Strategy of the Serve

Articles In This Section:

· The Serve

· Underhand Serve

· Overhand Serve

· Roundhouse Serve

· Comparative Value of the Three Serves

· The Screen for the Server - Part 1

· Strategy of the Serve

· Role of the Serve in National Championships

The use of the screen is one factor in the strategy of serving. Other factors include placement and accuracy. The good server is striving to hit the ball to certain spots in the opponents' court or to certain players who are weak receivers. He is also striving to be accurate by hitting the ball into the opponents' court and not into the net or out. The leading players are skilled in accuracy and placement. "Accuracy becomes automatic with practice. Also with much practice, placement can be quite easy." ^u

"I consider a player should be able to serve 95 per cent good, at the same time having such a tough serve as to make 10 per cent aces. It takes lots of practice. If a man can get 15 per cent aces—90 per cent may be O.K., but certainly not less." ¹²

Attempts at placement increase the accuracy of the serve.

Many players move back to the service area and serve with no thought of placement. This is a common practice even among the better players, and it contributes to errors in serving. Taking a moment to aim the serve at a certain player, between players, or to a certain area of the court will pay dividends in accurate serves.

If a team has a poor ball handler, it is good strategy to hit the serve to this player. As long as he commits errors, the serves should be directed to him. This hurts his confidence and the morale of his team mates. If his team mates try to cover for him, this usually contributes to poor teamwork or creates an open space to hit.

The better teams have players who are all good ball handlers. In playing against such teams, the best strategy is to hit the serve between two players and cause them to move to the ball. This may lead to indecision or mistakes on their part as to which player will take the ball. Indecision may result in the ball falling between the players. A mistake in judgment may result in the two players colliding and playing the ball poorly.

A serve which goes to the extreme rear of the court is an excellent placement. The difficulty with this serve is that it often goes out.