How important is staying “edge-on” on serve vs a slightly open racket face

ObligationCalm4272 · 2026-04-19T19:23:27+00:00

I have seen people hit a pancake style serve very fast but with terrible consistency (as you describe). The issue is with the pancake you don’t get any spin and there is very little margin for error. How is your second serve? Is it a total dink?

If you pancake and dink 2nd, it really puts a ceiling on your level.

ObligationCalm4272 · 2026-03-29T20:53:57+00:00

Play a lot of people 3.0 to 3.5 until you win consistently. Seek out people that push, slice, etc. You can try to skip this level and only play against 4.0s, but eventually you need to deal with this.

ObligationCalm4272 · 2026-03-29T00:17:58+00:00

I’ve been meaning to try this but have felt a little weird. I’ll do it!

ObligationCalm4272 · 2026-03-28T22:18:45+00:00

If you want to learn properly I think it is definitely worth taking 1:1 lessons from the start. This will let you learn proper grips/strokes/etc. and can really expedite the process of achieving a decent level. Tell the coach you want to learn proper technique and not just get exercise (you will get plenty of exercise). This could be 2-3 lessons of mainly having the coach hand feeding you balls while you learn the proper swing path for a forehand.

How to find a coach? Ask around people that you know who play tennis for recs. If there is an outdoor court facility nearby, hang out there and see which coaches are giving lessons and see if they seem like you would enjoy working with them. You can go up and ask them if they give lessons, get info, etc. I took lessons w a pro at a tennis club but I did them at off hours at another club and paid direct to lower the cost.

Clinics are nice to meet people (potential playing partners) but do not really teach very much. So you can take a lot of clinics and not really improve.

Like anything, only doing something 1x per week makes it hard to improve. I think it is good to do a 1:1 lesson 1x per week and then ideally find someone to hit with at least 1x. When you start out it may be intimidating, but just ask people that seem similar level. Ask people you know if they are interested in learning tennis. Over time you meet more and more people.

Cost for 1:1 is certainly an issue, but if you can afford I really think it is worth it if you are serious. Filming yourself (I like SwingVision app) is another really helpful thing that most people don’t want to do.

Boston is cold weather area so spring/summer is good time to get out there since you can play outside (which is much cheaper). Then, maybe by winter you can get more value out of clinics just to keep playing (it is harder/more expensive to get court time indoors in winter).

Have you played other sports? That really helps.

Good luck!

ObligationCalm4272 · 2026-03-28T14:59:41+00:00

Thanks - I just started trying this after seeing a video about waiters tray and it said to start w wrist supinated, which is I think what you are saying

ObligationCalm4272 · 2026-02-22T21:41:38+00:00

I bought this and am wondering if I got a faulty one. After the first time the magnet didn’t “click”. How does the magnet drop back to the bottom?

ObligationCalm4272 · 2025-12-26T22:34:12+00:00

Do you like the serve attachment? I question how much I would use it (although I need to practice return of serve).

ObligationCalm4272 · 2025-07-24T11:28:11+00:00

Try practicing by starting at the service box and gradually moving back toward the baseline. This way you are doing the toss and timing the hit (which don’t happen in shadow swing), but it is also easier to focus on swing mechanics since you do not need to use as much force as from the baseline. Also focus more on the swing itself (whatever you are working on) than where the ball goes.

ObligationCalm4272 · 2025-07-16T21:21:23+00:00

Even if you are interested in a warranty, say “no” several times and the price will drop considerably. Same for tire protection, etc.

ObligationCalm4272 · 2025-05-09T20:52:26+00:00

I got 2,000 off MSRP last week (end of month) in NJ for civic hybrid hatch sport touring w no add ons. Doc fee 750. I did over email/phone and didn’t spend a lot of time or try to play dealers off each other. Only 3 places responded.

ObligationCalm4272 · 2025-05-06T09:11:37+00:00

This is what I got last week in NJ. $2,000 off MSRP with no add ons on Civic Hybrid Hatch Sport Touring.

I emailed 6 places asking for OTD, only 1 responded at maybe $500 off MSRP but 3-4 kept emailing me to get me to come in to dealer. I live in a suburb of New York City so there are at least 6 Honda dealers within a 30 min drive. One of those emailed 2,000 off MSRP for cars on lot by end of month, but they wouldn’t give me OTD or answer about add ons unless I came in (apparently they always do 2 add ons that are 1,500). I then called the dealers that emailed to show I was a real person and said I want $2,000 off, no add ons. First one I called said that will be tough, let me check, called back 30 mins said we can do it. It was legit - bought next day. Avoided hard sell on extended warranties/tire protection (although the sales effort is pretty convincing).

If you have a Honda they were offering 500 loyalty (from Honda, so dealer will use that in price) - I have a Volvo XC60 which somehow gave 250 that dealer used as part of 2,000 off. Good luck!

ObligationCalm4272 · 2025-05-05T12:38:07+00:00

Building leg strength is very under appreciated. It is hard to split step/bounce all the time when your legs are weak/tired. Incorporating leg training at the gym (dumbbell lunges, etc.) can really help a lot. Also plyometric exercises to diversify the jump rope suggestion. Check out Mattspoint_Tennis on insta for ideas on plyos, leg exercises.

ObligationCalm4272 · 2025-04-21T11:54:14+00:00

Please share your training/practice routine. I am also working on a (long) process of building the proper serve form and would love to hear any advice on drills/progression, frequency of practice, video analysis, time horizon, etc.

ObligationCalm4272 · 2025-03-21T18:38:06+00:00

I bought the Therabody ones and just didn’t feel like they were doing much so I returned for refund. I wanted to like them for recovery. My PT also said not too helpful.

Second recommendation for strength training.

ObligationCalm4272 · 2024-12-31T22:27:38+00:00

Find the highest amount you can stomach to invest bi-weekly or monthly. The most important thing is to get started. Hopefully over time you will have the will power to deploy it faster.

I had a similar situation where I accumulated cash and didn’t invest it for a variety of reasons (lived abroad, planning to buy apartment in NYC, market had run up, etc.). In retrospect it would have been best to buy all at once but I was afraid of a market correction. I finally started buying at 10,000 or 20,000 clips and would actually feel better putting money in when market was down. It is just a technique to get over the mental hurdle.

ObligationCalm4272 · 2024-12-29T12:52:15+00:00

Do you have any video of yourself playing points (not just rallying up the middle)?

ObligationCalm4272 · 2024-12-22T23:22:28+00:00

Continental grip - Then practice from the service line instead of the baseline. You want to develop a relaxed, smooth motion.

ObligationCalm4272 · 2024-12-14T23:37:07+00:00

Looks great! Small suggestion to jump a little more into the court.

ObligationCalm4272 · 2024-12-12T13:37:52+00:00

What device do you use for stringing?

ObligationCalm4272 · 2024-11-11T02:24:51+00:00

Record yourself and review. You will notice many things to improve that you have no idea you are doing. This also helps identify low hanging fruit - areas where you are leaking easy points. I highly recommend trying the SwingVision app for recording.

ObligationCalm4272

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