Backhand serve

[bigredlemon]

According to playbadminton, "everyone" uses it. Why? The only reason I can think of is to give the opponent slightly less time to react. Seems like a small advantage for the loss of power.

[TOmike]

because if done properly, it should land right on the line, and therefore be a point.. it is confusing because the opponent does not know whether it will be in or out, and if u keep it low you can fake em out..

keep this in mind
"hit it high and u've lost an eye."

[bigredlemon]

Originally posted by TOmike
because if done properly, it should land right on the line, and therefore be a point.. it is confusing because the opponent does not know whether it will be in or out, and if u keep it low you can fake em out..

In my experience, people tend to go for serves even if there's a small chance of it being in. But i guess that's an advantage because I always end up going for shots that are short. :( Doesn't matter to me though because I usually play net shots anyway.

For me, if i'm on the left side, I usually forehand serve to the right-front corner. If on the right, I serve to backhand to the right-front edge of the service court. Force them to a weak backhand return (then play the net if low, smash if high.) :D

Lets hear some more serving strategies!!

[gerry]

Originally posted by bigredlemon
Seems like a small advantage for the loss of power.

The loss of WHAT power ??

[kwun]

Originally posted by TOmike
because if done properly, it should land right on the line, and therefore be a point.. it is confusing because the opponent does not know whether it will be in or out, and if u keep it low you can fake em out..



what has that gotta do with backhand or forehand??????

i can do exactly the same high quality service, whether it is backhand or forehand. i think backhand or forehand is completely irrelevant in terms of service quality.

[Cheung]

I find my low serve quality is more consistent with a b/hand.
When used in doubles, it's easier for me to dominate the net after b/hand serve.

I'd like to know what 'power' as well.

In present day International doubles, the only time I recall seeing forehand serve is some of the Dutch ladies players.
Never for Men's doubles nowadays.

[LazyBuddy]

I use right hand, therefore, my backhand serve is much more useful (when against a right hand) when I serve from the right half.

I can serve the bird right in the middle of opponent's court, deep and fast, so, he/she has to use back hand to return. Since most ppl has weaker backhand return, then, I or my partner have better chance to finish them off.

[bigredlemon]

Originally posted by gerry


The loss of WHAT power ??

If they are crowding the front of the service line and you want to serve deep, it's hard to do so without either a) taking a longer stroke, or b) not hitting high enough over his head, because the backhand serve uses a shorter stroke.

I've played against very few people who can backhand-serve so high that I can't jump + smash.

6 ft height + 4 ft arm&racquet + 2 feet jump means he'd have to serve 12 feet above the ground, and at an angle. It's easy to serve 14 feet with forehand. Most backhand deep serves seem to be barely at 10 feet and I dont even need to jump.

If they only serve to the service line then that's not much variety is it!

And more power because the wrist abducts in a forehand serve (uses the big forearm muscles), but adducts in a backhand serve, using the smaller muscles on the outside arm.

Yes, you get better precision with the backhand since there's more nerves per muscle density but there's already enough precision in the forearm already.

[bigredlemon]

Originally posted by LazyBuddy
I use right hand, therefore, my backhand serve is much more useful (when against a right hand) when I serve from the right half.

I can serve the bird right in the middle of opponent's court, deep and fast, so, he/she has to use back hand to return. Since most ppl has weaker backhand return, then, I or my partner have better chance to finish them off.

Right on :D

[Winex West Can]

Originally posted by bigredlemon


If they are crowding the front of the service line and you want to serve deep, it's hard to do so without either a) taking a longer stroke, or b) not hitting high enough over his head, because the backhand serve uses a shorter stroke.

I've played against very few people who can backhand-serve so high that I can't jump + smash.

6 ft height + 4 ft arm&racquet + 2 feet jump means he'd have to serve 12 feet above the ground, and at an angle. It's easy to serve 14 feet with forehand. Most backhand deep serves seem to be barely at 10 feet and I dont even need to jump.

If they only serve to the service line then that's not much variety is it!

