Three Ways To Toss On The Serve

[@johnsmith-ls4rc]

If you have just started on the journey of improving your tennis through online advice, you don't need to go any further than this coach ! I have watched lots and sometimes ended up more confused than when I started. You will learn a lot from this man IMHO. Thanks for making these videos available (from a grey, cold, wintery, UK).

[@IntuitiveTennis]

My pleasure John, thank you for the kind words 🙏

[@bracemitchell5062]

I FULLY AGREE WITH YOU! SO INORMATIVE

[@espressodawn4000]

I've been watching tons of videos on tennis and this is by far the best channel. Thank you! I now know which toss I should try first!

[@rupn9633]

No body explained the toss so well till now. Excellent explanation. Thank you very much

[@registrationsOne]

Fantastic video as always. The last example on the straight forward toss was actually a diagonal one 😀

[@irado168]

Great, clear explanations! The camera view for the parallel toss is very helpful - always wondered how a parallel toss to the baseline would be able to go forward into the court, now I know. Many thanks!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Ira, 🙏 thank u

[@juliashulgin4232]

I am watching your second video on serve. I think these are the best videos I have watched so far on KZbin. Thank you. Makes everything very clear.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Julia, thank you. Glad you enjoyed the videos. 👍👍🙏🙏

[@hrabmv]

very good , thanks!..... your parallel toss serve was like federers

[@ron2117]

Again a very thorough analysis, love the slow motion shows how you leave the ground.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thanks Ron

[@the1tfactor]

Great video. Most of the videos I see on serve toss focus exclusively on the parallel toss. The diagonal side toss looks like a great option to me! Thank you.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Tanya, you are right. The parallel is the least used among pros and the most difficult to execute for rec players.

[@AnhNguyen-gc2gu]

As a player who has shadow-tossed many many times , I completely agree with you on the disadvantage of the straight arm toss. I always feel like I can not turn and coil my body with that toss. Thanks for a great lesson coach Nick.

[@ebb3162]

Thanks a lot for sharing your professional insights!

[@barbarapaplinski1900]

Never realised that in the straight ahead toss you cannot turn the body until the ball is tossed so thanks for this. These`not so little tips` make a big difference in improvement(I hope).

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Barbara, yeah absolutely it can make a big difference

[@zhengandre7579]

Very fews talked about the various serve toss.. this video is very good..

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Zheng, 👍

[@RacquetFlex]

Excellent video Nick! I love the insights you gave about this very underrated subject.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thanks, I appreciate the kind words

[@budg.6094]

Most helpful video about the toss of the many I have viewed.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Bud G

[@RH-ml6bv]

Clear and precise. Very good.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

R H, 🤝

Awesome! I'm struggling a lot with the serve and your advice is helping me a lot. Thanks!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Guillermo, glad you found it helpful.

[@omarsultanov362]

The best toss lesson ever... 👍👏😊

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Omar, 🙏

[@r20jun]

for a long time i tried to find how to hit the spin serve. these days got the way to swing but not stable. my problem was toss. this video was extremly useful for me. you always let me know there are alternative options. i knew only one way would be correct at toss. i tried parellel toss and that was my final key point. thank you so much.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

r20jun, glad the video was helpful. Thank you

[@jodunkley3452]

Excellent explanations Nikola, after tweeking around with my toss for ages I find that the diagonal works best for me, although until I watched your video I would not have a clue it was called that. Very informative video Thank you.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Jo, sorry I reply to the wrong person at first. Yes you have to find what works best. I use the diagonal as well.

[@jodunkley3452]

Yes I find I get more 'thump' this way and very smooth rythmically, yesterday after I watched your video I experimented with the parallel toss just out of curiosity and I found the shoulder rotation element a bit to much for me!! Still its great fun just toying around with the different tosses. Thanks again.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Jo, I agree the parallel one is tricky to execute.

[@henrykwok2985]

The best explanation I have ever had, thanks

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Henry, 🙏

[@ajpinoypilotguitarist4431]

Thanks for this video , i know now that i am a diagonal toss , more power 🙏🏻

[@massimodanzelmo4607]

Good day Nick all the best, Nice work as always👍

[@IntuitiveTennis]

🙌

[@shik1625]

Very helpful video, thank you

[@hrida]

Great coach 👍

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you 🙏

[@davidpayumo23]

Good videos. Cover stuff other people miss.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you David. Will do 👍

[@ezzony]

This is funny for me. I was testing these 3 exact positions for the last couple of months off my own initiative trying to figure out which was the 'one' correct way to do it. Turns out all 3 positions are valid! . I was getting frustrated cause all 3 worked for me at times and I couldn't figure which one was correct..A totally different feel for each. It's no wonder I wasn't improving when I was constantly swapping from one to the other. Now I can pick one angle and perfect it. I feel the second one feels more natural and the third one maybe was able to get more power into it. I will stick with position 2 and concentrate now on the toss more. Looking forward to my training session tomorrow :)

[@IntuitiveTennis]

ezzony, looks like you are on the right track 👍

[@rds4629]

thanks for the vids. I like how you list pros/examples for these techniques.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Rudd, my pleasure

[@kingtrawal]

Excellent stuff

[@IntuitiveTennis]

King, 🙏

[@TheMarciocns]

Thanks for the excellent video

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Marcio, my pleasure

[@tvmanga2264]

Hello for thé parallel toss arm how we can do for the kick ? please

[@davidyasui9357]

Have you ever tried turning your wrist just after release so you're looking at the back of your hand instead of palm up? I find that this frees up shoulder movement and allows me to increase my racquet speed at point of impact. Del Potro does this.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

David, I release the opposite way and can’t do it your way. I’ve seen players with your style of toss and it can work. It depends on the individual.

