Photo Tour of the Points of Contact for Five Spin Serves

Underhand Sidespin Serve Point of Contact

(C)2006 Jeff Cooper licensed to About.com, Inc.

• Note: Because the ball is so much brighter than the court in this photo, it appears to be on top of the strings. You're actually seeing it through the strings, and the upper edge of the frame is closer to the camera than the lower edge.
• Grip: A Continental grip will probably work best, but you can move your grip toward the Eastern backhand for more spin or toward the Eastern forehand for more impact.
• Point of contact: Meet the ball a foot or so above the ground, roughly three feet to your right, and approximately even with your front foot.
• Striking the ball: Strike the ball diagonally downward, forward, and right to left. The leftward part of this racquet path creates sidespin; the downward and forward parts, backspin.

• Topspin Slice Serve Point of Contact
• Topspin Serve Point of Contact
• Slice Serve Point of Contact
• Twist Serve Point of Contact
• Underhand Sidespin Serve Point of Contact