Adapted from Ajay Pant’s TENNIS.com Tip of the Week “Don’t toss, place” (October 1, 2007).
From beginners to strong club players, the serve toss is a common malady. Fix the toss and a lot of “serve problems” shrink.
Why the word “toss” hurts you
“Toss” suggests a loose, arm–wrist–elbow throw—like a football or basketball. On a tennis serve, that extra joint action wobbles the ball and wrecks contact.
What you want is closer to placing the ball: the arm lifts and releases when fully extended, with quiet fingers, wrist, and elbow.
Practice cue
Before each practice serve, say “place” out loud. Feel a lift-and-release, not a flick. Then build spin and placement on top of a stable release—especially useful before you add serve-and-volley patterns.
Soft CTA
Pair this with zone targets on serve (see Ajay’s zone tip) in a lesson or clinic: 4seasonstennis.com/adults.
Find us
Four Seasons Racquet Club
- Website: 4seasonstennis.com
- Book on CourtReserve: Member portal
- Instagram: @fourseasonsracquetclub
- Facebook: 4Seasons10s