[@newshunhk]

so cool! thanks!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Wilson, 🙏

[@g5gmoney]

I have been waiting a long time for a Toss Serve instructional tutorial that breaks down the pros and cons! Which would best fit If I wanted to toss to my right for a spin serve? Well done and thank you!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

G5gmoney, Are you lefty?

[@g5gmoney]

Righty.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

g5gmoney, if you toss to the right it’s very difficult to spin the serve, but relatively easy to slice. Toss at 12 or 11 for spin. Easiest way to achieve this is the the parallel or diagonal.

[@g5gmoney]

Thanks again Nick!

[@matyverona9407]

@@IntuitiveTennis 11??? 11 is out de 90 degree? I don't get it....

[@rsc0461]

Thank you!

[@jamiezenichi1017]

can you demonstrate a kick serve with a diagonal serve toss?

[@raultennis5904]

I prefer to coil the shoulders before releasing the toss so the only options are "Diagonal" style and "Parallel" style. The challenge, as mentioned in the video, is to get the toss inside the court. I wish to try the "Parallel" style. Video mentions tossing arm moving forward at the top of the motion to get toss inside the court. But the J-toss is not mentioned (bringing the ball back between the legs in a little J loop). I am thinking the J-toss could be incorporated into either the Parallel or Diagonal style. Is this correct?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Raul, yes it can be incorporated into both, the parallel and the diagonal. But be careful, this has to match your backswing and rhythm. It can get quite complex. I talk about it here at the 2.07 mark briefly. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5nCf2mBfNh1jK8

[@raultennis5904]

@@IntuitiveTennis Yes, I did see that. I feel very comfortable with Parallel style but my toss does not land inside the court; lands about 6 inches inside the baseline instead of my desired 2 feet. So my options are to do that high forward loop at the top of the motion, shown at 2:07. Or just do the forward loop at the bottom of the motion with a little J-loop between the legs. Who is an example of Parallel with J-toss? I think Murray looks to be Parallel with low J-toss loop while Federer is Parallel with end stage forward loop but no J-toss.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Raul, yes Federer does not throw the as far in front as other players. The toss can very complex where even at the highest level players have issues with the toss. I would not look at what other players do, but rather identify what is preventing you from tossing inside. Could be a multitude of things unrelated to the toss arm direction.

[@tadeuszkamieniak7779]

with respect coach ,if u watch your video you ll notice that the last toss which was supposed to be a straight variant was really more of a diagonal toss also in my view

[@rodolfogianani9759]

Very very useful 😊

[@ettingercentral9295]

Hey Nic. Great video. As I undertand, the service motion has to be the same for all three serves. In the diagonal method, you have to move your arm in a diagonal motion regardless of the serve. What needs to happen in the toss to change the trajectory from 1 o'clock, to 11 or 12. I'm fine tossing for my flat serve but have discovered I have a lot of trouble tossing for the kick. Your thoughts?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Too complex to explain here Check out this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5qVXqp6orN6fLs

[@butacaexplosiva333]

Idol! Saludos desde Argentina!

[@a2casius]

Great video. How would you describe Nick Kyrgios' serving style? Seems explosive and Straight Forward toss but how does he get the coil to serve so fast?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

The Chairman, Nick K has one of the best serves in the world next to Isner, Roanic and Karlovic. He has a fast rhythm, somewhat similar to Gorman Ivanisevic, but a tad slower. Extremely difficult to copy.

[@danielladinardo8321]

Do you have a preference on your ball toss when serving from the Duece ct and Ad ct?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Daniella, it should be the same for ad and deuce. However if you are slicing to deuce/ad side the toss can more to the side ie angelique kerber. It easier to pick up by the opponent but it can help generating slice.

[@007therealjamesbond]

Is parallel the same as a j toss?

[@coilinnunan4058]

Very useful video. Once I've settled on one type of tossing technique, presumably I should use it on both first and second serves? if so, and say it's the diagonal technique, how do I make sure that when I'm hitting a kick serve the ball goes further to my left (I'm right-handed). Should I release higher or start off slightly more leftwards or use some other method?

[@Chinguenguenza]

What about the J toss? (From the back leg, coiling, then forward into the court)?

[@tennis9281]

Hi Nick. I have a question about the diagonal toss timing. Do you turn the shoulders after the ball is released from your hand? I find very uncomfortable to turn the shoulders while tossing at the same time. I think one should follow the other... possibly shoulders turn follows the toss. What are your thoughts on that?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Tennis92, it’s not necessary to immediately turn. It can occur at a later stage. Look at Lisicki, Chardy or Soderling. Late turn and it works perfectly. Pliskova doesn’t even turn that much. It depends on your body, rhythm etc. Gotta find what works for you.

