Chasing an inconsistent toss.
Catch and repeat rather than distorting your posture to reach it.
OPEN COURT SKILL STUDIO
Serve: toss, reach & balance
Practise the toss and contact separately, then combine them into a controlled serve to the diagonal box.
TENNIS · 15 minutes focused practice
1. Set up behind the baseline within the serving area, with a comfortable side-on stance and continental grip.
Diagrams explain direction, not prescribed joint angles. Orange shows the ball or movement direction. Adapt your stance to the incoming ball.
Step-by-step technique
- 1
Set up behind the baseline within the serving area, with a comfortable side-on stance and continental grip.
- 2
Lift the ball smoothly with your non-dominant hand. Catch an unsuitable toss and start again.
- 3
Reach comfortably and swing upward as one coordinated action rather than forcing your back or wrist.
- 4
Finish and land under control. A shortened action is fine for practice; avoid stepping on or over the baseline before contact.
Common mistakes & fixes
Starting at maximum speed.
Reduce pace and use a generous target.
Court drill
Catch ten tosses, then make ten shortened serves from each side. Record target hits and foot faults rather than speed.
Self-check
Can you recover for the next shot after serving and repeat a controlled second serve?
Match application
Use a repeatable controlled second serve instead of switching to an unrelated pushing motion.
