Photo courtesy of RestrungMagazine!
Hold your fire!!! Ever been in a match and had a serve really working for a game and a half only to see it not be effective the last game and a half? Like listening to a great song, over playing that serve gets old and loses its effectiveness. A good player will adjust on the serve return. Here is how to “hold your fire” and save the “ammo” of that special serve.
Begin thinking in sequence. One effective way to think sequence is to work on eye level. Hit a serve as low as you can and then raise the eye level on second serve. Changing the speed or angle is important also. Here is a specific sequence to ponder.
1- drive serve left is your effective serve.
2. half lob to backhand is the second most effective serve.
3. Drive Z has not been used. Glossary of abbreviations–Ds=drive serve, dsl-drive serve left, dsr-drive serve right-ll-lob left-lr-lob right-zr-z serve right and zl-z serve left. Let’s assume you are a right hander-lefties-reverse it!
4. So here is one possible sequence.
Dsl, ll,lr,dsl, dsl,ll,zl,dsr,dsl,ll,dsl
I have even written them on a wristband like a football quarterback and I have saved a few sequences. After you play for some time you should find yourself “feeling” the game or sensing what works, but remember, look at your best serve as a savings account and use it at crucial times!