The Only Way To Hit A Topspin Tennis Serve

Struggling with a topspin tennis serve? 🎾 Free Second Serve CONSISTENCY COURSE: www.feeltennis.net/second-ser...
I review and analyse many videos of tennis players over a course of one year and when it comes to topspin serves I see the same issue almost every time.
The ball is NOT in the right place and topspin serve is not possible.
I can't hit a topspin from incorrect ball position nor can Roger Federer, it's simply impossible.
So in today's video I am sharing the explanation of the correct ball position from a video analysis I did with my student Christian on the court.
You will also see Christian's improvement at the end of the video after we did a few topspin serve sessions.
0:00 Intro
1:15 Topspin Serve Comparison
4:19 Where Topspin Is Possible
6:34 Christian's Improvement

[@robertblount9985]

The absolute best explanation/demonstration of serving that I have ever seen. I get a true/clear understanding of the skill. Now I have to practice. Thanks!

[@smarty432]

Luv your clear vector diagrams, like in a good Physics class. You must be a great student in school before, Thomas!

[@feeltennis]

Thank you, I did finish the Electrical Engineering university and had tons of math and physics there so there’s likely some influence from my studies…

[@smarty432]

It sure makes it easier to understand like no other on the net. Proof that it is good to have academics in sports. Keep it going. You got a good thing going here raising my interest and understanding of tennis!

[@kadivikram]

when you used the word vector, i was like yesss thats the most appropriate word to describe the force + direciton

[@KrzysiekDolina914]

wow You are a Genius for amateurs tennis players 😍amazing video thank you so much

[@rucas10]

Due to life circumstances, I stopped watching tennis videos on KZbin for a while. Now that I have time to watch it again, it's clear to me why Feel Tennis was the 1st channel I subscribed to, and I chose it to learn and develop the correct technique for the various strokes that Tennis requires. Explains and demonstrates in a clear and detailed way how they should be performed correctly. This is another excellent video that confirms what I just said and explains how to hit a Topspin Serve. Congratulations on that Thomas ! Really good.

[@feeltennis]

Very much appreciated, Rui!

[@CynicalWolverine]

This is one of the best videos for top spin serves. The arrows and diagrams are very helpful. I picture them in my mind when serving, and my kick serves have improved dramatically.

[@zhuerxie]

Fantastic! Thank you for the excellent video.

[@jnjs7844]

Another great instructional video Tomaz.Many thanks.

[@chrisbos8116]

Thanx Tomaz! Really great stuff!

[@NivagSwerdna]

Really clear. Thanks for the video!

[@jasondo21]

An intelligent approach to the topspin generation on the serve. Very well done and much appreciated.

[@tttoan]

Very clear & easy to understand explanation.

[@johanronnung1665]

Thank you Tomaz! You are really a good instructor.

[@PrecisionPointTennis]

Excellent instructions 🏆🎾

[@dabarkster]

Incredible! The drone footage is invaluable in understanding the kick serve.

[@CJZM7777]

Great diagram showing how to hit a topspin serve. If you watch slow motion video of Sam Stosur or Roger Federer from the back while they hit 2nd serves, you will see this same ball position where the racket head is pointing back to the left at almost a 45 degree angle. This is a fundamental of hitting a good topspin serve. Great lesson!

[@nglfmark1]

Best tutorial for this serve. Well done.

[@ram358]

Can only echo what others have said ... Tomaz's teaching is unparalleled. Complex ideas are simplified and communicated with incredible fluency. Demonstrations are so well thought out that he decants the important information into bite-sized chunks for easy processing. Brilliant work. Please keep it coming! Thanks so much 👏

[@feeltennis]

And thank you so much for this wonderful feedback!

[@leelester9529]

Thank you, been trying to master this serve for a while now

[@steppinout67]

Great video.

[@Robbie0415768067]

THANK YOU Tomaz. Best kick serve analysis ever.

[@todlele9990]

Nice analysis. Its about your tossing, on your lest side that’s 11:30 place, and wait the ball falling a bit from the peak to spin it.

[@Dctosd]

Thank you. Better explanation/demonstration than using the standard "clock face" contact point, which never made any sense to me.

[@deeps10]

it's been a while, but I am back, and always the best tennis content on YT

[@gregoiremt7816]

Recently I could feel and test how important it was to let the ball drop a little and not hit it at the apex when making a topspin serve. Now with this video I think I understand even more clearly for the first time what goes on with a topspin serve. 👍 As always many thanks for an amazing video, Tomaz !

[@feeltennis]

Wonderful, thanks for the freedback!

[@antonioambriz6049]

This is a great video. The other two pieces of understanding that I struggled with after learning this was (1) making sure that I kept my elbow slightly bent through contact and (2) hit the ball with my wrist at an angle similar to when bouncing the ball on the ground. The bent elbow allows for me to more easily lift and curl the ball through contact and the wrist angle allows me to press the ball upward similar to how I would press the ball downward from a parallel arm position.

[@feeltennis]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@rcarioca]

Nice. What software do you use to mark up the video ?

[@nickbyrd1027]

This was a phenomenal video! My only other question...where should the ball be, relative to the baseline, at contact? Meaning should the ball be more "in" to the court toward the net, right above you, or a little back behind you toward the fence? Thank you for all the incredible videos!

[@feeltennis]

Thanks Nick! For those just learning the topspin serve the ball should be somewhere above the baseline. For more advanced players it should be inside the court. The more advanced you are, the more you can toss into the court as you'll lean more into the ball for more power and also lower trajectory which you need if you serve faster.

[@Stu49583]

Beautiful environment for tennis! Where is it? Czechia?

[@ql3670]

I've seen friends who try hitting a topspin serve but end up hitting a slice serve because of that reason. They make contact when the racquet head is at its peak height.

