Thanks Simon, your videos are so helpful for my game. Could you also do lesson about some rarer but still important shots like the backhand smash/overhead?
Once again, a very well understandable video. Also for a not native english speaking person as me. But unfortunately I think as every time, this well presented by you, but hard to achieve for me in the training. Big thanks for all of your lessons.
Hi Simon, thanks a lot for the great videos, your tennis channel is truly my favorite on youtube. In the video you talk a lot about how to generate the spin, but I would like to ask how to generate more of the forward motion. As you explain in the video in the flat serve one hits through the ball, whereas for the kick serve we hit parallel to the baseline. Initially I was quite puzzled how to generate enough ball speed towards the net while hitting from left to right and parallel to the baseline. In one of your previous videos about kick serve you mentioned the "seesaw"-like movement with the shoulders. I tried it and it helps me somewhat to generate more speed on the ball in the forward direction. When you show Federer's video as an example I notice that he sort of jumps into the ball which I suppose generates more forward speed as well. Could you please clarify how to think about the racket path that both adds spin as well as hits the ball towards the net. Thanks agin!
If you imagine a clock around your body when serving. In your case, I’d recommend to swing from 7-1 o’clock for more power, or 8-2 for more spin. So the racket starts behind your body, on the left side, and ends up inside the court on your right side
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Thanks for the reply! One more question: could you please comment on the role of the trunk muscles in the kick serve? I know in the forehand/backhand we generate quite some power from the trunk, is it similar in the kick serve?
Just the reminder of taking my grip with the knuckles across the top bevel had tremendous value…when I am mindful of this it results in immediately better serves! Even when I’m not going for a kick, the grip adjustment seems to encourage more of a stretch across the chest (or between tossing and hitting arm) and more of an upward attack on the ball.
Great lesson, Simon! For swingpath, many coaches ( and i think a TWU article as well) say to swing 8 to 2 or 7 to 1 and roll over the top of the ball to get pace and kick. This also implies having a relatively closed racquet face. Could you please provide some insights into rolling over the top of the ball?
Another fantastic video. This is the best tennis instructional channel! Thanks for making and sharing to the world! Btw. one question I always had is how to toss the ball. My coach shows me that I need to toss the ball with my left hand (I am right handed) with a movement of my arm going inside the court and perpendicular to the baseline; so my arm goes really in the direction of my opponent. Although I see many professionals tossing it with the arm going parallel to the baseline when tossing (as you showed in the video). What is the correct arm movement when tossing the ball and why?
this is a true eye opening video...! I ve one little doubt still...this sideways movement is great but it tends to send the ball in a diagonal, so it is perfect to hit a kick serve wide from the left position... which is the easiest kick to serve... but how would you modify the movement to hit a kick from the ad side to the T or from the deuce side?
Did you cover the toss for each type of serve… the toss for kick is above or even behind the head parallel to the baseline? Whereas flat first serve more into the court and slice in the court but right of the head…. Excellent analysis and coaching thank you 🎾🦘🎾
Thanks for the video. Any suggestions how to maximize the margin for error, for us non-pros. Most of these videos of top pros have kick serve falling very close to a very small target (outer serve box line). I find myself double faulting on kick serve or it goes slow and high.
Simon, although Federer holds his shoulder back and moves racket mostly sideways he performs pronation at the moment of contact. Pronation creates momentum towards opponent otherwise ball gets a lot of spin but not enough linear speed to be aggressive. If this statement is right could you please comment on the point and provide advice when to start pronation, how to train pronation and sideways move separately and then combine them in single fluid motion?
Great lesson, I'll definitely try opening the grip a little on my second serves! I'm a bit confused by terms though. I always thought the topspin was what made for a "kick" serve, as opposed to a "slice" serve which has more sidespin. You seem to suggest that the slice is closer to a flat serve in technique, but how about the path of the ball? Isn't the ball movement what defines "slice," "kick," and "flat?"
You have a topspin serve, that bounces upwards like a normal heavy topspin shot but you also have a kick serve which bounces up and to the left of the player (for a right handed serve) This video might help: ruclips.net/video/WR-QgYYvu7U/видео.html
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Thanks for the detailed reply! I really like how compact your serve motion is, BTW, kind of like Nick Kyrgios'. Mine has too many moving parts, too many chances for things to break down...
great tips! you helped me a lot! :) especially this ball hit-path is not very popular but crucial I think. 1 more question - do we need to actually use our wrist from that L position (when contact with the ball starts) to top and pronation? In Federer slowmo it looks like during contact he still has his wrist loose(free) and uses only the arm as kind of lever.
I get a lot of racquet head speed and pop on my flat serves from coiling + uncoiling my shoulders. For kick serves, I get spin from the side-on shoulder position, but I lack pace on the serves since I'm not uncoiling my shoulders through impact. Any tips on maximizing spin while getting good pace on kick serves?
