How to Serve
Learning tennis on your own is sometimes very difficult. This article guides you through the steps necessary for a basic tennis serve, and helps you develop the initial skills needed to eventually ace your opponent. The serve is a crucial part of the game, as it allows you to gain the upper hand in your match right from the get-go.
First: Take your stance
Start off by standing about a foot behind the baseline, about three feet to the right from the center. If you are right-handed, place your right foot parallel to the baseline, and point your left foot at the right net post. If you are left-handed, do the reverse.
Second: Choose a grip
If you are more advanced, feel free to hold the racket with any grip you choose, but the best beginner style is the continental grip, in which you hold your racket face perpendicular to the court and shake hands with your racket, so that the web between your thumb and forefinger is on the uppermost bevel of the racket.
Third: Ball toss
Lean slightly forward onto your front foot, holding the ball lightly in your hand with the palm facing up. Throw the ball straight up, letting it roll off the tips of your fingers for spin.
Fourth: Making contact
As you toss the ball into the air, fully extend your tossing arm towards the ball to point at it. At the same time, make a backwards windmill motion with the arm holding the racket, so that the racket comes to a cocked-back position behind your back. As the ball begins to fall, bring the racket forward to hit the ball and lean slightly forward, as you hit the ball towards the service box diagonal from you across the net.