And more power because the wrist abducts in a forehand serve (uses the big forearm muscles), but adducts in a backhand serve, using the smaller muscles on the outside arm.

Yes, you get better precision with the backhand since there's more nerves per muscle density but there's already enough precision in the forearm already.

It's not a matter of power but rather speed and surprise. As you had indicated earlier, you tend to rush net serves and if your opponents can flick serve to the back, you will definitely hestitate in rushing net serves.

Without using too much power, you can (with your a flick of your wrist) get the shuttle to the base line (singles or doubles).

[kwun]

to add to the opponent's confusion. try to learn and master both backhand and forehand service.

in the past year. i have slowed learned how to serve backhand. and i think i have reach a pretty consistent level. since my forehand service was already pretty good, now i can do both at a very high level of consistency and variation. i can do deep court flicks, fast drive service and tight short service both both service court and to all corners of each court from both forehand and backhand, while being quite deceptive at it.

i played a tournament this weekend, during all the games. i was randomly switching between forehand and backhand service, and randomly switching between flicks and short, and then left and right side of the service courts. from the amount of straight winners i got from the match, i think i had my opponents rather confused and surprised by switching around. at least it keep them off their minds and concentration by changing to yet another service.

to learn the "other" service is a high price to pay. everybody prefers to do what they are comfortable with and stick to what they do best. i had to work for more than a year to reach a good level of backhand service. but the price i think is well worth it.

[bigredlemon]

Originally posted by Winex West Can


It's not a matter of power but rather speed and surprise. As you had indicated earlier, you tend to rush net serves and if your opponents can flick serve to the back, you will definitely hestitate in rushing net serves.

Without using too much power, you can (with your a flick of your wrist) get the shuttle to the base line (singles or doubles).

Getting to the baseline isn't the problem, its having it not smacked back that's the problem. I find that it's usually pretty easy to smack it back at them. But i know what you mean, though. I just haven't been playing against people who try to deceptive when they serve.

Guess I'll have to promote myself to advanced and play better people.... :: pats self on back :: :D

[JChen99]

Well if you have a decent backhand serve u can usually get the opponent to lift the bird right away. With my serve I try to keep it so it clips the net if possible. with a serve like that, the opponents tend to step up a bit, then you just serve a fast long one right past his head (easy point!) then he'll get bak to standing back more... and the process loops...

However, on my serves, people tend not to play net shots for some reason.

[bigredlemon]

Originally posted by JChen99
Well if you have a decent backhand serve u can usually get the opponent to lift the bird right away. With my serve I try to keep it so it clips the net if possible. with a serve like that, the opponents tend to step up a bit, then you just serve a fast long one right past his head (easy point!)

I'm don't think they need to step up a bit. Standing with your back foot left of the middle of the service court, you're only one step away from the service line, plus u can cover the back too. I'll move to the front if i'm tired, but I try to stay in the middle.

Lately, i've been try a new position to recieve serves. Instead of bending down with the racquet pointing diagonally (toward right corner of the net) i'm now standing up with the racquet pointed at the server's head. It's pretty easy to return flick serves in this position, and you don't lose much time going back to my "default" position if he serves to the service line. After being surprised by a flick serve once or twice, it's hard to pull it off again since it takes so little movement to return a flick.

[JChen99]

Originally posted by bigredlemon


I'm don't think they need to step up a bit. Standing with your back foot left of the middle of the service court, you're only one step away from the service line, plus u can cover the back too. I'll move to the front if i'm tired, but I try to stay in the middle.

Lately, i've been try a new position to recieve serves. Instead of bending down with the racquet pointing diagonally (toward right corner of the net) i'm now standing up with the racquet pointed at the server's head. It's pretty easy to return flick serves in this position, and you don't lose much time going back to my "default" position if he serves to the service line. After being surprised by a flick serve once or twice, it's hard to pull it off again since it takes so little movement to return a flick.

well most of the ppl i play with step right up to the front service line (or almost up ot the front service line) my serve "usually" lands somewhere on the lines, so it's quite hard to judge if it's slightly short so ppl usually go for it if it's not obviously short. Also, I do not stand right up to the service line when i serve, so the parabola of the shuttle is very stretched. The shuttle would usually be half way below net when it gets to half-way between front service line and net

Just a thought

[gerry]

Originally posted by bigredlemon



I've played against very few people who can backhand-serve so high that I can't jump + smash.