Do you have tips on how to adjust to someone’s game which is much slower than what you’re used to? I can’t get power against this one player cause he hits a slow ball and goes for lots of drop shots. His serve is short in the court with good slice and makes it hard to play the ball deep. If i approach and come to the net he just hits a deep lob almost every time. It’s mainly hard to generate power and hit a winner or dictate play because he plays a slower game.
I've always used the eastern backhand for the kick serve, it gives a ton of spin and the kick afterwards is pretty insane. However I often cannot produce enough pace with this and it creates a predictable return strategy for my opponent.
I don't recommend to Eastern backhand grip since it doesn't disguise the serve. Returned can see that grip very well. Probably use a smaller grip change from continental.
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Edberg used that grip and generated good pace with it. Probably that pace was generated mostly with how well he leaned into court at contact
Excellent break down. The missing ingredients in my kick serve are adjusting my grip, and maintaining the side on shoulder position until after contact. Thank you 🙏
could you please make a video or short about extension through contact / staying with the ball whilst still hitting modern topspin forehand without coming off ball straight away, many thanks Simon
Download our FREE serve guide here - www.top-tennis-training.com/serve-guide/
Nice one Will try tomorrow . Really need to improve my second serve 😅thanks
You can do it!
Great video. Very clear explanations and video examples. Thank you very much.
My pleasure 🙏
Great stuff- thanks!
Thanks for watching, go smash those kickers
This is so practical, thank you so much. I will try this, next time I'm on the court.
My pleasure 🙏
Thanks Simon, your videos are so helpful for my game. Could you also do lesson about some rarer but still important shots like the backhand smash/overhead?
Absolutely
Thanks!
Thanks for watching
Once again, a very well understandable video. Also for a not native english speaking person as me. But unfortunately I think as every time, this well presented by you, but hard to achieve for me in the training. Big thanks for all of your lessons.
Thanks Simon!
Thanks for watching 👍
Hi Simon,
thanks a lot for the great videos, your tennis channel is truly my favorite on youtube. In the video you talk a lot about how to generate the spin, but I would like to ask how to generate more of the forward motion. As you explain in the video in the flat serve one hits through the ball, whereas for the kick serve we hit parallel to the baseline. Initially I was quite puzzled how to generate enough ball speed towards the net while hitting from left to right and parallel to the baseline.
In one of your previous videos about kick serve you mentioned the "seesaw"-like movement with the shoulders. I tried it and it helps me somewhat to generate more speed on the ball in the forward direction. When you show Federer's video as an example I notice that he sort of jumps into the ball which I suppose generates more forward speed as well.
Could you please clarify how to think about the racket path that both adds spin as well as hits the ball towards the net.
Thanks agin!
If you imagine a clock around your body when serving. In your case, I’d recommend to swing from 7-1 o’clock for more power, or 8-2 for more spin. So the racket starts behind your body, on the left side, and ends up inside the court on your right side
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Thanks for the reply! One more question: could you please comment on the role of the trunk muscles in the kick serve? I know in the forehand/backhand we generate quite some power from the trunk, is it similar in the kick serve?
Just the reminder of taking my grip with the knuckles across the top bevel had tremendous value…when I am mindful of this it results in immediately better serves! Even when I’m not going for a kick, the grip adjustment seems to encourage more of a stretch across the chest (or between tossing and hitting arm) and more of an upward attack on the ball.
Great to hear
Great lesson, Simon! For swingpath, many coaches ( and i think a TWU article as well) say to swing 8 to 2 or 7 to 1 and roll over the top of the ball to get pace and kick. This also implies having a relatively closed racquet face. Could you please provide some insights into rolling over the top of the ball?
If you close the racket face, you may increase the spin rate, but you’ll lose height and pace
As usual, fanstatic video and job,,
Thank you! Cheers!
Thank you Simon!
Please could you share what would be ideal exercises (gradually of course) for getting kick serve muscle memory?
These drills can help - ruclips.net/video/3nCowmjgN6w/видео.html
Another fantastic video. This is the best tennis instructional channel! Thanks for making and sharing to the world!
Btw. one question I always had is how to toss the ball. My coach shows me that I need to toss the ball with my left hand (I am right handed) with a movement of my arm going inside the court and perpendicular to the baseline; so my arm goes really in the direction of my opponent. Although I see many professionals tossing it with the arm going parallel to the baseline when tossing (as you showed in the video). What is the correct arm movement when tossing the ball and why?
Many thanks for the support 🙏
this is a true eye opening video...!
I ve one little doubt still...this sideways movement is great but it tends to send the ball in a diagonal, so it is perfect to hit a kick serve wide from the left position... which is the easiest kick to serve... but how would you modify the movement to hit a kick from the ad side to the T or from the deuce side?
Did you cover the toss for each type of serve… the toss for kick is above or even behind the head parallel to the baseline? Whereas flat first serve more into the court and slice in the court but right of the head…. Excellent analysis and coaching thank you 🎾🦘🎾
The toss is covered in this lesson: ruclips.net/video/WR-QgYYvu7U/видео.html
Thanks for the video.