[@tennis9281]

@@IntuitiveTennis thanks Nick

[@IntuitiveTennis]

tennis 92, no worries

[@Dubinski2382]

Great video as always. For some reason I've found it helpful to point my front toe at the same angle as the toss. So, for example, a parallel toss would have my toe pointing directly sideways while a 45 degree angle toss would have my front toe pointed towards the net post. Any thoughts on whether this is all in my head or something to think about?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

JD I like the toe towards the net post and the diagonal toss. Works well

[@bracemitchell5062]

Nick is it possible to show is pre preparation of the players or diet before a match? Thanks

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Absolutely, I’ll make a video

[@tanerbulbul6423]

How much does the toss height matter for your serve. I have been watching a lot of videos about serves and I think I have a good foundation for my jump serve now. I am still a beginner so I am getting there, but I find that my swings are more consistent because the length of my arm and jump are about the same every time, so the ideal contact point doesn’t change. But to get the ball to go to that contact point correctly every time is hard for me I find. I already have my racket and ball touching and at my hip level when I start my swing. Any other tips for toss consistency?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Taner, toss height depends on your serve rhythm. Usually higher is better than lower.

[@harrolddjani]

@@IntuitiveTennis I heard it shouldn't be too high because the speed as it drops increases the higher you toss

[@bangmonsta]

Nik, which toss would you recommend for a 3.75 male player? I'm guessing #2? I struggle with the serve, trying to build it from the toss up.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Yes, diagonal

[@drarov91]

I wonder how to understand if the position of the ball is correct referring to a one, twelve and eleven o’clock. I know you have a video with a clock-face, but it’s hard to realize if I do it right.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Sure 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/honXaIGYrtKqiNk

[@leisurefarm]

brilliant stuff! thanks! (i can't imagine how two ppl could thumbs down this fantastic video.)

[@IntuitiveTennis]

leisurefarm, thank you 🙏

[@gillesderais834]

may I ask you a question, Nik? Henri Leconte and Roscoe Tanner had a very low toss and a killer serve (Leconte used to hit the ball when still on the rise). Is there any relation between an abbreviated toss and a quick serve? Thanks

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Sure there are some players who can utilize this style

[@gillesderais834]

@@IntuitiveTennis it must be said that both players had a poor first serve percentage. I'll follow your tip: it's better too high than too low. Thanks a lot for your reply.

[@Mooncat747]

Great video. However, I disagree with the straight arm toss comments. I use the straight arm and diagonal and never the parallel. with the straight arm toss you start to coil as you're tossing the ball not as you described, late. Also it's the angle of attack from the racket which dictates where the ball is going to go so it doesn't matter what style of toss you use. Even my kick serve I throw the ball in front of me and not over my shoulder, it's my angle of attack that sends the ball where I want it to, even though I can throw it at the 12 o clock position every time. Another example is when I serve to the ad side I will move over to the left a little where the opponent thinks I'm going to serve a kick serve to the corner and what I actually do is slice the ball in and serve it down the T, but being that I tossed the ball the same every time he doesn't know where the ball is going to go. one thing I might add is that the way I serve has taken me literally many years to perfect and get it down and it is not for your everyday club player. this is why when people ask me to teach them how to serve the same way I serve I tell them that there is no correct way the correct way is what is comfortable when works for you. would it be possible for you to do a video on height of the ball toss and timing because I think those are also things that are very important in people tend to overlook. keep up the good work I'm subscribing thank you.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Mooncat, thank you. I discuss toss height and toss arm structure here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5nCf2mBfNh1jK8

[@harryherman5371]

Which is your dominant eye?

[@pongassassin]

Quick question - when you say 12/1 o’clock, is 12 o’clock directly where you’re aiming, or parallel to the centerline of the court? Hope this is clear. Thank you! (Struggling with my amateur serve)

[@IntuitiveTennis]

There is an illustration in this video that will clarify this 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/honXaIGYrtKqiNk

[@davidzhang1712]

I am still confused though. Where exactly should I toss the ball? "Inside the court" is not quite specific enough...

[@FairwayJack]

good stuff

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Learn The Croatian Serve 🇭🇷 👉🏻 www.intuitivetennis.com/the-croatian-serve

[@rsc0461]

The link shared is not working, can you please check?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

@@rsc0461 fixed

[@mowghlee]

Which is better ?

[@zjr1686]

Cool

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Strahinja, 👍

[@Xavi-Tenis]

Exelent

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Javier

[@bracemitchell5062]

Diagonal toss

[@yoramsacagiu]

I just cant fix my toss it goes all over. Mostly back and hardly into the court...

[@mowghlee]

How about Djokovic technique

[@heliosdefendi]

It is non very clear the toss in the third way, there is no a much better explanation and examples of this one.

[@karlopeternel7685]

🕶

[@IntuitiveTennis]

🤜🤛