I was practicing today, trying to keep my grip from rotating on or before contact. It’s working well, although there is slight movement after contact. But I figure that’s not too terrible since the service motion is already complete. I also noticed a callous forming on the inside of my right thumb joint. Now I know I’ve got the correct grip.🤣 So there is progress. Thanks for the great videos Meike, you are far and away the best on RUclips!
Big props to you for teaching placement for the Deep Fat Fryers out there. I am not one, but I appreciate your acknowledgment of how many people serve this way, and not just constantly shoving the “right grip” down every throat. I know folks who use the fp grip on forehand volleys as well. You’re doing them a huge service. Brava.
I was kinda struggling with that and - as you see below in another comment - people will whine about me "teaching" the wrong grip. Nothing further from the truth AND I know that many players want to change the grip but it takes time and effort. Things not everyone has and they still want to enjoy the game of tennis. So we gotta work with what we have because I can't expect to only teach really advanced players.
This is hitting at the right time. I'm switching to the continental grip and it's rarely explained how you go from the edge to a flat finish. Thanks coach!
If you repeat the same racquet trajectory as for a flat serve to T but turn racquet to point out wide, it will not be a flat serve any more. Maybe not an extreme slice but it will be some degree of slice anyway, because physics.
Why is it relatively easy to curve slice wide to the Deuce alley. Bounce wide to the returner's forehand. But it is much more difficult to curve the slice down the Ad T and make it bounce wide to the returner's forehand? Ball seems to go mostly straight after the bounce. Of course the flat fast serve down the Ad T can be effective, but learning to slice away from the Ad T would also be good to have in the toolbox.
Great points, by changing the angle that the strings hit the ball you definitely can create different spins off of several different grips, but your emphasis is on going to the most efficient. That being said, would like to take the serve discussion down the rabbit hole and pick your brain. Do you see any difference in creating slice for a R/H into the deuce court for most players when their feet are pointing to the right net post versus completely parallel to the baseline and directly toward the alley? I see players of all skill levels using both, so to limit the travel time down the rabbit hole, assuming a platform serve, is there much difference in results in the two feet positions. .
In a way it doesn't matter how you stand. It's where the string is pointing at contact point dictating where the ball goes. But with different directions of the stance it might feel easier for certain players.
@@MeikeBabelTennis TBH, it's not my favorite training tool. I need the feedback of the ball flight to help me determine if my technique is correct. So I find myself wall hitting more often or even drop feeding to myself. I may invest in a ball machine this year but my club has one as well for $5 rental
@@K4R3N Yes, I can see that. Ball machine is great but if your club is that cheap, use that. Unless it's difficult to get a court with it. We have 4 dedicated ball machine courts an dit's tough to get a spot.
Dear Meike, thank you for your wonderful and detailed instructions. I'm just wondering could body rotation (slight) help to decide the service placement?
Yes, it is best to use Continental grip. I have a bad habit of shifting my grip during the service motion from Continental grip towards forehand grip. Been practicing keeping the Continental grip throughout the motion. Sometimes I do it correctly so will keep working on it... One thing I notice is that my first serve speed with Continental grip now drops from 80 mph to 20mph 😆😆 . Very weak. 😞 In a way, this is a good sign as it shows that I am now leading with the edge using Continental grip and getting sidespin. But eventually I will want to flatten it out. This will require getting the strings more square to the ball at contact. But it feels awkward and WEAK getting the strings square to the ball with pronation. Pronation involves mainly the forearm muscles and wrist movement. But since my pronation feels weak when trying to flatten out the ball, I am experimenting with thinking more of Internal Shoulder Rotation (ISR), which involves the larger shoulder muscles. If I think of ISR as the main driver that gets the strings from edge on position to a square on position, I seem to be getting better results in terms of flattening it out and getting more mph.
What's the difference between flat and slice in serve out wide case? You mentioned it just a few degree racket face tilt from serve to the T in both flat and slice. It seems identical to me from your description. What am I missing here? Thanks!
This video is about how to aim, which is the same for both serves. For how they're different watch Meike's "Flat vs Slice Serve" video ruclips.net/video/Ai6DpVyAfdY/видео.html Difference has to do with how squarely the racquet face smacks the ball.