Any suggestions how to maximize the margin for error, for us non-pros.
Most of these videos of top pros have kick serve falling very close to a very small target (outer serve box line).
I find myself double faulting on kick serve or it goes slow and high.
Aim for big targets, you can hit a very effective kick serve with plenty of margin. 2-3 feet inside each line
Thank you for the video. Do you spend equal time practicing your second serve compared to your first serve?
Good video, one question though..will racquet face hit the ball directly at point of contact or will slice with the edge?
Simon, although Federer holds his shoulder back and moves racket mostly sideways he performs pronation at the moment of contact. Pronation creates momentum towards opponent otherwise ball gets a lot of spin but not enough linear speed to be aggressive. If this statement is right could you please comment on the point and provide advice when to start pronation, how to train pronation and sideways move separately and then combine them in single fluid motion?
Pronation is the key to the kick serve whilst being side on. This lesson may help you: ruclips.net/video/3nCowmjgN6w/видео.html
Superb
Thank you for the support Will.
Go smash those kick serves
All the best,
Simon
Great lesson, I'll definitely try opening the grip a little on my second serves! I'm a bit confused by terms though. I always thought the topspin was what made for a "kick" serve, as opposed to a "slice" serve which has more sidespin. You seem to suggest that the slice is closer to a flat serve in technique, but how about the path of the ball? Isn't the ball movement what defines "slice," "kick," and "flat?"
You have a topspin serve, that bounces upwards like a normal heavy topspin shot but you also have a kick serve which bounces up and to the left of the player (for a right handed serve)
This video might help: ruclips.net/video/WR-QgYYvu7U/видео.html
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Thanks for the detailed reply! I really like how compact your serve motion is, BTW, kind of like Nick Kyrgios'. Mine has too many moving parts, too many chances for things to break down...
As always another great video Simon !
Great tips and impeccable execution by the Federer look-alike
Many thanks Rui 🙏
Now go smash those kickers 💪
great tips! you helped me a lot! :) especially this ball hit-path is not very popular but crucial I think. 1 more question - do we need to actually use our wrist from that L position (when contact with the ball starts) to top and pronation? In Federer slowmo it looks like during contact he still has his wrist loose(free) and uses only the arm as kind of lever.
The L position is only for the start of the contact zone. Once you make contact, the arm extends more and the the wrist extends up whilst pronating
Thanks, great tips. Greetings from the beautiful Algarve. Do you know? Welcome to know all about with me.
I played some futures in Lagos and Albufeira, back in 2007. Very nice 👍
I get a lot of racquet head speed and pop on my flat serves from coiling + uncoiling my shoulders. For kick serves, I get spin from the side-on shoulder position, but I lack pace on the serves since I'm not uncoiling my shoulders through impact.
Any tips on maximizing spin while getting good pace on kick serves?
Try to use the legs more explosively
Do you have tips on how to adjust to someone’s game which is much slower than what you’re used to? I can’t get power against this one player cause he hits a slow ball and goes for lots of drop shots. His serve is short in the court with good slice and makes it hard to play the ball deep. If i approach and come to the net he just hits a deep lob almost every time. It’s mainly hard to generate power and hit a winner or dictate play because he plays a slower game.
Hello, How can I play stronger with Wilson Clash 100 V2 . Or can somebody gives me tips about this racquet?
Never played with it myself so can’t advise you but I’m sure someone will reply who knows
Do we have to grunt in the same way? Oooooerrrgg
That’s optional
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial not when you get to my age it isnt ;)
Thanks!
Thanks for watching 🙏
I've always used the eastern backhand for the kick serve, it gives a ton of spin and the kick afterwards is pretty insane. However I often cannot produce enough pace with this and it creates a predictable return strategy for my opponent.
I don't recommend to Eastern backhand grip since it doesn't disguise the serve. Returned can see that grip very well. Probably use a smaller grip change from continental.
I’d say eastern is a bit extreme. Pace would decline but also the stress to your shoulder
@@TopTennisTrainingOfficial Edberg used that grip and generated good pace with it. Probably that pace was generated mostly with how well he leaned into court at contact
Excellent break down. The missing ingredients in my kick serve are adjusting my grip, and maintaining the side on shoulder position until after contact.
Thank you 🙏
Thanks for watching 🙏
Smash the kickers
It is more helpful to video the instructions when you are actually positioned in the correct court position.
Excelent explanation! One of the best, objetive and detailed videos about kick serve!! Thanks a lot!!!
Many thanks 🙏
Superb video Simon, all I need now is the weather to actually get out on court🥶
I’ve heard it’s bitter in the UK?
great great video! Thank you!
Glad you liked it!
Excellent instruction on the kick serve.
Thank you for watching
could you please make a video or short about extension through contact / staying with the ball whilst still hitting modern topspin forehand without coming off ball straight away, many thanks Simon