Saturday, February 28, 2009

Slice Serve v. Kick Serve

Today the serve. Is it important to be able to hit a kick serve? I think it's important to learn but it doesn't have to be your bread and butter shot. First, if your kick serve isn't a good one, it's going to get "rocked!" A good kick serve has strong pace with spin, a deadly combination. If your kick serve is marginal, work on a better slice serve and flat serve. Many matches I have used a flat second serve to get out of a jam. Sure its dicey, but it's not as bad a receiving a cannon winner return. The slice serve stays low and can mess with timing especially when you vary placement and with flat ball combinations. I equate the slice serve to the slider in baseball.

A good slider pitcher can kill you; look at McEnroe--he gives everyone trouble when that slider is hitting the lines. Accuracy and consistency can always be improved; speed can be improved upon to a degree but the gene pool determines most of that component.

Doubles Tip

When you play doubles your favorite flavor should be vanilla. What the hell does that mean, Kev?

IT means when you hit a passing shot go down the middle and rip it with topspin. That is not the time to get creative with low percentage angles and down the line shots.

But hey, those are my best shots.

If they go in then do it; if they miss, go with vanilla.
Same with the first volley and most second volleys; hit through the cross court middle; forget about the sick drop volley angle.

But hey, I love that shot.

Then do it when your up by two or more points. Don't risk losing the point with a low percentage shot against a skilled opponent.