Coach Michael Mantua’s 8 Best Tips for a Devastating Tennis Serve to Blow Your Opponent Off the Court – The TAG International Tennis Academy Definitive Guide Series.

Coach Michael Mantua of TAG International Tennis Academy is a Singapore Open Champion and the former number 7 ranked player in the Philippines. One of Coach Michael’s best weapons is his tennis serve, which has a top speed similar to the top players on the ATP Tour.

Coach Michael Mantua shares his 8 best tips for a powerful and accurate serve.

1. Consider Using a Platform Stance

A platform stance which has a wide base with the feet apart has the advantage of a more horizontal drive through the ball compared to the pinpoint stance where the back leg moves forward to meet the front foot. Both stances have advantages and disadvantages.

However, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem and Coach Michael all use the platform stance on their serve. Kei Nishikori famously changed from a pinpoint stance to a platform stance on his tennis serve.

2. Use a Continental Grip

It is absolutely important to use a continental grip so that you are able to create the whiplash effect. Many players and coaches call it the wrist snap. In reality, it is forearm pronation. This allows the racquet head to travel a great distance in a very short time. As a result, it creates massive racquet head speed. This imparts power, speed and spin to the serve depending on your tactical objective.

3. Be accurate on your toss consistently

This is a matter of practice. A consistent toss is essential. Placing the ball slightly above the strike zone allows the body to reach up with maximum extension. This builds confidence and generates more power. If the body constantly reacts and compensates, even slightly, power is lost. You may still make contact, but your serve will lack its full potential.

4. The Hip out and the Trophy position with the front shoulder over the back shoulder

This is often also known as the power position. Imagine your left lateral oblique (if you are right-handed) as the pole of a pole vault and it is on stretch to propel you forward and upward. This is achieved by pushing your hip forward and your tossing arm upward. The more you stretch your oblique, the more elastic energy you have to impart energy into the ball for a powerful tennis serve.

5. A Deep Knee Bend is essential to generate a Leg Drive

Most players do not bend deep enough. The deeper the knee bend, the more the legs are “loaded.” This allows the legs to drive the entire body forward and upward. As a result, racquet head speed increases and energy transfers powerfully into the ball.

Keep the elbow up and the racquet down in the trophy position. As the leg drive fires, the racquet head accelerates through the impact zone with tremendous speed.

6. Have a loose, live arm

Having a very loose and live arm is vital. It allows you to take full advantage of the kinetic chain. Specifically, the shoulder, elbow and wrist are the final links in that chain. A loose, live arm generates massive racquet head speed. This imparts either power or spin to the ball, depending on your intention.

7. Focus on the impact

The entire set-up of the serve and motion is to create the fastest and most accurate racquet head impact with the ball. So, what is truly critical is the IMPACT OF THE TENNIS RACQUET. Impact the back of the ball squarely with good pronation CLEANLY and you will get a powerful flat tennis serve. If you are intending to hit a Topspin Kick Serve, then “Flash” impact the ball in the direction of the spin you want to impart.

8. Putting it together

Ultimately, all these elements must combine: a consistent toss, deep leg drive, trunk rotation, lateral stretch, relaxed body, loose arm, forearm pronation, and clean impact. Together, they produce a powerful and accurate tennis serve. All these elements must work in sync so a lot of practice is needed.

It takes lots of practice so go out there and serve baskets to targets, and also look for a very good coach such as Coach Michael Mantua or the coaches of TAG International Tennis Academy who are former pros to help you improve your serve.

The TAG International Tennis Academy Definitive Guide Series

We hope you have found this article on a competitive tennis player’s nutrition informative and helpful. If so, please share it with your tennis playing family and friends. This article is part of the TAG Definitive Guide Series which encompasses the best tennis advice available on the internet. If you enjoyed this article, some other interesting tennis instruction articles you may like:

1. Best tips to a reliable Double Backhand by TAG Coach Israel Abarquez
2. Best tips to a powerful serve by TAG Coach Michael Mantua
3. Best tips to a single backhand return of serve by TAG Coach Peter Egos
4. Best left-hander tips by TAG Coach Parekh Pratim
5. Best tips to a devastating one hande d backhand by TAG Coach Bo Alburo
6. Best tips to a knee buckling drop shot by TAG Coach Ten Rapeepat
7. Best tips to an effective Serve and Volley Game by TAG Coach Ray Evan
8. Best tips to an impregnable defence by TAG Coach Rocky Paglalunan
9. Best tips to a ferocious inside out forehand by TAG Coach Jeremy Maniago
10. Best tips on the art of poaching in doubles by TAG Coach Dave Regencia
11. Best advice on Nutrition and Diet in Tennis for Peak Athletic Performance.

If you are looking to improve your tennis, you can look to some of Singapore’s best private tennis coaches such as the tennis coaches from the best tennis academy in Singapore, TAG International Tennis Academy by taking private tennis lessons. We can be contacted at +65 8962 8400, or contact us HERE.