The Perfect Serve:

Flat Tennis Serve for Beginners

April 20, 2010
Team #2
This is a set of instructions for beginning tennis
players who would like to learn how to properly
execute a flat tennis serve. A flat tennis serve
English 3359 can be used in competitive or recreational tennis
University of Texas at matches. Learn the correct way to hold the
El Paso racket, the stances for each movement in the
Sondra Bueno serve, and where to hit the ball inside the tennis
Daniela Carbajal
court by using these instructions.
Alexandra Glebova
Armando Martinez -Authors
Judith Rivera

Table of Contents
Inside this issue:
Terminology
2
Equipment Needed
3
Area on Tennis Court for Serve
4
Instructions (Step 1)
5
Instructions (Steps 2 & 3)
6
Instructions (Steps 4 & 5)
7
Instructions (Steps 6 & 7)
8
Instructions (Steps 7 cont’d & 8)
9
Instructions (Step 9)
10
Instructions (Step 10 & 11)
11
Instructions (Step 12)
12
Afterward/Conclusion
13

© Bueno, Carbajal, Glebova, Martinez, Rivera

 The Perfect Serve:
Flat Tennis Serve for
Beginners
Terminology
Before you can begin using these instructions, one of the
first things you need to know is the terminology of the
game. Here, we’ve noted a few of the most common
words that we’ll use:
• Grip: How you hold the racket handle.
• Vibrasorb: A shock absorber that absorbs
the vibrations caused by the impact of the
ball with the racket.
• Radius: The bone of the forearm that ex-
tends from the lateral side of the elbow to the
thumb side of the wrist (See Fig. 1.1).
• Handle Grip-Tape: Special tape that pre-
vents the racket from slipping out of your
hand while protecting your hand from devel-
oping blisters (See Fig. 1.2).

Figure 1.1: Radius bone in fore-

Figure 1.2: Handle Grip-Tape .
arm.

Page 2

© Bueno, Carbajal, Glebova, Martinez, Rivera

 Volume 1, Issue 1
Equipment Needed:
In order to play comfortably and prevent any injuries,
you will need the following equipment before you start
learning the flat tennis serve:
• Tennis Racket (one that is comfortable for
you, sizes range from light, 9 oz to heavy, 12
oz, Fig. 1.4),
• Tennis ball,
• Proper workout clothing (such as exercise
pants or shorts and a t-shirt),
• Tennis Shoes (shoes will be labeled “Court”
shoes at shoe stores),
• Vibrasorb (Fig. 1.3),
• Handle Grip-Tape.

Figure 1.3: Vibrasorb also

known as Vibration Dampener.

Note: The

Figure 1.4: Typical Beginners

Vibrasorb is
Tennis Racket (10.35 oz with
strings).
optional and it’s

use is left up to

the individual

player.

Page 3

© Bueno, Carbajal, Glebova, Martinez, Rivera

 The Perfect Serve:
Flat Tennis Serve for
Beginners

Areas on the Tennis Court That You

Will Need to Place Your Serve
The following image denotes where you need to stand and where
you will be serving the ball for the first time (See Figure 1.5).

Figure 1.5: Your body will be positioned in an area within the circle and the ball should land within the
box after being served.

Page 4

© Bueno, Carbajal, Glebova, Martinez, Rivera

 Volume 1, Issue 1

Instructions

Step 1: Place your right

hand around the
base of the handle
of the tennis racket.
Figure 1.6:

Note: The base of your hand should be aligned

with the base of the handle. The edge of
the racket should be aligned with your
radius.

Page 5

© Bueno, Carbajal, Glebova, Martinez, Rivera

 The Perfect Serve:
Flat Tennis Serve for
Beginners

Step 2: Hold a tennis ball

in your left hand
(Fig. 1.7).

Figure 1.7

Step 3: Place your left

shoulder turned
toward the net in
order to get into the
correct beginning
stance (Fig.1.8).

Figure 1.8

Page 6

© Bueno, Carbajal, Glebova, Martinez, Rivera

 Volume 1, Issue 1

Step 4: Position your feet

shoulder width apart
and your right foot
several inches
behind (Fig. 1.9).

Figure 1.9

Step 5: Place your weight on

your left leg and
bounce the ball 2-3
times to focus on your
serve (Fig. 1.10).

Note: Keep your weight on your

left leg, with the ball in
your hand and aim your
racket toward the box that
Figure 1.10
you will be serving to.

Page 7

© Bueno, Carbajal, Glebova, Martinez, Rivera

 The Perfect Serve:
Flat Tennis Serve for
Beginners

Step 6: Shift your weight to your

right leg and slightly lean
back (See Fig 1.11).

Figure 1.11

Step 7: Simultaneously open

both arms; your racket
should be behind your
right ear as you toss the
ball up and a few inches
in front of you. (Not too
far in front and not too
close to your face) (Fig.
1.12).

Figure 1.12

Page 8

© Bueno, Carbajal, Glebova, Martinez, Rivera

 Volume 1, Issue 1

Note: Toss the ball up high enough in order to

do steps 8 and 9 as seen in Figure1.13.

Figure 1.13

Step 8: Place your right leg next

to your left leg and squat
in preparation for a jump
(Fig. 1.14).

Figure 1.14

Page 9

© Bueno, Carbajal, Glebova, Martinez, Rivera

 The Perfect Serve:
Flat Tennis Serve for
Beginners

Step 9:
9 Jump and swing the
racket over your
head to hit the ball
(Fig. 1.15).

Figure 1.15

Note: The face of the racket should be facing

toward the net (shown in Fig. 1.16),

ultimately hitting the ball flat against

the middle of the strings.

Figure 1.16

Page 10

© Bueno, Carbajal, Glebova, Martinez, Rivera

 Volume 1, Issue 1

Step 10:
10 Land on your left foot
inside the court after
you jump and hit the
ball (Fig. 1.17).

Figure 1.17

Step 11:
11 Allow your hitting arm
to follow through the
motion, crossing your
body, and ending with
the racket close to your
left hip (Fig 1.18).

Figure 1.18

Page 11

© Bueno, Carbajal, Glebova, Martinez, Rivera

 The Perfect Serve:
Flat Tennis Serve for
Beginners

Step 12:
12 Allow your body’s
momentum to carry
your right foot forward
and place you in
preparation to receive
the ball (Fig. 1.19).

Figure 1.19

At the end of the serve, you will know it was executed properly if your

foot lands inside of the court, the ball goes over the net, and hits the desti-

nation spot.

Page 12

© Bueno, Carbajal, Glebova, Martinez, Rivera

 Congratulations!!

You have now completed the step by step instructions

on how to serve a proper flat tennis serve. Try not to
get discouraged the first few times you try it. It takes
time, patience and coordination in order to get the
serve right. Practice makes perfect! You can do it!

Figure 1.20

W E’ RE ON THE WEB! !

WWW. FLATTENNISSERVE.
WEEBLY. COM

Page 13

© Bueno, Carbajal, Glebova, Martinez, Rivera