What are some tips to get a great high bouncing kick serve in tennis? Originally answered on Oct. 17th, 2015
This question originally appeared on Quora. Ask a question, get a great answer. Learn from experts and access insider knowledge. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
Answer by Laurence Shanet, Former College/Satellite Tennis Player, Tennis Coach, USRSA Certified Stringer:
Like most shots in tennis, the key to a great kick serve is racquet head speed. Because many club players hit second serves that are really just half-speed versions of their first serves, many recreational players don't realize that advanced players actually swing at least as hard at their second serves as they do at their first serves.
More from Quora: Why do hard hitters dominate in women's tennis but not men's? | In tennis, why do women play best of 3 sets while men play best of 5 sets?
Swinging fast and getting really impressive racquet head speed require a loose arm, and the willingness to go for it, rather than being conservative. While the result of a second serve needs to be safe, the swing shouldn't be. The safety comes from net clearance, not from taking something off the ball.
Just like hitting a heavy topspin ground stroke, a high kick serve is the result of brushing up the back of the ball as fast and aggressively as you can. The way to get this racquet head speed is through "pronation". This is the snap-like motion that ends with your arm rotating so that your thumb is actually facing outward. The more you tighten your grip and try to muscle the ball, the more it will actually slow your racquet down. Just think about relaxing your arm, and snapping up and out with your hand/thumb, and you'll get the idea. The rest is practice.
Other elements, such as toss placement, incorporating your legs more, arching your back, and various additional subtleties are also important to the "kinetic chain" and can add to the serve's effectiveness, but high racquet head speed through pronation is the most important core element. Without seeing your serve and its mechanics, it's impossible to assess what specifically needs improvement in your case. But a good teaching pro can help you correct errors and add RPMs. So try taking a lesson that focuses just on the kick serve, and you'll probably see major improvements.