[@AlexanderLi2206]

Hi, Tomaz. It would be very useful to show the racket's path from above when top spin serve. Thank you.

[@feeltennis]

Yes, I know, I have that planned at some point, need to find someone with a drone to help me record that. Will definitely record it at some point.

[@narsimha1089]

Are we going on edge at contact and after contact rotating palm and forearm towards right?great video and help!!

[@feeltennis]

Yes and yes!

[@hermtennis]

Thank you for your excellent video. Please let me know what appointment you are using to draw your analysis. Thanks

[@feeltennis]

You're welcome! I am using OnForm app: www.onform.com/

[@hermtennis]

@@feeltennis I downloaded and it says I need an invite code to use it. How do I obtain one? Thanks

[@feeltennis]

You don't need it for your personal use. Check this page: www.onform.com/pricing Consider also emailing their support or checking their videos on KZbin, they respond quickly...

[@rcarioca]

When I was practicing topspin, I had some consistency during service practice alone but when I tried it in a game, I was hitting the frame a lot. After looking at your video, I would suspect that for what ever reason during the game I was trying to topspin when the ball was too high and framing the ball.

[@feeltennis]

The first thing in the match that goes away (because of stress) is watching the ball. You were framing the ball because the mind is stressed and you want to look "into the future" too quickly to see what happens with your serve. Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJqVf6KOeMZ-eNk and this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWS8m4Wqrcmrgdk

[@kylek.436]

Thomas, 👍. Question, what's the most effective way to conceal our types of serve from the returner? People say due to the angle RF aligns his body during the serve, his opponents have a more difficult time distinguishing his contact points,ie, upward, laterally, or flat through...is this accurate in your opinion?

[@feeltennis]

Stay tuned, I am working on a video on how to hide your serve type. But know this - you cannot hide a topspin serve since like I described in this video the contact HAS to be behind you and that it obvious to opponent. You can hide the direction but not that you're hitting a topspin serve. You can only disguise / hide a slice and a flat serve.

[@rcarioca]

How do you adjust foot position and ball toss for a topspin serve from the deuce court ?

[@feeltennis]

The adjustment is minimal, best not to think about it and let your mind / body find it subconsciously. Check also this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZOlY3-le85jas0

[@HB-oo9ty]

Does the contact point on the ball matter? Imagine billiard ball -- depending on contact point, cue will introduce completely different types of spins and speed. I'm wondering if there is any similarity with racquet and tennis ball contact.

[@feeltennis]

Yes, it matters depending on in which direction you want to send the ball. Generally you are hitting the ball into the back side (looking from back view) but depending on where you're serving you're varying that angle slightly. Keep in mind this is done subconsciously, meaning you can't consciously control your arm and racket head at such high speed of movement and deciding that you will hit the ball 1.3 degrees more on the right side. ;) But your subconscious mind can learn such precision if you simply aim and go through trial and error (meaning missing and hitting the target area) to refine this process.

[@Ryezn5057]

so for slice we should toss the ball slightly further out and wait till later to hit the ball ?

[@feeltennis]

Yes, either the same as for the flat or more to the right. Check this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIXKapqmgtl0o9k

[@Ryezn5057]

this topspin serve is then equivalent to a a kick ? Is a kick serve a more extreme top spin serve?

[@feeltennis]

Yes.

[@carlosbedoya1954]

Feel Tennis, there is no substitute!

[@kiesbett]

hm, for sure not wrong, but isn´t it also very important to place the ball above the head instead of to much in front of you? my teacher said: "put the ball always on 12 o´clock and for the topspin place it more above the head". i like the results of this approach so far...

[@feeltennis]

Well, for which type of serve? I am showing a topspin serve here...

[@leozheng6948]

good

[@matteometaldi2044]

I’ve difficult to play flat serve…

[@tennisCharlzz]

Tomaz, there's an assumption you're making. You assume that ball should be hit near the peak of where you can reach. Many beginners barely toss the ball above their head. They have no power, but they can hit the serve. When you hit that low, it's not hard to have an upward motion. Instead, you move the ball left and let the ball go high enough where you can still get an upward motion, but be almost at full stretch. Can you explain why having a much LOWER toss is less effective even if it's easier to hit topspin? Thanks!

[@feeltennis]

I think it's you making assumptions you're not aware of. 1. You are asking me why should one have a lower toss. Nowhere do I say or advise for a low toss. The toss is the same height as for a flat serve, it just has a different arc. The toss needs to be high enough for the player to be comfortably able to execute the whole service motion. It's only that we need to wait slightly longer when hitting a topspin serve in order to hit the ball at lower contact - so that we can hit up on it. 2. You are bringing in beginners into a discussion of a topspin serve. Beginners have nothing to do here. They should not be learning a topspin serve. They should be developing basic serve technique for at least 2 years before starting some basic drills for topspin serves. 3. I assume that the ball should be hit near the peak? The whole video is about letting the ball come down and NOT HIT IT NEAR THE PEAK! You need to hit it lower!

[@tennisCharlzz]

@@feeltennis I agree that your video says "don't hit at the peak" because you will not get an upward brushing motion. So it's lower than the peak. The question I have is what's the reason for not going much lower in the toss than demonstrated in the video. That should make it even easier to brush up. I'm sure there's a reason why it's better to hit just under the peak of the toss rather than hit it when the toss is much, much lower (like just over the head). Just curious about the technical reason that says this is a bad idea.

[@alpsala]

Foot fault

[@FairwayJack]

like

[@claudiozanella256]

Don't agree. You just need to have arm and forearm not fully extended at the hitting point. Their full extension + wrist mobility can then further raise the raquet and give topspin.