The Unbeatable Boys' Book

Top tennis players can serve the ball at speeds of up to 240 kilometres per hour, sending it whizzing by an opponent, giving him no chance to return it. This is called an ‘ace’. It’s the most commanding way to win a point, and a great way of taking control of the game from the outset – so take your time, and make it count.

Before you can serve an ace, it’s best to know how to serve. Here’s what to do:

1. First, stand sideways on to the net, with both feet behind the baseline (the furthest line from the net). Your back foot should be parallel with the net, but your front foot should be pointing towards it. Each time you serve the ball it must land in the service area (the rectangle on the other side of the net) diagonally opposite where you are standing.

2. Hold the ball in one hand and the racquet in your strong, serving hand, a bit like you’re holding a hammer.

3. Take a couple of practice swings first, pulling the racquet back behind you and swishing it over your head in a smooth arc. This will give you an idea of how high to throw the ball so that your racquet connects with it.

4. Now practise throwing the ball up to that spot, so that you can be sure of getting it to the right height each time. Your throwing arm should be quite straight, and you should aim to throw the ball just a few centimetres in front of you.

5. Now the tricky part – you need to combine both movements so that you hit the ball with the centre of the racquet at just the right moment.

6. Make sure that you follow through on your serve with a slight snap of your wrist, so that the ball lands safely in the service area.

7. Remember to run forwards into the court as soon as you have served the ball so that you are ready to hit your opponent’s return shot.

Once you’ve got the hang of a nice rhythmic service action, it’s time to add power, speed and accuracy – the perfect combination to achieve an ace. Here’s what to do:

1. Imagine you are about to throw a ball as hard and as far as you can. You’ll need to take your arm back further, bend your knees a bit more and move your feet apart, as well as mentally preparing for the extra effort. It’s just the same when you want to add power to your serve.

2. Practise a normal serve two or three times, then add in the elements above. Take your serving arm back further, bend your knees as you throw the ball up, and bring the racket round with more speed as you hit the ball.

3. When you feel as though your serve has a lot more force behind it, get to work on its accuracy. On an empty court, place markers, such as sheets of paper, where you want to serve the ball. Take a few minutes each time you play to practise getting better at hitting them.

It’s no good hitting a super-powerful serve and having it come straight back at you. Think about whether or not your opponent has a weak side, too. For example, if he is right-handed, with a weak backhand, and you are serving to his ‘deuce court’ – the one to your left – then a service down the centre line will get you your ace.

Alternatively, if your opponent has quite a strong backhand, or is left-handed, aim to serve towards the tramlines running down the edge of the court. This will target his weaker side, and give you a much better chance of serving an ace.

Unbeatable tip. When you are getting ready to serve, check where your opponent is standing. Look to see where there is more room to direct the ball, and target that area. Hopefully the ball will be harder for him to hit.

HOW TO SERVE AN ACE