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Technique 01

Build the Load

Before we can drive up into the serve, we have to organize the body underneath the ball.

For a right-handed player, we begin with a continental grip, the hands together, and the weight primarily on the front foot. The feet remain in place throughout this first phase — everything that follows is a redistribution of weight between them, not a step.

Illustrated overview of phase one of the serve, subtitled: before we can drive up into the serve, we have to organize the body underneath the ball. One, start forward — weight on the front foot, hands together in front of the body; ball and racket begin together with the ball held near the throat of the racket; a clear starting point before moving back. Two, shift back and separate — weight shifts from front foot to back foot; the hands separate with the tossing arm moving up and the racket arm into preparation; by the end the weight is loaded on the right foot. Three, toss and bend — the tossing arm continues upward and the ball is released; the knees begin to bend as the body loads; the arms rise while the lower body loads down, and this opposition creates power. Four, arrive at the trophy position — weight loaded on the back foot with knees and hips slightly forward; chest turned up toward the ball; tossing arm up, racket arm raised and organized behind, knees bent and the body loaded.
Four beats, one continuous move. The trophy position at the end is a result, not a shape to copy.

How We Work On It

01

Start forward

Begin relaxed, with the weight on the front foot and the hands together in front of the body. The ball and racket begin together, typically with the ball held near the throat of the racket.

This gives the serve a clear starting point before the body begins moving backward.

Illustration of a player at the start of the serve, standing relaxed with the weight on the front foot, both hands together in front of the body and the ball held near the throat of the racket.
Weight forward, hands together. Nothing has moved back yet.

02

Shift back and separate

As the weight begins moving from the front foot toward the back foot, the hands separate.

The tossing arm begins moving upward while the racket arm moves into its preparation, with the tossing arm usually slightly ahead of the racket arm. These happen together with the weight shift rather than as separate actions.

By the end of the shift, the weight is loaded primarily onto the right foot.

The feet stay where they are. The weight moves between them.

03

Toss and bend

As the tossing arm continues upward, the knees begin to bend.

The ball is released into the toss while the body continues organizing underneath it. The arms are moving upward as the lower body loads downward.

This opposition is important: the knees bend while the arms rise.

Illustration of a player mid-serve with the tossing arm extended fully upward and the ball released, the racket arm still low and behind, and the weight settled onto the back foot.
The arms go up as the legs go down. That opposition is the point.

04

Arrive at the trophy position

Phase one ends in the classic trophy position.

The weight remains loaded primarily on the back foot, but the knees and hips have moved slightly forward. That creates a gentle lean through the body and helps turn the chest upward toward the ball.

The tossing arm is extended upward. The racket arm is raised and organized behind it. The knees are bent and the body is loaded.

The important thing is that this isn't a pose we're trying to manufacture. It's the position created naturally by the movements that came before it: front foot, shift back, hands separate, arms rise, knees bend, trophy position.

Illustration of a player in the trophy position, tossing arm extended straight up, racket arm raised and organized behind the head, knees bent with the weight loaded on the back foot and the chest turned upward toward the ball.
Reached, not held. Every part of it was caused by the move before it.

Want to work through this on court?

Lessons are private, so a step takes as long as it takes — nobody moves on before the one underneath it holds up.

Ask About Lessons→All serve lessons
R1RallyWonDerek Kedigh · Dallas, TX