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For those of us who play tennis, we all know that the serve is just part of the tennis game. Unlike any other shots in the game which are often reactive, the serve is the only shot that you have total control of the timing and execution. For beginners, it can be a difficult shot to learn and master, but for the more advanced players or the pros, the serve is a crucial part of the game and can often give the server an advantage in winning the match. The following is a brief breakdown of the four types of serves. The Flat Serve: For the flat serve, the server usually uses a Continental or an Eastern grip and hits directly through the ball with no spin, the main advantage of which is power. Some pros can hit a flat serve at over 160 mph. The Slice Serve: For the slice serve, the server normally uses a Continental or Eastern backhand grip and brushes the racket across the side of the ball making it spin. The side spin makes the ball curve and dip slightly before hitting the ground. The slice serve can be used to go for an ace, to push the receiver out of position, or to make the ball bounce up at the receiver's body. The Kick Serve: For the kick serve, the ball is tossed up over the server's head and the racket brushes up and through it. When done properly, the ball would arch over the net and hit the service box with topspin and bounce up towards the receiver. A variation of the kick serve is the American twist which would bounce up and away from the receiver instead of straight at them. The Underhanded Serve: The underhanded serve, although legitimate at all levels, is rarely used. It is often used to surprise an opponent. A well-known example of an underhanded serve at the pro level occurred when Michael Chang defeated Ivan Lendl in the 1989 French Open. So, now that you have all this knowledge in your head, go out and put them to use. As for me, it's always a good day any time my serve clears the net and drops into the opponent's service box! Stay safe and see you all at The Courts! Visit our website at https://sites.google.com/view/tennis- fourseasons/home. ~ Stan Lam, (714) 757-2141, slamcpa@gmail. com 52 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MAY 2021 Tennis Club Tim Jones hitting a flat serve Padoo Peralta hitting an ace with a slice serve Garrett Warman serving a kick serve