The kick serve is an interesting tactical option for securing your second serves or varying trajectories. Unlike a flat serve, it relies on a pronounced topspin that causes the ball to bounce high after hitting the ground, making the opponent's return less comfortable. This movement requires some practice to coordinate the toss, body positioning, and racket action. Here are the key steps to build this shot.

The principle of the kick serve

The kick serve relies on high ball rotation. The idea is to brush the back of the ball from bottom to top, ideally in a trajectory from 7 o'clock to 1 o'clock on a clock face, to create a high bounce and an arched trajectory. Here, the speed of your racket head at impact is more important than pure force.

Managing the ball toss

The toss is the element that determines the success of the movement. For the kick, the ball must be located slightly above and behind your head.

• Why this position: It encourages a slight back bend and naturally places you underneath the ball.

• Consequence: If you toss too far in front of you, you will be forced to hit the ball forward, which cancels out the topspin effect and turns your serve into a flat or slice shot.

The action of the racket

The racket grip is essential: you must use the Continental grip (the hammer grip). Without it, forearm rotation is physically impossible. At the moment of impact, look to accelerate the racket head upward. Your arm must remain loose to allow the wrist to snap the movement at the last microsecond. The follow-through often ends on the opposite side of your tossing arm, as the racket's path wraps around the ball to generate the spin.

A few training checkpoints

To check if your movement is effective, observe the bounce in the service box.

• The trajectory: The ball should pass well above the net with a marked curve.

• The bounce: Once it hits the ground, the ball should jump up and, depending on your spin control, kick to the side. If you hear a sharp brushing sound at impact, it means you have "caught" the ball correctly.

The importance of relaxation

A common mistake is trying to generate spin by forcing with the forearm. Tension is counterproductive because it locks the wrist movement and limits racket head speed. Keep a light grip on the handle and let the snap happen through the speed of your overall motion and the release of your shoulder. The kick serve is built on fluidity, which allows you to repeat the movement without accumulating unnecessary fatigue.