How to Fix Your Serve Toss (Lift, Do Not Throw)
Quick answer
To fix your serve toss, lift the ball, do not throw it. Hold it in your fingers, keep your tossing arm straight, and release around face height so the ball peaks about one racket length above your contact point, slightly in front of your front foot. A jerky, low, or drifting toss is the root of most serve misses. Toss the same spot every time and the rest of the serve gets easier.
On this page
Why the toss makes or breaks the serve
Every part of the serve is timed to the toss. If the ball is too low you jam yourself and hit down into the net. Too high and the ball falls fast, wrecking your timing in the sun and wind. Off to the side and your whole swing path changes. A repeatable toss is the single biggest fix for an inconsistent serve.
How to toss consistently
- 1Hold the ball in your fingertips, not your palm.
- 2Keep your tossing arm straight and lift from the shoulder.
- 3Release around face height and let the arm keep rising.
- 4Aim for a peak about one racket length above your contact point.
- 5Place it slightly in front of you, in line with your hitting shoulder.
Common toss errors and the fix
- Too low: release higher, around chin to forehead height, with the same tempo.
- Too high: keep the release height but soften the lift so it peaks lower.
- Drifts left or right: keep your palm open to the sky until release, and keep your hand on your front-foot line.
- Head drops: freeze your eyes on the ball for a beat after release before you swing.
Drills
- Keep Lifting: lift the arm without releasing the ball, then gradually add height while keeping the same smooth motion.
- Toss and catch: toss and catch the ball with your palm up to groove a calm, repeatable release.
- Spot target: place a marker where the ball should land and toss to it until you can hit it 9 of 10.
One spot, every time
A repeatable toss feeds everything else, including serve power. Start from the serve fundamentals and groove one toss.
Frequently asked
Where should I toss the ball for a serve?
Slightly in front of you, in line with your hitting shoulder, peaking about one racket length above your contact point so you hit near the apex.
Why is my serve toss so inconsistent?
You are probably throwing it with a jerky motion or turning your palm sideways early. Lift smoothly with a straight arm and keep the palm up until release.
Should the toss be different for a kick serve?
Yes. For a kick serve toss more over your head and slightly to your non-dominant side. See the kick serve guide for details.
Sources and further reading
Written by
Bolor Enkhbayar
Tennis coach and founder of CoachesNote
Bolor coaches serious juniors and adult competitors. She builds every weekly plan, reviews the video and match notes, and decides the next job, in person and remotely through CoachesNote.
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