@@fatunga1 thanks. I’m thinking it has to do with the swing path between flat and slice for the same serve spot. The racket angle at contact for the same spot should be the same. After all, the racket face at contact determines the ball’s flight direction. What do you think?
@@bournejason66 Yes, that's my understanding and my experience. At contact the racquet angle for the wide slice is the same as for the wide flat serve, but the racquet path is more like the T flat serve.
Love your helpful videos, but I wish tennis teachers wouldn’t hold extra balls in their hands when demonstrating things, because we would never do that in a real life situation. just a thought
@@MeikeBabelTennis ha ha - no I did not miss the rest ;) I was only teasing/being silly! I think I got lucky in that I never used a waiter serve, I played badminton from the age of 6 before tennis so naturally had a continental grip for serving. Although oddly I also had a full western forehand? who knows why. Keep up the good vids :)
Learning, resonating and loving the subtle pro-women tennis coaching, Meike. Keep it up!!
Thank you so much :)
I was practicing today, trying to keep my grip from rotating on or before contact. It’s working well, although there is slight movement after contact. But I figure that’s not too terrible since the service motion is already complete. I also noticed a callous forming on the inside of my right thumb joint. Now I know I’ve got the correct grip.🤣 So there is progress. Thanks for the great videos Meike, you are far and away the best on RUclips!
Big props to you for teaching placement for the Deep Fat Fryers out there. I am not one, but I appreciate your acknowledgment of how many people serve this way, and not just constantly shoving the “right grip” down every throat.
I know folks who use the fp grip on forehand volleys as well.
You’re doing them a huge service. Brava.
I was kinda struggling with that and - as you see below in another comment - people will whine about me "teaching" the wrong grip. Nothing further from the truth AND I know that many players want to change the grip but it takes time and effort. Things not everyone has and they still want to enjoy the game of tennis. So we gotta work with what we have because I can't expect to only teach really advanced players.
@@MeikeBabelTennis was the 'whine' comment aimed at me? when I said it breaks my heart I thought I was obviously being melodramatic / sarcastic :)
The best explanation so far I’ve watched on RUclips. Glad I saw this channel.
This is hitting at the right time. I'm switching to the continental grip and it's rarely explained how you go from the edge to a flat finish. Thanks coach!
Awesome, glad I could help!
really timely instruction video. exactly what I need
How is the practice coming along?
Exactly the instruction I needed. Thank you!
You're welcome!
You are the best!!!
Thank you, I appreciate your support
If you repeat the same racquet trajectory as for a flat serve to T but turn racquet to point out wide, it will not be a flat serve any more. Maybe not an extreme slice but it will be some degree of slice anyway, because physics.
The very thing I wanted. Thank you for a detailed explanation.
Awesome! Glad I could help!
Why is it relatively easy to curve slice wide to the Deuce alley. Bounce wide to the returner's forehand.
But it is much more difficult to curve the slice down the Ad T and make it bounce wide to the returner's forehand?
Ball seems to go mostly straight after the bounce. Of course the flat fast serve down the Ad T can be effective, but learning to slice away from the Ad T would also be good to have in the toolbox.
It is like to align a satellite dish minimal angle change on the ground -means great output in space ;)
Great points, by changing the angle that the strings hit the ball you definitely can create different spins off of several different grips, but your emphasis is on going to the most efficient. That being said, would like to take the serve discussion down the rabbit hole and pick your brain. Do you see any difference in creating slice for a R/H into the deuce court for most players when their feet are pointing to the right net post versus completely parallel to the baseline and directly toward the alley? I see players of all skill levels using both, so to limit the travel time down the rabbit hole, assuming a platform serve, is there much difference in results in the two feet positions. .
In a way it doesn't matter how you stand. It's where the string is pointing at contact point dictating where the ball goes. But with different directions of the stance it might feel easier for certain players.
🙏 excellent appreciate
Great lesson!
Thank you! How is the TopspinPro working out for you?
