In tennis, a ball change is initiated by a serve. The tennis player has two attempts at this. Thus, the first serve is usually played with more risk and at higher speeds.
The ball is hit centrically with the racket so that it has as little rotation as possible and thus little loss of speed. If the server does not succeed in hitting the opponent’s serve with the first serve, he has a second attempt at his disposal. This ball must be hit into the field and is therefore usually played slower but with more rotation.
This is called a “slice” or “topspin/kick” serve, similar to the forehand and backhand. The rotation of the tennis ball makes the return game even more difficult. It is not uncommon for this type of serve to be chosen as a safe first serve. In professional tennis, the majority of the points won are achieved on your own serve, so a good serve is especially important and can be decisive. The fastest serve measured is 248.6 km/h and was beaten by Andy Roddick.
Rules
The player has two attempts at serving the ball. If the ball touches the edge of the net and then enters the service area, the serve is repeated. The player must stand with both feet behind the baseline and may not cross it until the ball has touched the bat. If the ball touches the edge of the net and then enters the field, this serve is repeated. If the ball is touched by the return player without the ball touching the ground, the ball is considered to have been accepted and not as a serve error, even if the ball would have bounced out.
Tactics
In order to reduce the risk of a double fault, it is advisable to act with a safe first serve, especially in important situations. This is especially true for players in the beginner’s area with a high double fault rate. For right-handed players: A slice serve should be played from the right side of the serve outwards and from the left side through the middle.
For a topspin serve, the opposite is true. To fool your opponent, a variable service game is necessary. In higher divisions, the ball throw is specially trained so that the opponent cannot anticipate the serve.
Technology
The serve is the only stroke in tennis that is played without the influence of the opponent, but still causes great difficulties for many players and especially for beginners. This is closely related to the coordination of ball throwing and serve movement. The player has to coordinate the movement of the legs, trunk and upper body.
Additionally, the coordination between batting arm and throwing arm makes the serve more difficult. – The tennis player stands with both feet sideways behind the baseline, the left foot pointing to the right net post, the right foot pointing diagonally backwards. – Right-handed players hold the tennis racket with their right hand and backhand – grip the racket at the lower end of the grip.
- The upper body points to the side. – The body weight is shifted to the rear foot
- The left hand is on the neck of the club
- The ball throwing arm is stretched along the base line and guided upwards. – The ball is thrown at eye level
- The ball must be thrown at least 3 – 4 m. high
- The striking arm is guided to the rear
- The upper body continues to point to the side
- The bow tension is built up (stretching of the leg and abdominal muscles)
- The club is returned until it almost touches the back (put it in the backpack)
- The body is at the point of maximum extension
- The surcharge movement immediately follows the backswing movement without a pause.
- The speed of the aggregate is maximum
- The legs are stretched, then the upper body rotates in the direction of the opponent’s field, followed by the striking movement of the arm
- The type of surcharge movement is comparable to a ball throw
- The ball is hit in front of the body in a stretched position. – The ball is hit in front of the body in a stretched position
- In the swing phase the body is brought back into balance. – Since the meeting point is in front of the body, a lunge is made with the right leg. – Due to the rotation of the upper body, the swing-out step is performed over the left side.
