If you want to improve your tennis game, learning to serve correctly is critical. There are four main types of tennis serves, each of which has different uses as it causes the ball to move differently. Here is an overview of each type.

Types of Tennis Serves

1. Flat Serve

The flat serve is a powerful serve with no spin. To complete it, swing your racket directly through the ball, with your shoulder angled in the direction you want the ball to go. This is often used for a first serve.

2. Slice Serve

This technique gives the ball a sideways spin by brushing the racket across the right side of the ball (or the left, for left-handed players). This will cause the ball to curve and dip as it flies, then bounce sideways out of the court. Even if your opponent hits it, they will have to run out of position to do so.

3. Kick Serve

A good kick serve requires you to toss the ball high and generate some topspin when you hit it. This will make it bounce up hard when it hits the court, potentially into the body of the receiving player. The traditional kick serve has been around for over 100 years, while a variation called the American Twist which adds extra sidespin is more recent.

4. Underhand Serve

Unlike other serves which involve swinging your racket down from above, the underhand serve requires that you drop the ball and swing up at it from below. It’s uncommon, but perfectly legal, and may be a good way to surprise your opponent. However, you don’t want to use it every time—the motion of the ball is easy and predictable if you’re expecting it.

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