Spin Rates and Spin Axis in Elite Serving

What are the real differences in the “types” of spin serves?

Three leading tennis scientists have completed the first ever three dimensional study of ball spin in the elite serve, focusing on the primary spin variations: the so-called “flat,” “slice,” and “kick” serves. The results are fascinating and help clarify what is actually going on with the ball in high level serving. They also contradict several key beliefs held by many players and coaches.

In fact the study challenges the common terminology used to distinguish serve types. Based on the results, there is no such thing as a purely flat, purely slice, or purely kick serve.

Rather, all high level serves contain a significant level of spin, the extent of which varies with serve type. However, the differences in the axes of rotation across the three serve types are surprisingly small. And this has some important implications for players and coaches.

The study was a collaboration between Japanese researcher Prof. Shinji Sakurai, and two Australian researchers, Dr. Machar Reid, and Prof. Bruce Elliott. (Click Here to read Bruce’s articles on the Power Serve.) This article is an effort to translate this important academic work into language any tennis player can…