How To Hit A Topspin Serve

A topspin serve is one of the hardest shots to master; however, it can be an effective second serve. If you are skipping it because you think its too difficult, you are limiting your arsenal of moves and become a much more predictable tennis player, and predictability, in tennis, is a very bad thing.

The topspin serve uses a different action than a regular serve. The ball needs to be tossed up so that it is above and slightly behind the shoulder. You should be able to draw a line from your the back-right or back-left of your heel to where the ball should be in the air.  If the ball were to fall un-hit, it should land behind the baseline. If you think about it, that is the only way in which you can possibly hit topspin because of the rotation that will be created in this position!

The key to success when performing the topspin serve is to utilize a forceful hit with the racquet head up and over the ball before it is crossed outwards towards the sideline.  It's important that even though the path of the racquet throw is different from the standard 'backstretch' position that you get enough force on the hit. While hitting the ball, the path of the racquet head should travel toward the same sideline where the racquet began. As you get better creating topspin, you can finish the service with a normal follow through or the specialized follow through position.  This can create confusion in your opponent in trying to figure out what type of hit you have just made.

This vigorous upwards brush of the strings makes the ball fly upward over the net, but then it drops suddenly. As the ball bounces it kicks up and may swing over slightly (to the opposite side from the slice service) as it lands. You may find executing this serve is very difficult in the beginning; however, don't get frustrated as this will make performing the move even more difficult.

Remember that master top spinners like Stefan Edberg are not made in a day but through relentless effort and practice. If you put in a disciplined and dedicated effort there's no reason why you can't improve your ability to hit the topspin serve.