Serving Under Pressure

One thing that separates players at all levels is the ability to serve well under pressure.  I’m not talking simply about getting the ball in the court.  I’m talking about hitting big serves at key stages of a match – be it an ace, a service winner, or a serve that hits the right spot and opens up the court well enough for you to immediately take control of the rally.

I was fortunate to spend my formative years being taught how to serve by Pete Fischer, the same man who greatly shaped the delivery of the player many believe had the greatest serve in tennis history, Pete Sampras.  Thanks to Pete Fischer, I also got to practice with Sampras a few times and learn first-hand what serving under pressure is all about.

Diagnosing the Problem: Things That Go Awry When Serving Under Pressure

We’ve all seen it and we’ve all been there.  Here are just a few things that happen when players get tight and the serve nosedives: Rushing up to the baseline and not getting properly grounded Not picking a target Starting the motion far too quickly Because the body is not loose, the toss goes…