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Photo Tour of the Points of Contact for Five Spin Serves

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Topspin Slice Serve Point of Contact
Topspin Slice Serve Point of Contact (C)2006 Jeff Cooper licensed to About.com, Inc.
  • Grip: A Continental grip works best for most players, but you can shift a bit toward the Eastern forehand for less spin or toward the Eastern backhand for more spin.
  • Point of contact: Meet the ball at the full upward extension of your reach, 1-2 feet to your right, and 1-2 feet in front of yourself, as measured by where your head is at the time of contact. Where you toss the ball will be influenced by how much you lean forward and how much you jump upward before swinging.
  • Striking the ball: Strike the ball diagonally upward and to the right, from its center toward what would be 1:30 on its face if it were a clock, with the plane of your strings facing somewhat toward the left net post. The upward part of this racquet path creates topspin; the rightward part, slice.

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