When your serve goes missing, it is usually because too many moving parts fight each other. The fix is not a new technique, but a clear cue you can repeat. Pick one cue per session and build a routine you can trust on match day.
1. Keep the toss arm tall and quiet
A clean toss sets everything else up. Extend the tossing arm fully and let the ball leave your hand gently. If your toss drifts, your spine tilts and your contact changes.
2. Load into the back hip before you jump
Think of sitting into your back hip rather than squatting. You want the weight to feel stacked, not collapsed. This creates a stable base and controlled power on the way up.
3. Reach up, not out
The most reliable servers hit up through the ball with a high contact point. If your arm reaches forward too soon, the ball leaks long. Feel your chest lift and your hand reach toward the sky.
4. Land inside the court
A good finish brings your body weight forward. Your front foot should land inside the baseline and your back foot should follow naturally. If you fall left or spin away, you lose control.
5. Pick a target before your first bounce
The serve is easier when your brain has one clear goal. Choose a target area before you start your routine. In matches, aim for a big window first and tighten the target as confidence builds.
Serve routine you can repeat
- 5 serves to the deuce body target to lock in toss height.
- 5 serves wide with the same toss and finish.
- 5 serves to the ad T, focusing on reaching up.
- Play 5 points where you only use first serves.
Keep notes after practice: which cue felt best and which target was most reliable. That becomes your match-day priority.