How to hold your serve in tennis – a 10-step guide to the maths and angles

A serve in tennis not only signifies the start of a point, but it can be a crucial weapon if you can master the art. Pitch magazine can help you to plot your way to being a serving supernova as it is all matter of maths and angles.

In terms of the basics, each player is allowed two serves per point. In other words you get two opportunities to put the ball in play when you serve.

The serving player stands behind the baseline and the ball needs to cross the net and land within the serving area – which is marked on diagonally on the opposite side of the court – in order for play to proceed.

Should the ball hit the net or fail to land in the serving area then it is called a “fault” and the server will get a second chance to start the point.

Once you have mastered the essentials then you can take it up a notch as there different types of serve that you can use to outfox your opponent, from hard to flat to the kick serve and slice serve.

But here is your 10-point guide to acing the serve…

ONE

Practice. Disproportionately. In the knowledge that 70 per cent of points are won within four shots.

TWO

Make it count. A serve – good or bad – only truly affects the rally’s first four strokes.

THREE

Second service science. The top pros barely ‘break even’ after missing with the first serve, so definitely don’t rely on just getting the second-serve in play. A first-serve with ‘a bit on it’ trumps an Exocet sent into next week and a pit-pat follow-up that gets hammered back.

FOUR

Mistakes matter. Again, 70 per cent of points are lost rather than won. Leave the court’s corners to the pros.

FIVE

Think ahead. Work out the best way to receive the service return on your forehand. Far fewer errors come from this side.

SIX

Get in! If that first-serve hits the mark, tear in after it. The percentages are with you when hovering over the net.

SEVEN

Hunt short balls. As a ‘second way’ of getting you in at the net.

EIGHT

Mix it up. Learn a couple of second-serve variants. If your opponent is having to think, then they’re not just marching onto the ball.

NINE

Stay ahead. Even at a seemingly precarious 40-30 your likelihood of winning the game stands at 93 per cent. At 30-40, it’s less than 50.

TEN

Strategise. The set-up is… service in. Try to run around any centrally returned ball to hit a forehand to the opponent’s backhand. A defensive response means you then control the court. Control the centre, win the point.

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