A straight toss is critical for serving
Serve
Many say the serve is the most important stroke in tennis which probably explains why the serving pose appears on many tennis trophies. The serve is the only stroke in which is not a return and requires little footwork.
Similar throwing ball, the back scratching position in which the racket holding elbow points up as high as possible to insure maximum reach and leverage.
The basic serve stance, the feet are aligned, shoulder-width, towards the target area with the toe of the front foot pointing towards the net post. Standing within several feet of the center mark, the server bounces the ball down where the ball would land (in a straight line above if it was not hit) roughly about one foot in front of the forward foot at 45 degree. Next the serve looks exactly at the point of contact for the serve ( this assist tossing in a straight line).
Probably the most difficult thing you will learn is how to toss or release the ball, like placing a glass of water on a shelf without spilling. The challenge is when you release the ball so it goes straight up and would comes straight down. The service toss is most critical to the success of the serve. The non-playing arm tosses the ball to so that you the playing arm can fully extend up and meet the ball in the middle of the racket strings.
Placing the serving arm fully up looking to where the racket’s mid point is key so you can develop a visual cue. Before you toss you may wish to look to this contact point so you exactly direct your toss to this specific place. It is like drawing a line you can not do it well if you do not look to where your drawing to so look ahead.
A good exercise in learning the serve is for you to take the ball in your serving hand and work on throwing the ball over the net to the opposite or diagonal service box ( the two squares just over the net). You will see keeping your elbow high you using your wrist to gently break will help you get a more powerful throw. Also throwing the ball up on a higher angle will provide you with greater distance and chance to clear the net.
Starting out to learn the serve you may wish to start a the back scratch position and just do a short toss and try to just hit up on the serve so the ball angles high up over the net. If this is difficult attempt this closer to the net and move back as you develop greater mastery.
Serving offers a wonderful example of eye contact in tennis. You must not attempt to look where your hitting in tennis since you focus to best execute should be on the contact point.
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