The Drop Serve Update

With all the recent controversies regarding serving faults, I thought it might be appropriate to revisit an earlier post on the drop serve. Six months ago I was experimenting - now I am strongly suggesting that if you are NOT using the drop serve, you are doing yourself a LARGE disservice.

The first and most significant thing is that the drop serve rules are very simple. Stick your arm out with the ball in your hand, release it, let it bounce, and then hit it. ANY WAY YOU WANT. Wow, seems simple enough to me.

And all the other good stuff:

- executing the drop serve is quite simple; it is identical to your typical forehand or backhand ground stroke, except it is easier since the ball is not moving at you

- I use a closed stance (facing the sideline) and I hold my hand out at about a 45 degree angle horizontal and vertical to drop the ball

- the ball will bounce up around 18 inches, so good bent-knees mechanics are important

- I am able to easily control the speed and location of my serve
- taking a step into the ball gives me a significant power boost, and if you have ever played racquetball, then steal the serving footwork from there and get TWO steps into the ball

- I was able to hit the ball harder and with more spin than I ever could with the volley serve

- and, bonus #1 - I found that if I moved back a couple of feet from the baseline, it changed the flight angle just enough to keep the ball hard, low, and on the court

- and bonus #2 - the reactions from the other side of the court are often "What the hell was that?"

So rule makers and pro tournament organizers, do the right thing and start making plans to eliminate the volley serve.

See you at practice.

​Michael Gauthier