What Is A Body Serve In Tennis?

A body serve is a tennis serve where the ball is hit with body power instead of arm power. This type of serve is often used by beginner players.

The Basics of a Body Serve

A body serve is a type of serve in tennis that is hit with the intention of landing the ball close to the opponent’s body. The hope is that the opponent will not be able to generate as much power on their return, making it easier for the server to win the point.

One advantage of a body serve is that it can be used to surprise an opponent who is expecting a different type of serve. For example, if a player has been consistently hitting their serves out wide to their opponent’s backhand, they may choose to hit a body serve in an attempt to catch their opponent off guard.

Body serves can be hit with either a flat or topspin delivery, and can be directed to either side of the court. They are typically used as part of a player’s game plan to mix up their serve and keep their opponents guessing.

The Grip

To hit a body serve, you need to use an unorthodox grip. For a right-handed player, this would be a continental grip. For a left-handed player, it would be an eastern backhand grip. You can also use a semi-western forehand grip, but that’s less common.

The continental grip is the most popular choice for hitting a body serve. With this grip, you hold the racket in your left hand and wrap your hand around the handle. Your thumb and index finger should be on different sides of the racket head.

The eastern backhand grip is similar to the continental grip, but you hold the racket in your right hand instead of your left hand. If you’re a left-handed player, you can use this grip to hit a body serve.

The semi-western forehand grip is less common, but some players find it easier to hit a body serve with this grip. To use this grip, hold the racket in your stronger hand and place your hand on the side of the racket head that’s closest to you. Your index finger should be on top of the strings and your thumb should be underneath the strings.

The Toss

The body serve is one of the most important serves in tennis. It is also one of the most difficult serves to master. The main purpose of the body serve is to hit the ball into the opponent’s body, which will make it very difficult for them to return the ball. This serve is often used as an ace, or to set up an easy point.

To execute a body serve, the player must first toss the ball into the air. They then strike the ball with their racket, making sure to hit it in the center of the strings. The sweet spot is located at the intersection of the main and cross strings. The Contact point for a body serve should be slightly in front of the player. This will ensure that the ball hits high on the opponent’s body, making it very difficult for them to return it.

The player then follows through with their swing, making sure to land in a ready position. This will help them recover quickly and be ready for their next shot.

The Contact Point

The contact point is where the tennis ball and racket make contact. The player tossed the ball into the air and then hit it with their racket. The “sweet spot” is the area on the strings that produces the best results. When the ball hits outside of the sweet spot, you may feel vibration in your racket or an off-center shot.

The Follow Through

After you’ve hit the ball, your body’s natural reaction is to start slowing down. However, in tennis, you want to do the opposite; you want to follow through with your swing. This will ensure that you put all of your weight and momentum behind the ball, resulting in a faster and harder shot. When you practice your swings, make sure to follow through all the way until your racket is above your head.