Tennis serve basics: grip, toss, trophy position and second serves

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The serve is the only shot in tennis you control entirely, which makes it worth investing in. It is also the shot most beginners find awkward, because it combines a throw, a swing and timing. This guide breaks it down into parts you can practise separately.

What the rules require

Under the ITF Rules of Tennis, you start each point standing behind the baseline, between the centre mark and the sideline, on the correct side. You serve diagonally into the opposite service box.

You get two serves. Miss both and you lose the point, a double fault.
A serve that touches the net and lands in the correct box is a let and is replayed.
A foot fault occurs if you touch the baseline or the court inside it before hitting the ball, or change position by walking or running.

The grip

Most coaches teach the continental grip for serving, the one where you hold the racket as if holding a hammer. It allows the wrist and forearm to pronate naturally, which gives both power and spin.

Beginners often start with a forehand-style grip because it feels easier to get the ball in, but it limits progress. Move to the continental as soon as possible.
Hold the racket loosely. A relaxed arm swings faster.

Stance

Stand side-on, with your front foot angled towards the net post and your back foot roughly parallel to the baseline.
Feet about shoulder-width apart.
Platform stance keeps the feet apart throughout; pinpoint stance brings the back foot up to the front. Either works; start with whichever feels more stable.

The toss

A consistent toss is the foundation of a consistent serve.

Hold the ball in your fingertips, not your palm.
Lift with a straight arm, releasing the ball around head height.
Toss slightly in front of you and towards the hitting arm side.
Toss a little higher than the point where you will make contact, so the ball is almost still when you hit it.

Practise tossing without hitting: the ball should drop on or just in front of your front foot, roughly where a racket placed on the ground would be.

Trophy position

Named after the figure on top of a trophy, this is the loaded position before you swing up to the ball.

Tossing arm pointing up towards the ball.
Hitting arm bent, racket head up behind you.
Knees bent, weight shifting forward, shoulders turned.

From here, drive up with the legs, let the racket drop behind your back and swing up to the ball, reaching for full extension at contact.

Contact and follow-through

Hit the ball at full reach and slightly in front.
Let the forearm turn over naturally after contact.
Finish across your body on the opposite side, landing on your front foot inside the court.

The second serve

The second serve is about reliability, not pace.

Add spin, which helps the ball clear the net and bring it down into the box. Slice and topspin, often called a kick serve, are both common.
Keep the same rhythm as the first serve. Slowing down the arm tends to cause more faults, not fewer.
Aim with margin over the net and away from the lines.

Practice drills

Toss only: ten tosses landing in a consistent spot.
Service line serves: serve from close to the net to build feel.
Targets: place cones in the service box and aim for them.
Second serves only: play practice games where you have just one serve.

Look after your shoulder

The serve puts load on the shoulder and lower back. Warm up gently, build volume gradually and stop if you feel sharp or persistent pain. A coach can spot technical faults that cause strain, and a physiotherapist can help if pain continues. What helped your serve the most? Share your tips in the comments.