@@MeikeBabelTennis TBH, it's not my favorite training tool. I need the feedback of the ball flight to help me determine if my technique is correct. So I find myself wall hitting more often or even drop feeding to myself. I may invest in a ball machine this year but my club has one as well for $5 rental
@@K4R3N Yes, I can see that. Ball machine is great but if your club is that cheap, use that. Unless it's difficult to get a court with it. We have 4 dedicated ball machine courts an dit's tough to get a spot.
Hi I love your content, these days I struggle with hitting angle under the net with pace could you make a video on it.
Can you reframe what you have issues with? I;m not quite sure what you mean by "angle under the net"? Hitting an angle off a low ball?
@@MeikeBabelTennis exactly
Detailed demonstrations
Dear Meike, thank you for your wonderful and detailed instructions. I'm just wondering could body rotation (slight) help to decide the service placement?
If the rotation affects the angle of the racket at contact, yes, it will influence the placement.
Yes, it is best to use Continental grip. I have a bad habit of shifting my grip during the service motion from Continental grip towards forehand grip. Been practicing keeping the Continental grip throughout the motion. Sometimes I do it correctly so will keep working on it...
One thing I notice is that my first serve speed with Continental grip now drops from 80 mph to 20mph 😆😆 . Very weak. 😞
In a way, this is a good sign as it shows that I am now leading with the edge using Continental grip and getting sidespin. But eventually I will want to flatten it out. This will require getting the strings more square to the ball at contact. But it feels awkward and WEAK getting the strings square to the ball with pronation.
Pronation involves mainly the forearm muscles and wrist movement. But since my pronation feels weak when trying to flatten out the ball, I am experimenting with thinking more of Internal Shoulder Rotation (ISR), which involves the larger shoulder muscles.
If I think of ISR as the main driver that gets the strings from edge on position to a square on position, I seem to be getting better results in terms of flattening it out and getting more mph.
Yes, the movement towards contact point is a combination of forearm pronation AND the ISR so you're on the right path!
謝謝！
Thank you so much! Your support helps me to focus on creating more content!
I thought it was the shoulder which target where we want to serve ?
How a pro hit fist outwide flat serve with toss in front not towards the corner? Or all Pro just serve slice.
Once someone learns to serve with that frying pan grip, it makes so much harder to learn how to use the continental grip.
Yes, I agree. It will take time and effort.
@@MeikeBabelTennisbe
What's the difference between flat and slice in serve out wide case? You mentioned it just a few degree racket face tilt from serve to the T in both flat and slice. It seems identical to me from your description. What am I missing here? Thanks!
This video is about how to aim, which is the same for both serves. For how they're different watch Meike's "Flat vs Slice Serve" video ruclips.net/video/Ai6DpVyAfdY/видео.html
Difference has to do with how squarely the racquet face smacks the ball.
@@fatunga1 thanks. I’m thinking it has to do with the swing path between flat and slice for the same serve spot. The racket angle at contact for the same spot should be the same. After all, the racket face at contact determines the ball’s flight direction. What do you think?
@@bournejason66 Yes, that's my understanding and my experience. At contact the racquet angle for the wide slice is the same as for the wide flat serve, but the racquet path is more like the T flat serve.
Lol i usually call it "no person's land". I wish there was a better name for it. In german is that neifrauland or something?
Usually Niemandsland. But I've also changed it there to Niefrauensland :-)
Love your helpful videos, but I wish tennis teachers wouldn’t hold extra balls in their hands when demonstrating things, because we would never do that in a real life situation. just a thought
4:52 I'm glad you're a woman...) 🙉🙊
That sure looks like Exposition Park in Aurora, Colorado !!!. You have guts Coach because you can get shot there at night.
Is it that bad over there?
That's why I;m there during the day and these days you can get shot everywhere: school, church, concert, parade.
@@MeikeBabelTennis school yesterday :(
teaching the waiter server... breaks my heart!
Not teaching it but realizing that tons of players won't or can't make the switch. Maybe you missed my urgent appeal and the rest of the video?
@@MeikeBabelTennis ha ha - no I did not miss the rest ;) I was only teasing/being silly!
I think I got lucky in that I never used a waiter serve, I played badminton from the age of 6 before tennis so naturally had a continental grip for serving. Although oddly I also had a full western forehand? who knows why.
Keep up the good vids :)