Baby Serve
Help!  My second serve is just a pat!

     It's typical of the game at the beginner level....the fear of the second serve.  We hit our first serve as hard
as we possibly can; because it will make us feel soooo powerful, if it ever goes in.  Then we are so afraid of
double faulting that we gently pat our second serve high over the net into the middle of the opponent's service
box, only to have them pound it back for a winner.  How do we solve this and go to the next level without
the solution being a mere band-aid that we will have to undo later?

     Let's try this: the next time you hit your first serve, try throwing the ball more behind you and hitting
with more spin.  Hit the ball harder than your second serve, but don't hit it as hard as your normal first
serve missile.  Hit this as both your first and second serve.  You will see that, in time; this serve will become
quite consistent (there is that word again).  And, you will then be able to use this as a second serve.  You will
gain the confidence that this serve will always go in with accuracy and much more power than that baby pat
you've been hitting for far too long.  Then, you can begin to use much more power on your first serve to get
that " mucho macho"  feeling. 

Here we see Ramon Borjas of La Feria hitting a second serve.  Notice how he tosses the ball with plenty
 of height and slightly behind him.  The spin gives him the confidence it will usually land in.

 

Need hands-on lessons?  Don VanRamshorst is a U.S.P.T.A.
 certified professional tennis instructor.  Nothing beats the real
 deal! Call the Harlingen H.E.B. tennis center for rates and your
  next appointment today! (956) 428 - 2092