.

It's not about how high you can serve, it's about deception, when I serve backhand no one can tell if it's going to be a low or a flick serve therefore they can't anticipate, they have to wait until the shuttle leaves the racket before they can decide to play forward or go back for the flick, sure some good players can react faster than others but they still have to wait for that extra second before they decide where the shuttle is going.
I would guess that it's only about 1 in 10 of my flick serves that get smashed back at me and that's usually when the flick wasn't as good as it should've been.
The main attribute with having a good flick serve is when you catch your opponant out the first time, for the rest of the game it's in his mind that you can do it which in turn allows you to serve low more often without him taking advantage of it by anticipating.

[gerry]

Originally posted by LazyBuddy

I can serve the bird right in the middle of opponent's court, deep and fast, so, he/she has to use back hand to return. Since most ppl has weaker backhand return, then, I or my partner have better chance to finish them off.

All I can say is that your opponants must have a poor stance or are slow to react, I can honestly say than in all of my badminton life, I've never had to reply with a backhand shot whilst receiving serve. Even when someone has tried to serve from the tramlines on the right hand court to my deep backhand side, I just adjust my stance and play an around the head smash, they usually only try it once.
I'm 48 now and still would never have to reply with a backhand shot no matter how deep, flat or fast the serve was !!!

[dlp]

The only recent top player in doubles I can recall, to employ a forehand serve was Soogard and his serve broke down often in the tightest matches, I feel he could have won more titles with a better (backhand?) serve.

Any other top players serving forehand, is it a weakness?

[bigredlemon]

Originally posted by dlp
Any other top players serving forehand, is it a weakness?

The advantage of the backhand is the element of surprise, is seems, but it's hardly a whole second. Closer to 0.2 seconds. When serving forehand, you (or at least i do) take a full (and slow) swing for all the shots. If I want it to the service line, then I just continue as normal. If I want it far and high to force him to clear, then I "flick" my wrist up just as I hit the bird. If I want it to buzz past his head, then I twist my forearm when I hit the bird. The reaction time they have is about the same, plus it has more versatility and precision.

I wonder how many people are only doing backhand serves because they are emulated the pros, rather than because it's actually better to them.

[andymcg]

I always thought that the advantage of a backhand serve is that the movement is a shorter one than a forehand serve and therefore its easier to repeat again and again. There is less that can go wrong with a short movement.

Your opponent also has less time to react, even to short serves because you can stand as far forward as possible, and then hold the shuttle out in front of you, effectively striking the shuttle in front of your short service line. So the shuttle has less distance to travel to get across the net. A forehand serve has to travel further as you would have to serve from your side instead of in front of you.

I haven't played anyone in mens doubles for years that uses a forehand serve. We actively encourage the kids we coach to learn a backhand serve as soon as possible.

It can be quite hard for the man to backhand flick serve in mixed doubles though!

[Cheung]

I'd forgotten about Sogaard.!

OK somepoints about f/hand vs b/hand serve in doubles.

There is a definate advantage for using b/hand serve.

The shuttle can be held closer to the net when preparing to serve:
1) This gives the opponent less time to rush the net on service return
2) Less reaction time for the opponent to react to a flick (if they stand close to the service line)

Furthermore:
3) After f/hand serve, you immediately have to move your feet square on to cover shots to your b/hand. No such problem with b/hand serve.
4) After b/hand serve, very easy to to follow through upwards and your racquet is already up threatening net returns. Not so natural after f/hand serves
5) After b/hand serve, much easier to do quick shuffle to the net for net kills/taking net shots early. More awkward on a f/hand serve when the feet are in the reverse position.
6) Some people might say, after b/hand serve shuttlecock travels to receiver with the white shirt of the server in the background. This can put off the receiver. (I have my doubts on this one)
7) I suspect the serve you mention about twisting the forearm for a drive serve using forearm might actually be a fault. (racquet face above level of wrist). Very easily and unknowingly done. B/hand serve is more clearcut about fault serve
8) Both are equally versatile and precise IF practiced enough.


