into the court? I would like to see a similar video for the spin serve.

[@his1ojd]

When I tried Tomaz's technique I found it helped me to kick the ball higher than what I could previously achieve as his technique gave me a longer racket swing path. Providing you are hitting up on the ball and toss the ball above your head I think it is also likely to help you achieve better kick serves too.

[@weidongren3817]

Essential！

[@secfol5272]

100% true.. im a beginner but thats how i got my serve well.. acceleration and effortless..

[@bendavies9461]

Interesting to watch the student's progression.

[@rehan_choudhary]

it is a very good video

[@fairman1455]

Fan-dam-tastic once again.

[@bijano7320]

That loop behind and the hip twist is exactly like swinging clubs that Iranian and Indian wrestlers do. The momentum is the same groove.

[@ZorroNumber1]

Key moment @12:00 Thanks Tomaž

[@warrenbroadbent4027]

Good video. What advice would you give to someone who plays left handed but dominant arm which they throw with is right handed?

[@aripapas1098]

cricket players would love a tennis serve.

[@tomtam6666]

Tomas, you are so patient. I could never be a coach.

[@ronakthakor5730]

Tom Tam ..ijb mtd

[@rajatchats]

Hi Tomaz, I just simply love your videos. I saw the "Sg" bags - and my eyes lightened :) Wondering if you frequently come to Singapore (or just that your student was from Singapore). An in person session with you would be such a privilege.

[@feeltennis]

Much appreciated! No plans for Singapore any more, I am based in Slovenia now.

[@rajatchats]

@@feeltennis thank you so much for replying. I switched from double to single handed backhand because of your helpful videos. Hopefully i will convince my wife to go for holiday to Slovenia, ofcos she won't know the real reason :)

[@PolKsio]

Ok there is the queue of throwing the racket to execute a good serve. But where do you try to throw the racket towards? Is it straight up? Over the net? Thanks.

[@Keroppikun]

Yep, coach, fundamentals first. This is an excellent practice sequence. Hey! Don’t you think the forehand basically uses a similar throwing motion too?

[@DeceitfulDestiny]

There are fundamentals of using/amplifying momentum in all strokes/swings. The serve however is a very different animal because it has more loops and the plane of acceleration is up. Additionally, the racquet does significant movement behind your body and thus really uses your arm and shoulder differently. I apply different mindsets when thinking about these two strokes and I imagine most do as well. (the closest swing is obviously the overhead smash)

[@halbrody4513]

Thx. Excellent video. How about using a sock with 2 or 3 tennis balls? Enough weight?

[@feeltennis]

Yes!

[@fei1226]

Just would like to clear my confusion: this is the serving without pronation, right? In your pronation explaining video, it seems to me that the pronation involves the arm turning to the right side other than to the left side after hitting the ball?

[@andrewbaroch2141]

The power source is the small triangle-shape set of muscles above the butt -- just below the waist. The power and coiling start there.

[@dannyslammy4379]

brilliant lesson tomaz .. but what about those boys who have been throwing rocks since they were 4 years old and use a rotation of the shoulder .. i don't know how to explain it .. but they can definitely throw a rock pretty well or even a baseball ... but they are not getting extension ... not reaching up ... maybe they are chuckers .. or hitting squash shots

[@dannyslammy4379]

what i mean is instead of the lever action over the top of a proper baseball throw there is a more circular motion in the shoulder ???

[@metdejmon493]

Tomaž its again me - I would like to know how long I would need to learn a decent serve with my non-dominant left hand? Don't ask why - I am starting again and I will play as a leftie. So. What do you think? I know it will be awkward (my right hand is the throwing arm) but I have a lot of will. Do you think I could build it in 6 months... 1 year? I also need to say I feel the spin much more with my off hand (maybe because there is not much power - so the learning process is inverted - you add power to spin - instead adding spin to power - which is natural in the dominant hand.. if you know what I mean). I already feel the second loop. :)

[@feeltennis]

Well, a few weeks or months maybe to just get it going nicely at low speeds. The bag drill should help you develop good coordination. You can learn pronation quickly but you'll feel no power - since even I can't hit with any power with my left arm. But keep at it, it can only improve...

[@itsyou8418]

You had me at hello ;)

[@arzoo82]

its you lmao!

[@arzoo82]

its you he "completes me".

[@itsyou8418]

"You know!" Hahaha

[@HC-wt1cg]

One minute after watching the video. I put 8 balls in a grocery bag and started practicing in my apartment. My serves are laughable, and I really want to improve it. Thanks for the video.

[@feeltennis]

Only people who take action make progress. Watching videos is easy, doing the drills not so much, especially if at first they don't feel that right. But if you stick to these drills, they work really well.

[@ricardocouto25]

Hi @feeltennis! I've been using these drills and trying to loosen up my serve, but what ends up happening when I actually serve is that I hit with massive slice but no power / precision. I feel myself doing the same movement that I do with the plastic bag with my racket. Maybe I am not pronating enough?

[@feeltennis]

Yes, you are not pronating enough. You may also believe that the serve is all the time loose. Check the next two links on pronations and a tip for the serve: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2rGeoKYmLasg6c and kzbin.infog98LZunMJsQ

[@Bavubuka]

Would you say that badminton players would have the tennis serving power because of the smashes the do in badminton?

[@ridin_solo]

Is that a Volkl v1 Classic?

[@dondewilde4700]

I have a student who when she tries to serve from a pinpoint position, she always steps in front with her back foot and foot-faults.. Any suggestions?

[@yuurishibuya4797]

U from Singapore, wish u were in USA north west

[@agdt2004]

That bag! If you swing it incorrectly, it will wake you up because of that bonk on the head :).

[@demetriserve]

I'm lefty . Write and play tennis with right hand. I feel more flawless when I do fundamentals tennis on the left side. Should I start to learn tennis with a left hand ?

[@paddlepower888]

Did you start LH tennis? I think you’d have a blast. I played RH for 5 years in the 70s. New start in late 2019 and had to play lefty bc I sprained my RH. I had the best time ever. After my hand healed, I went back to RH. Adding back LH for days when the sun makes a RH serve difficult. And I like to mess with peoples heads.

[@hassfass8643]

I've watched a fair share of youtube tennis instructional videos: Thomas is head and shoulders above them all. If you were London-based I would pay top dollar for you to coach my 4 year old. Could you recommend a colleague in London?

[@marcodemidio7354]

Go check out the guys at top tennis training. (Coach Simon Konov)

[@blackbird2856]

When young i learnt to throw left handed, later in life i start table tennis by throwing ball serve left handed and hold bat in right hand so i became right handed player for table tennis, tennis, badminton, cricket and golf, but darts left handed and write left handed, my question is should i play tennis left handed or right handed. The power of throwing a ball is stronger in my left arm.

[@tenzinrangdol5509]

In my opinion go for which ever feels more comfortable. Try out both arms and practice

[@trynottobesadbeinghuman6991]

My backhand is very bad I can't feel few years ago my backhand was good but it get bad and bad now coach tell me but by backhand is not improving please help

[@sobitgauchan9495]

expectation vs reality demonstration