How To Improve Your Serving Speed In Tennis

Developing a powerful tennis serve will provide you with a potent weapon that can catapult your game to a higher level. Learning to efficiently transfer all the energy from your body and racket to the ball is key in cultivating such a serve. Master a few key elements and you will be well on your way to having the big serve you've always wanted.

Step 1

Take your stance at the baseline, standing sideways so as to position your shoulders perpendicular to the net. Bend your knees as you begin your tossing motion.

Step 2

Extend fully with your tossing arm, releasing the ball at a point no lower than your head. Position the toss forward of the baseline, so as to allow for forward momentum into the shot.

Step 3

Straighten your legs, pushing upward as you initiate your swing with the racket. Contact the ball at the top of the reach of your racket, using leg thrust to move upward and forward, toward the net.

Step 4

Allow your weight to move forward with the stroke, finishing in the court. Maintain balance past the follow through and to completion, prepared to move to the ball if it's returned by your opponent.

Tips and Warnings

The recommended grip for the serve -- the continental grip -- involves matching the 'V' created by your thumb and index finger with the top right bevel on the tennis racket. Remember to practice staying loose and maintaining balance while using the tips for faster serves. Although it may seem like swinging harder will help gain greater speed, the opposite is true.