BUT b/hand serve is harder to master than f/hand. For people at lower levels of play, they will prefer f/hand serve because better quality. Why is it better quality? Because they probably used it in every game they've played. Those people never tried b/handserve so just by pure number of times they perform the serve, f/hand always wins out.

Moving up the levels of play, some people have a 'better' side f/hand or b/hand so they prefer this way.

So the most important thing is that the serve has to be of good quality. If f/hand and b/hand serve are of equal quality, then I would pick b/hand because of the reasons above.

Definately, I think many of your opponents are inexperienced if they have such problems with your f/hand serve.

Some side notes:
Razif Sidek of M'sia had a lot of problems with f/hand serve. Opponents recognised this and would pound it. He would then resort to flick serve. Eventually he switched to b/hand in the latter part of his career.
Even Park Joo Bong had f/hand serve. But even he changed round to b/hand serving sometimes (his serve not so good as his partner).

[Mag]

Originally posted by dlp
The only recent top player in doubles I can recall, to employ a forehand serve was Soogard and his serve broke down often in the tightest matches, I feel he could have won more titles with a better (backhand?) serve.

Any other top players serving forehand, is it a weakness?

I haven't seen Michael Søgaard use the forehand serve for years. That must have been a long time ago?

[LazyBuddy]

Originally posted by gerry


All I can say is that your opponants must have a poor stance or are slow to react, I can honestly say than in all of my badminton life, I've never had to reply with a backhand shot whilst receiving serve. Even when someone has tried to serve from the tramlines on the right hand court to my deep backhand side, I just adjust my stance and play an around the head smash, they usually only try it once.
I'm 48 now and still would never have to reply with a backhand shot no matter how deep, flat or fast the serve was !!!

what about if the serve is aiming to ur lower body? smash? no way, man...

I agree with ur 1st sentence. It's true there's no pro in my club. However, I don't really think u can do a "around head smash" on my serve, since my serve is kinda low, say, below ur shoulder's height, and close to ur body. I can't really think anyone can do "around head smash" for this kinda serve.

Also, i am not using this serve 100% all the time, since of course, ppl will figure out someway (surely not around head smash) to against me. I have other serves as well, and I always mix using everything to get ppl in trouble.

[bigredlemon]

Originally posted by andymcg
I always thought that the advantage of a backhand serve is that the movement is a shorter one than a forehand serve and therefore its easier to repeat again and again. There is less that can go wrong with a short movement.

I would think that it's harder since the movement is so short, being off by a little bit would mean a large percentage change in the force applied to the bird.

[cooler]

it totally puzzles me why some double players use forehand serve fulltime. I only use FH serve for only one particular angle or just to throw the opponent off mentally.

[modious]

Originally posted by bigredlemon


I wonder how many people are only doing backhand serves because they are emulated the pros, rather than because it's actually better to them.

We're not emulating the pros. Rather, it's a better and logical serve to use in doubles. Read what cheung wrote.
I too feel that there's a tendency to foul serve when using the short forehand serve in doubles.

It's good to use in Singles nowadays but your court coverage (footwork) must be good. Rem that as the shuttle takes a shorter time to travel to the other side, you'll also have less time to react to the next shot. Not so if you're using the forehand serve in Singles. It's better to use in Singles as usually, your opponent will have the tendency to lift the shuttle.... giving you the chance to attack. A forehand serve is more defensive shot.

[gerry]

Originally posted by LazyBuddy


what about if the serve is aiming to ur lower body? smash? no way, man...



I'm sorry Lazybuddy but there's no way that legally you could drive serve to my lower body, unless you are over 8' tall !!

