HELP!!! I need to get back in my rythm!!!?

Question

I am a 12 year old tennis player who has had success in tournaments and is in the top 6 in my section. I had lost 7 finals in a row during the 10 and unders until everything clicked in the 12 and unders and I won 5 out of 7 tournaments. Then my coach changed my forehand and my serve. I am confident now in my forehand, but my serve still stinks. I hurt my shoulder from tossing the ball too far back and now I can't serve for about a month. When I did play tournaments, something always went wrong with my game and I'd lose. Could someone give me tips on how to get my "mojo" back?

Answer 1

If you've got a wall nearby, keep to it for a few days and stick to the basics.

The serve is one continual motion any pauses will do nothing but slow the serve down. This also means that you take the racquet back slowly. Then accelerate.
Top Spin Serve: Using the "Chopper Grip" the ball toss should be placed straight above your head, as if throwing the ball up a drain pipe, the racket should then be in the back scratch position, the forward motion of the racket strings will then apply top to the ball, the bounce should then kick up, making the return (from shoulder height) difficult for the opponent, especially if they are short.
On serving, pretend the ball is an egg. By holding the ball lightly, you increase the accuracy of your toss.
When tossing the ball for your serve, try holding ball lightly with fingertips, tilt wrist upwards, then toss. Tossing underhanded could mess up accuracy.
Always stand around the baseline on receiving service, this gives you time to think about your next shot, and reduces the chance of ace, works especially on first serve.
Upon playing a decent first serve, follow through and continue the run to get to the net, this will confuse your opponent, and may force them into playing a rushed strike.
Keep your tossing hand high up in the air longer for a deeper/more consistent serve
If U want to hit your serve in more often remember to visualize where is the box U want the ball. but remember to watch the ball and ONLY the ball when U start your motion.
For the guy who was asking for help on his "over 100 mph" serve, listen up. How hard you hit the serve is a very small part of your serve. Your toss needs to be good. and your motion needs to be fluent. If you can somehow round up a bunch of balls, go to a court and practice just serving. I had to do that for about 3 years until my serve came but, now, I have a 65% first serve at well over 120 mph. You can also just take one ball and practice your toss. Your toss should be about 1-2 feet into the court if you let it land. and try pointing your left toe(I assume your right-handed) towards either the right post or your opponent. As far as second serves go, try asking someone about a "kick-serve" or learn how to use spin. Spin is key on a second serve because you don't have to hit the ball all that hard to create a tough return for your opponent. I learned a kick serve and when I hit it to their backhand it makes for just as hard of a return as my first serve because it kicks up 5 to 7 feet. Learn a second serve first though. Then work on your first serve.
When serving, imagine an imaginary line just in front of you, the 12 O clock line, toss the ball at 1 o clock for righties and 11 o clock 4 lefties. On serve swing racquet behind head and then hit your normal serve in!!!!!!!!!!! .

How to Practice a Perfect Ball Toss

A poor ball toss is one of the most common causes of serving problems.
Fortunately, you can practice your toss easily on your own.
Difficulty Level: Average
Time required: 5 minutes
Here's How:

1.Stand on the baseline where you normally do for serving.
2.Point your right foot parallel to the baseline and your left foot (for righties) at the right net post.
3.Place a spare racquet so that its butt end touches the toe-tip of your shoe and its tip points toward the right net post.
4.Holding your playing racquet in your right hand, reach as high up as you can, approximately one foot in front of you.
5.Hold a ball in your fingertips, a few inches in front of your right thigh.
6.Push the ball up and release it with your left hand fully extended upward.
7.Practice tossing the ball so that it peaks at the tip of your extended racquet.
8.Bring your racquet back down to the normal starting position for a serve.
9.As you make your normal service windup with your right arm, push the ball up to same height you were practicing in step 7, but now try to get it to land on the face of the racquet lying on the ground.

Tips:

1.Note that when you practice with the windup, you still don't hit the ball.
2.If you're having trouble getting the ball to land forward enough, imagine that you're pushing it up a pipe that extends from in front of your right thigh to the spot where you'd be hitting it.
3.Remember to release the ball from your left hand with that hand fully extended upward.

