Slice Serve ("Side spin" Serve)

Preparation
- Feet are shoulder width apart (or closer), front foot pointed to the right net post, back foot parallel to the baseline.
- Body weight on the front foot (left for right handers).
- Grip - continental keep it loose.

Ball Toss
- I suggest that the ball hand and the racquet hand lift up at the same time (I use the term "Jumping Jack", without moving the feet).
- The left arm lifts the ball and the release of it is made above eye level for more control.
- The toss for the Slice Serve is slightly to the right and the height should be as far as you can reach with your racquet having your arm extended, without losing your balance for contact.
- As the ball goes up, the racquet is lifted to your side, the right elbow bends, pointing to the back fence, and the tip of the racquet up.
- Weight is transferred from the front foot to the back foot.
- The knees bend as you toss the ball or after the release of the ball (it should be your personal preference).

Swing and Contact
- As the ball reaches its maximum height, the feet push into the ground to lift the body up, the racquet drops behind the back and the bottom of the racquet points toward the sky.
- The racquet speed through the ball is generated by the "pushing up" from your legs, upper body turns uncoiling the shoulder, elbow extends, and the forearm and wrist pronate or rotate inward.
- At contact the whole body should be extended and as a result of thrusting from your legs the feet get off the ground and in the air.
- Keep your head up and in balance at all times.
- For the Slice Serve the racquet contacts the ball in a left-to-right "brush". Example: Imagine that the ball is a face of a clock. By brushing from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock (or 8 to 2) that is how you create the "side spin".

Follow-through
- Right after contact with the ball, the racquet and the forearm drop first as a result of forearm pronation.
- The landing must be made on the front foot (left for right handers), back foot "kicks" back for balance.
- Both hands should continue to follow through on the left side to follow the normal body rotation to the left.
- Notice that on the follow-through, the racquet moves in a semi-circle in front and across the body as a result of the sideway "brush" on the back of the ball.
- The last step is a "split step" to get ready for your opponent's reply.

When do we use the Slice Serve?
1. First serve or second serve for variety.
2. Very effective from the Deuce side (for right handed players) or Left side (for left handed players) to pull the opponent off the court and create an opening.
3. Since the ball curves to the left (for right handed players) it can be very effective to "jam" the opponent with a serve that bounces toward the backhand and then curves into the body.
4. Since the "Slice" stays low, it can be used against players that use an extreme grip like Western.