The net is 5' high, and you are hitting the shuttle on an upward trajectory (if you are serving legally) so on a drive serve it isn't going to be below my head height even if I stood upright.

[LazyBuddy]

Originally posted by gerry


The net is 5' high, and you are hitting the shuttle on an upward trajectory (if you are serving legally) so on a drive serve it isn't going to be below my head height even if I stood upright.

I can understand what u mean. It's right that if the opponent stands right behind the line, i can't use this serve very effectively. Since like u said, I can't server as low as I want to.

However, consider the fact that sometimes, ppl do have several steps behind the line to receive serve. Why this? While, as I metioned before, I have more than 1 type of serve, therefore, sometimes, I can trick them (yeah yeah, they are not a pro as u do...) by various strategies. Therefore, when they are kinda keep the same distance away from the line, this serve (maybe it's not call a drive serve, my friend, kinda hard to describe by wording) will work much better.

Anyway, my point is, this serve is #1 legal, #2 very effective under situation (I am confident in a game, I can get this kinda situation more than once), #3, maybe agaist a pro like u, I will be dead, but good enough for now...

[Cheung]

Originally posted by bigredlemon


I would think that it's harder since the movement is so short, being off by a little bit would mean a large percentage change in the force applied to the bird.

Sorry, that doesn't apply.

But what does apply is that the shorter movement is easier to control, therefore the percentages of making a good serve increases.

[Cheung]

Originally posted by LazyBuddy

However, consider the fact that sometimes, ppl do have several steps behind the line to receive serve. Why this? While, as I metioned before, I have more than 1 type of serve, therefore, sometimes, I can trick them (yeah yeah, they are not a pro as u do...) by various strategies.

why do they stand several feet behind the line.
Ans : a) too afraid of being caught out by flick serve
b) not reacting fast enough after the serve is made which may be due to:
i) lack of training
ii) not enough leg strength for this situation
iii) hand speed not short, quick movement (
iv) lack of experience and skill in adapting to different angle of serve
v) lack of concentration

[LazyBuddy]

Originally posted by Cheung


why do they stand several feet behind the line.
Ans : a) too afraid of being caught out by flick serve
b) not reacting fast enough after the serve is made which may be due to:
i) lack of training
ii) not enough leg strength for this situation
iii) hand speed not short, quick movement (
iv) lack of experience and skill in adapting to different angle of serve
v) lack of concentration

I agree. Maybe different reason apply to different person.

Like I mentioned before, this serve can only apply several times in a match under particular situation. When aginst good player, it's not going to be very effective.

[Californian]

Many people feel the backhand style for the low serve gives them better control. I think that's an individual thing. I see only three advantages of using the backhand for the low serve, and one of them isn't significant anymore most of the time...

1. Since the backhand serve is hit out in front of the body of the server, the server can deliver the serve from right up at the front service line, so the shuttle will travel the minimum distance, giving the receiver the minimum time to react. This would be awkward--but not impossible--to do with the forehand serve.

2. The serve is easier to deliver with a minimal amount of arm movement, making it more difficult for the receiver to anticipate.

3. This isn't so much of a factor anymore, but originally there was an advantage to serving backhand style because players wore white, and the receiver would have a harder time seeing the shuttle when it was served from the white clothing background.

Initially, the backhand serve was used only in doubles and by the lady in mixed. Later, I began seeing it increasingly used by men in mixed. Now I see it used a lot in singles because of the increased use of the low serve. If you favor the traditional high, deep serve, forehand is still the logical way to go.

[dlp]

For low serving / flick serving the backhand serve is generally the best, Thats it !

The backhand serve was used more prevalently in singles recently especially when playing to 7 points because the game has become faster and more players are opting for low serve.

If you take a group of beginners most will serve forehand.
As you move up in standard to higher leagues or county play you will see almost no forehand doubles serve, especially in mens. Simply because the backhand is better. All other considerations aside the abilty to skim the shuttle over the net under pressure is paramount and is most easily achieved by the backhand serve.

