Tennis Serve Toss: Common Mistakes and Easy Fixes

In my experience, the tennis serve toss is the number one reason for an unsuccessful serve. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player, mastering your ball toss can dramatically improve your serve. In this simple-to-follow guide, we’ll explore common tennis serve toss mistakes and provide easy solutions to fix them.

Table of Contents

• Understanding the Perfect Tennis Serve Toss
• Top 7 Common Serve Toss Mistakes
• Step-by-Step Fixes for Each Problem
• Expert Tips for Consistency

Understanding the Perfect Tennis Serve Toss

Now, while there isn’t necessarily a “perfect” tennis serve toss due to the fact that different types of serves require different types of tosses, there is an ideal toss for beginner and intermediate players. This toss is reliable and works well for the majority of players.

This perfect tennis serve toss should consistently place the ball at the ideal contact point (where your racket will hit the ball): slightly in front of and to the right of your head (for right-handed players). The ball should reach a height of roughly the fully extended length of your racket and arm.

Key Elements of a Good Serve Toss

• Height: High enough that your arm is fully extended when you hit the ball.

• Position: Slightly in front of your body and to the right (for right-handed players).

• Consistency: Same spot every time.

• Smooth Motion: Fluid arm movement.

Top 4 Common Serve Toss Mistakes

1. Tossing Too Low

One of the most common mistakes is tossing the ball too low. I see it countless times—people throw the ball very short because it feels easier to control and hit. While I understand this logic, it actually hinders your service progress a lot. Because the toss is low, you have less time for your swing, meaning everything is rushed, and you can’t generate as much power or consistency. Although you may be embarrassed that your ball goes all over the place when you throw it high, practice makes perfect, and it will help you in the long run!

Solution: Practice tossing the ball just high enough to reach your fully extended racket. Use a wall or fence as a height reference point during practice.

2. Tossing Behind Your Head

I see players of all levels (myself included) throwing the ball in the air and hitting the serve regardless of where the ball is. Don’t do this! You’re only making your life more difficult. If you throw the ball behind you, too far in front, or to the side, just leave it, let it bounce, and try again—there’s nothing wrong with this! When the ball toss is behind your head or to the side, you’ll struggle to generate power and maintain accuracy.

Solution: Focus on releasing the ball slightly in front of your body. Place a tennis racket on the court as a target for where your toss should land if it were to drop.

3. Using Your Whole Arm

Many players swing their entire arm and elbow when tossing, leading to inconsistency.

Solution: Keep your whole arm still and just use your wrist and hand to let go of the ball at the right point. Practice this motion without a ball first. Think about it—the fewer parts of your arm moving, the fewer things that can go wrong.

4. Inconsistent Release Point

Varying your release point makes it impossible to develop muscle memory. Once you’ve worked on the previous three points, you should be able to have a good serve toss. Now all that’s left is consistency. If you can find a release point that works well for you, stick to it, and before you know it, you’ll be tossing the ball where you want it every time!

Solution: Pick a specific point in your toss motion for release and stick to it. Practice without a racket, focusing solely on the release point.

Expert Tips for Consistency

1. Practice Daily: Spend 10 minutes each day just practicing your toss
2. Use Visual Markers: Place targets on the ground where your toss should land if dropped
3. Film Yourself: Record your toss from different angles to identify issues
4. Weather Considerations: Practice in different conditions to adapt your toss

Conclusion

A consistent tennis serve toss is fundamental to developing a reliable serve. By identifying and fixing these common mistakes, you’ll see significant improvements in your serving accuracy and power. Remember, perfecting your toss takes time and patience – dedicate specific practice time to this crucial element of your game.