Brent's Tennis 101
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Serve:

On crucial points during a tennis match it is important to keep the pressure on your opponent, and one way of insuring that is your serve. The serve is a unique shot in tennis because you get two chances. The basic principal of serving is tossing the ball above your head and making contact (usually near the apex) into the diagonally opposite service box without hitting the net.

How To Hit A Serve:

  1. Hold the racquet in a standard Continental grip.
  2. Stand anywhere from the center mark to about 4 to 6 feet from it.
  3. Assume the serve position standing sideways to the net. If you were to draw a line across your toe tips and extend it, it would indicate the direction of the ball.
  4. Keep your arms down and relaxed.
  5. Hold the racquet at the throat with the non hitting hand. Your hitting hand should be loose as possible on the grip.
  6. Shift about 80 percent of your body weight to the back leg to start.
  7. Shift your weight forward simultaneously with your hands as they go up.
  8. Toss the ball at 12 o'clock above your head.
  9. Dip your hip in toward the net as the upper body rotates.
  10. Lift your racquet head aggressively up and over your shoulder, hitting the ball out in front of you, to the right.
  11. Transfer your body weight, uncoiling your upper body, and thrust upwards from the legs as you hit the ball.
  12. Fold in your tossing arm quickly towards the chest as you make with the ball; this stops shoulder rotation. The weight transfer carries the body forward onto the court.
  13. Allow your feet to come off the ground.