[jwu]

Played mostly singles growing up and I've been doing forehand service for most of those years until recently, when I try to work on a backhand service. I totally agree with cheung and others regarding the benefits of a backhand serve but since around 80% of the people at my club use backhand serves, I would sometime just mix it up w/ both backhand and forehand just to give opponents different looks on the service.

However, just to clarify up some rules, in backhand serve, the same rule of serving below your waste also applies as well right? The reason I brought this up is because I've noticed some people at the club, around 50%, either backhand serve at chest height or slightly above the waist. Not sure if they simply don't know the rules or just chose to disregard it.

[andymcg]

Very true - I played a match against a player at the weekend who struck the shuttle with his entire racket well above his waist, but would not change it or agree it was a fault.

He might as well have smashed it at us and the the shuttle would have had the same trajectory :D

[jwu]

Originally posted by andymcg
Very true - I played a match against a player at the weekend who struck the shuttle with his entire racket well above his waist, but would not change it or agree it was a fault.

He might as well have smashed it at us and the the shuttle would have had the same trajectory :D

Completely agrees. Backhand serve has many advantages over forehand serve when done correctly and even more so when done INCORRECTLY since you can flick right at someone's throat like bigredlemon has mentioned before in another thread.

[Cheung]

Just remember nobody has defined where the waist actually is!!!!

It is NOT where your belt goes (for men).

[JChen99]

Originally posted by Cheung
Just remember nobody has defined where the waist actually is!!!!

It is NOT where your belt goes (for men).

usually it's defined by where the lowest part of ur rib cages are

[Cheung]

How many people know that though?

[bigredlemon]

Originally posted by JChen99


usually it's defined by where the lowest part of ur rib cages are

doesn't Urkel wear his pants that high?? :D Ahhhh nevermind... american TV joke no one understands....

anyways I think i'll see who actually follows this rule tonite

[gerry]

Originally posted by JChen99


usually it's defined by where the lowest part of ur rib cages are

I agree JChen99, but so many people flout that law even at international level, judges should be much stricter with them. How can I say to players that I coach that their serves are a bit dubious to say the least when they see top level players getting away with it. Do they realise that the WHOLE shuttle must be BELOW the "waist".

It's the same with the law below.
9.1.6 the shaft of the server’s racket at the instant of hitting the shuttle shall be pointing in a downward direction to such an extent that the whole of the head of the racket is DISCERNIBLY below the whole of the server’s hand holding the racket.

As far as I can understand, discernibly means; visibly, clearly. Therefore if there is any doubt then the serve is illegal. But trying to implement that in a match without umpires is almost impossible. Even with umpires lots of people get away with it.
Again I think umpires and judges have a lot to answer for. If they were to be more strict on it maybe lower players would make more of an effort to adhere to the laws. obviously coaches should stress it too.

Am I being too harsh ?

What does anyone else think ?

[ronk]

A lot of people who use the backhard serve in my club clearly use it illegally. I have been accused of hitting it too high above my waist, but I consider the waist around the naval (between the lower rib and the pelvis) and so my serve should be legal. The waist is not the belt or pant line.

My backhand low serve is more consistent and is usually low and just past the short line. My forehand serve often just hits the net rather than being too high.

My forehand flick serve is more accurate than my backhard flick serve. Only lately am I able to get back to having a decent backhand flick serve.

Both serves can be deceptive depending on the opponent.

I use the backhand serve in doubles (that is all I can now play) mainly because it is more consistent; I believe it is due to the shorter and more consistent motion. If I hit it at the right distance and angle from my body and I stand in my usual serving position, then it will be just past the short line and not too high. When I deviate from the usual serving motion, I get it too high or short.

Ron

[jwu]

From Mosby's Medical & Nursing Dictionary:

Waist : The portion of the trunk between the ribs and the pelvis.

[Californian]

Originally posted by gerry


Am I being too harsh ?

What does anyone else think ?

Well, since you asked...

I was watching a high school tournament. One of the players was also a member of the junior national team. His doubles serve was clearly illegal to me. I asked one of the coaches why this wasn’t challenged and his reply was, “They don’t call it on him in national tournaments.” The clear message here was that nobody wants to take responsibility for enforcing the rules.

