Every tennis player want to serve as fast as Andy Roddick, but not everyone has a live arm and the natural physical ability of Roddick. Every player, however, can improve his serve and add speed regardless of height and strength. Hitting a fastball on serve requires technique rather than physical strength.
Step 1
Use a continental grip. While the eastern or hammer grip might provide you with more success early on, these grips do not allow the wrist to fully snap. A continental grip allows the wrist to fully pronate, allowing you to hit fastballs.
Step 2
Keep your arm as loose as possible. The looser your arm is, the faster it will be able to whip through the contact point, producing a faster ball. Clenching your arm and trying to muscle the ball will have the opposite effect, lessening your racket head speed and power.
Step 3
Pronate your wrist during your service motion. Just before contact, snap your wrist to add additional racket head speed. Imagine your racket is an extension of your hand and arm. If you are pronating correctly, your racket should start the upward swing with the frame leading the racket and end with the racket strings facing the ball. Imagine high-fiving the tennis ball.
Step 4
Bend your knees. Your upper body is critical in producing a fast serve, but so is your lower body. If you bend your knees and explode up into your serve, you will add serious heat to your serve.
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