How to Hit a Better Serve (Grip, Toss, Power, and Spin)
Quick answer
To hit a better serve, build it in order: a continental grip, a consistent toss out in front, a balanced trophy position, then leg drive up into the ball with a relaxed arm and pronation through contact. Power comes from the kinetic chain and racket head speed, not from muscling the arm. Most serve problems trace back to a waiter's grip, a poor toss, or no leg drive.
On this page
Start with the continental grip
Hold the racket like you are hammering a nail with its edge. That is the continental grip, and it is the foundation of every good serve. It lets you hit flat, slice, and kick with the same grip and it is what makes pronation possible. The most common beginner mistake is the waiter's grip, palm under the handle like you are carrying a tray, which caps your serve and forces the ball down into the net.
The building blocks, in order
- 1Grip: continental.
- 2Stance: balanced and sideways to the target.
- 3Toss: out in front, slightly inside the baseline, just above your full reach so you hit near the apex.
- 4Trophy position: load your legs as the toss goes up.
- 5Swing: explode up off your legs, let the racket drop, and pronate through contact.
- 6Serve plus one: have a plan for the first ball after the serve.
The most common serve mistakes
- Waiter's grip instead of continental.
- A low or inconsistent toss.
- No leg drive, all arm.
- Arming the ball with a tight grip.
- No pronation through contact.
- Rushing the motion with no trophy pause.
Where to go next
Once the basics are in place, work the pieces one at a time: fix your toss, add power without losing control, learn the kick serve for a reliable second serve, understand flat vs slice vs kick, and learn where to place your serve. If you double fault under pressure, start with the second serve fix.
Build it in order
Grip, toss, trophy, leg drive, pronation. Fix them in that order and the serve clicks.
Frequently asked
What grip should I use for the serve?
The continental grip. It lets you hit flat, slice, and kick serves with one grip and it is what makes pronation and spin possible.
Why does my serve keep going into the net?
Usually a low toss or a waiter's grip. Raise the toss so you hit near the apex, and switch to a continental grip so the racket face can open into the ball.
Where should I toss the ball on a serve?
Slightly in front of you, just inside the baseline, about one racket length above your full reach so you make contact near the apex.
How do I get more power on my serve?
Drive with your legs, keep the arm loose, and use the kinetic chain plus pronation for racket head speed. Power comes from the chain, not from muscling the arm.
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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