How to hit a Kick Serve

Follow Through

The final difference between the kick and flat serves is the follow through. Your arm is going to follow through in a slightly different direction when you hit a kick because of how the arm was moving prior to and during contact. Your arm is going to follow through to the side as opposed to into the court. Let's first take a look at my follow through from above. Unfortunately, the picture gets cut off a little bit. Nevertheless, I still think it's clear that my arm is moving move to my left on my kick serve (for right-handers, it will be the oppose -- you arm will move more to your right).

Figure 1: On the kick, my arm follow through more to the side

Now let's look at Oliver's follow through. His arm moves into the court when he hits his flat serve. When he hits his kick, it's more to the right, towards the camera almost.

Figure 2: Again, the follow through is to the side

The arm should follow through to the side naturally if your arm is moving in the right direction prior to and at contact. It's not something you have to force.

The other elements of the follow through are the same. You still point your racket down at the court, regardless of which direction you are swinging. All the weight still ends up on your front foot. And, to complete the motion, you still bring the racket around to the other side of your body in a smooth and relaxed motion.

So there you go. Hopefully, you're well on your way to learning how to hit a kick serve. I suggest you check out our videos on the subject if you haven't already.

Click here to watch the video lessons on the Kick Serve »

Back to Kick Serve Contact «

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