There is no doubt that possessing a big first serve can win matches. Acing your opponent is an easy point for you. But what happens when you net it?

Well, you’ve always got your backup, the second serve. For many non-professional tennis players however, the second serve isn’t usually up to much and they play it safe just to get the ball in the box. But this is a mistake. You have to make the most of your second serve so it’s as effective as the first.


If you’re using your first serve as a weapon, it’s likely you’re changing your mentality for the second. You don’t want to take any chances on losing the point. After all, a double fault is a wasted point. But your serve dictates the start of the point, whether it’s the first or second and it must be reliable under pressure.

The next time you’re practising, instead of just serving for the sake of practice, make a concerted effort to develop your second serve. If the first is all about power and pace, use slice and spin for the second and make a special effort to focus on developing these skills.  Both these service actions are awkward for a player to return and the more you work on these techniques, the higher your chances of winning the point.

If there’s a big difference between your first and second serves in terms of getting the ball in, try bridging the gap between them. If you go for an ace on every first serve but follow it up with a lacklustre second serve, try lowering your ambitions on the first serve and instead focus on building up from the second instead.

Your second serve requires a little more strategic thinking. For instance, the placement of the ball is more important now, particularly if your serve is less powerful. Dedicate several practice sessions with a partner or coach and get them to dictate where to serve and what type of serve, spin, flat etc. This forces you to serve under pressure and aim for random targets rather than sticking to your favored areas.

Everyone has a weak spot. And when you’re playing tennis it’s up to you to find your opponents. If they do have a weaker side you need to target this as often as possible. But don’t become too predictable as they’ll be ready and waiting to trounce your serve. Variety and mixing it up is the key. Notice which side results in a weaker return from your opponent and target that using different serves.

If your opponent doesn’t appear to have a weaker side, then think about where you’d prefer them to return. Obviously, if you’ve got a deadly backhand slice, forcing your opponent to return to your backhand is ideal. So target your second serve in a way that forces them to return where you want to receive.

Another useful way of setting yourself up for an easier return is to serve directly at your opponent. This often catches them off-guard and puts them in a disadvantageous position. Their response is a defensive return setting you up for the winning shot.

If your second serve is weak because you’re afraid of double faulting, a great way of altering this mindset is to play a match whereby you’re only allowed one serve. As long as you don’t go for the ace or play safe every time, you’ll be forced to become less aggressive when serving while concentrating on your consistency. You’ll want your serve to be effective too, so this is where you can really step up your slice and top spin practice.

The outcome of your second serve is crucial to your success as a tennis player. It has the potential to become one of the deciding factors of your match so spend time developing it into an effective weapon in its own right. After all, as the saying goes, ‘You’re only as good as your second serve.’