How to Hit a Flat Serve in Tennis

The flat serve is a very effective weapon, as it is the fastest serve.
1.Grip the racket with a Continental grip, not a forehand grip.
2.Stand near the centre mark for hitting down the centreline. Stand farther from the centre mark for a wide, flat serve.
3.Assume the normal posture for a serve, with a sideways stance and your hands down.
4.Throw the racket to the "back-scratch" position as you toss the ball in front of you.
5.Toss the ball farther in front than you would for a slice, topspin or kick serve and farther to your right for right-handed hitters.
6.Throw your racket out of the back-scratch position, with your palm facing the net at contact with the ball.
7.Hit the ball with your arm fully extended.
8.Let your arm finish the serve on either the right or left side of your body.

Tips:

•Mix a flat serve with other service choices, so it will not be predictable to your opponent.
•Practice hitting down the line on the deuce side and serving wide on the ad side.
How to Hit a Slice Serve in Tennis

A slice serve is usually the first serve learned by tennis players
1.Hold the racket in a continental grip
2.Stand anywhere from the center mark to about 6 or 8 feet from it.
3.Assume the regular serve posture, standing sideways to the net. If you were to draw a line across your toe tips and extend it, it would indicate the direction of the ball.
4.Keep your arms down and relaxed to begin with.
5.Hold the racket at the throat with the nonhitting hand. Your hitting hand should be as loose as possible on the grip.
6.Shift about 80 percent of your body weight to the back leg to start.
7.Shift your weight forward simultaneously with your hands as they go up.
8.Toss the ball and throw the racket to the back-scratch position.
9.Dip your hip in toward the net as the upper body rotates.
10.Throw the racket head aggressively up and over your shoulder, hitting the ball out and in front of you, to the right.
11.Transfer your body weight, uncoiling your upper body, and thrust upward from the legs as you hit the ball.
12.Fold in your tossing arm (which is your brake arm) quickly toward the chest as you make contact with the ball; this stops the shoulder rotation. The weight transfer carries the body forward onto the court.
13.Allow your feet to come off the ground or nearly off the ground.

Tips:

•Make sure to keep the tossing arm extended during the toss.
•Practice this serve as a first or second serve.
•Keep in mind that swing speed should be as fast with this serve as with a flat serve.
How to Hit a Topspin Serve in Tennis

The topspin serve is a variation of the slice serve. It gives you another option to confuse your opponent.
1.Assume the normal service posture (feet sideways to the baseline, hands down and weight on the back foot).
2.Begin your serve as you would any other, by bringing your hands up together while simultaneously shifting your weight forward.
3.Position the ball toss more directly in front of you or slightly over your head.
4.Attempt to catch the ball on its bottom centre.
5.Swing fast and aggressively, hitting up on the ball to enhance the spin. Racquet head velocity is essential for good spin.
6.Follow through as you would with other serves.

Tips:

•Be aware that the toss position is the main difference in any serve.
•Attempt this serve (as well as the kick serve) only if you have no lower back problems. These serves require good lower back flexibility.

Hope you get your 'mojo' back.

Answer 2

I'm a fourteen year old tennis player...
When I was 11, I was # 5 in the nation so I'm going to try to atleast help here...
The first thing is last year I lost in the first round of 8 ITF tournaments. It was the worst string of tournaments I have ever played. I had lost all of my confidence wondering what I was doing here ( i want to go pro )
Now, I have switched coaches (which, for me, helped alllllot) because I wasn't getting along very well with him.. but now I have switched to a one hander on my backhand side and I've never been playing any better... I was in the dumps for about 6 months.. But now Im playing super, so my first words to you are simply, : keep your chin up!
Pay attention to the little things...
How early are you going to bed?
What are you eating?
Are you hitting well in practices?
Are you losing to people you shouldn't be?
Are you playing good but aren't excuting the important points?
All of these questions can lead to the reason you are kind of "out of it"

Now for the serve... My serve is one of my strongest points. when you get to hitting it again just make sure...
You are getting off of the ground.
You have enough racket speed on the ball so it can create spin aned go in (especially if they go long)
that your keeping your head up and not pulling your whole body down (if your hitting it into the net)
And serve a basket a day just by YOURSELF.
I always do that when something is wack. I just go out by myself sometimes and without anyone screaming behind me, i try to feel what I'm doing wrong.
Hope that helped!
good luck!
p.s., what section are you in?

Answer 3

Evaluate why you play tennis. I hope it is for FUN! Don't stress over winning and losing or rankings. Focus on the fun of competition, the thrill of a challenge, the way tennis makes you feel NOT the results.

Answer 4

Read the book "The inner game of tennis"

Answer 5

drink a red bull b4 ya next game