Cheating on the serve has always existed, but it is becoming increasingly widespread and blatant. In some cases, players are deliberately going over the edge with the idea that they will do whatever they can get away with to give them an advantage. In other cases, the intent of the server may be to come as close to the limit as possible without being illegal, but the problem is that they can’t tell from their perspective when they have crossed the line into an illegal serve. So, unless someone tells them, they are going to assume everything is legal.

I believe that if you have rules in the sport, then abide by them and enforce them. Otherwise, change or abolish them, but don’t simply ignore them. The longer this trend is left unchecked, the harder it will be to control in the future. People are not going to want to stand alone in challenging someone on a serve, especially when the offender is a prominent player who’s been allowed to get away with it in the past.

If this problem is as widespread at the upper levels as it is below, then the IBF, as well as the national organizations, should make prominent reminders to their members of this rule in their newsletters, periodical publications, and websites, and state that this rule will be strictly enforced in the future. All sanctioned tournaments should have a sufficient number of qualified service judges who also have the courage to enforce the rules.

If this is allowed to slide, then servers will start to step forward as they are serving, or step outside the serving box as an "anything goes" mentality will take over.

[Winex West Can]

This rule is a matter of contention because it is "subjective" but I have seen it called a few times in both National & International competitions and against some of the top players.

It is also while the umpire and the service judge are professionals whilst the line judges are usually volunteers.

[gerry]

Originally posted by Winex West Can
This rule is a matter of contention because it is "subjective"

Yes WWC I know what you mean but if umps and judges were to call even borderline cases then it would be made clear to everyone that they have to err on the side of caution rather than push the rule over the limit.
To be fair, generally illegal servers don't get much of an advantage when serving low but it's a different story with drive and flick serves. I've just watched a county match and to be honest if I was a judge I woud've called about 25% of them for foul serving, some of them were my players so I have some more work to do.

[Joanne]

I just started using backhand service... not really good at eat. I feel I can control my forehand service better, whether I want it high or low.

[chan]

when the opponent's partner is standing behind him on the line, i tend to backhand drive serve it towards him. i seem to like serving with my backhand, because i think its harder to tell if a serve is a flick serve or a short serve...

[ArchDevil145]

When serving forhand and long, is it okay to follow-through the swing which goes after the waist?

I mean like this: YOu serve the bird forehand and long before the waist and you follow-through with that.

[Cheung]

Originally posted by JChen99
well most of the ppl i play with step right up to the front service line (or almost up ot the front service line) my serve "usually" lands somewhere on the lines, so it's quite hard to judge if it's slightly short so ppl usually go for it if it's not obviously short. Also, I do not stand right up to the service line when i serve, so the parabola of the shuttle is very stretched. The shuttle would usually be half way below net when it gets to half-way between front service line and net

Just a thought

I like the explanation of parabola - something I have used in the past myself. Sometimes, I alter service position according to the opponent's quality of replies as they may be particularly good at receiving serve at one direction and height, but not so good with a slightly different height, trajectory or speed.

Something, I've been doing recently is stepping right up to the line, tiptoe, and then serve. Just those little extra couple of inches difference can sometimes throw receivers off...sometimes not though:)

[dlp]

Lets talk about timing of the service, many top players either wait a bit after being ready or serve very quickly or vary between the two timings. Few simply walk up get ready and serve. Its important to control the time between the points in doubles when that first shot is so critical. Also notice how many players will rush and serve quickly when their opponent is in a bad patch or delay when they have lost a quick point, all part of the game.

[Cheung]

That's a good tactic which I haven't utilised in the past. Some people have a funny ritual before serving. I think(!) I walk around in a circle bouncing the shuttle on the racquet in my hand - maybe it's more prominent in singles. Perhaps I developed this to catch my breath for the next rally:rolleyes: Anyway, it would nice to just walk straight up and play a good quality to try to throw off the opponent's rhythm.

IMHO, the priority should still be a quality serve first..