Tennis Instruction - How to control your toss while serving - Tennis Tip

Tossing extremely high worked well for Chris Evert and Steffi Graf but not everyone is that talented. For most of us, tossing well beyond the reach of our racquet can be a timing nightmare since the higher the toss, the faster the ball falls through the contact zone. Better to toss at or just slightly higher than the contact window so that the hang time of the ball is longer and timing is easier. How can someone fix an excessively high toss? Here are 2 options: First, kneeling down can solve the problem quickly since, when kneeling, few players will continue to toss excessively high. Just serve a few kneeling and then stand up for one, continuing in that pattern until the regular toss is within the desired range. Another idea is to tie a foam ball onto an 18-inch elastic string. Its called the Toss Doctor. Connect it to your tossing hand index finger. If you toss too high, the ball will fly out of control, but if you toss low enough that the cord doesnt extend, you will gain the feeling of a softer toss that is gently placed into position. Note that the string should be 18 inches, a length that matches the distance from your outstretched tossing hand to the center of your extended racquet.
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Sports

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• toss doctor
• fast lane tennis
• joe dinoffer
• tennis lesson
• tennis serve
• tennis tips

[OncourtOffcourt]

Lovelyjoints, I think you may be confusing the limitations of Evert's serve with a lower toss. Her limitations were because of several other technique problems, only one of which was a high right elbow and should (rather than tilted). Another problem she had was opening her hips too early. That said, maybe I am not understanding your point correctly. Let me know if I am missing something. Thanks for posting. Joe Dinoffer

[OncourtOffcourt]

Guess many would argue with you about Evert being a top class player. I will say that I remember seeing her practice in Florida when she was about 16 with her Dad, Jimmy Evert. Her ability to focus during practice was definitely worldclass. And, yes, her father was apparently an outstanding coach, although I did not know him personally. I only drove out to Hollywood Park in Ft. Lauderdale to watch her practice once I realized that it was open viewing and she was just starting her pro career.

[lovelyjoints]

Actually it didn't work that well for Chris Evert. Her serve may have been consistent but it was too weak.