How to Hit a Topspin or American Twist Serve in Tennis

Once you've mastered the basic flat serve in tennis, it's time to move onto more advanced techniques. The topspin and twist serves, also both known as "kick" serves, are essential to know if you want to compete against other advanced players. They'll give you more consistency and accuracy with your shot, which allows you to go for bigger serves and harder ground strokes during the point.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Prepare for a serve as you normally would. Position your feet roughly shoulder width apart and parallel to the baseline, with your front foot angled so it points toward the opposite net post.

2. Toss the tennis ball slightly behind your head. This encourages you to put the right amount of topspin on the ball during contact.

3. Bend your knees and push your hips forward as you toss the ball. Moving your pelvis forward keeps you from over-arching your back, which is a common cause of injuries during the kick serves.

4. Brush up the back of the ball with your racquet. Ideally, your racquet will move from 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock on the ball's face. This produces a pure topspin serve.

5. Produce a twist serve by striking the ball from about 7 o'clock to 1 o'clock on its face. This adds a bit of side spin to the kick serve's topspin, which makes the serve curve and dip into the court.

6. Follow through the serve and allow your momentum to carry you forward into the court. Even if you're a baseliner by nature, moving one step into the court puts more pop on your ball.

Resources

• Watch Roger Federer deliver a monstrous twist serve.

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