Second Serve
Also known as: kick serve second, safety serve
The second serve is the follow-up attempt after a fault, requiring enough spin and margin to guarantee a high percentage of successful deliveries while still limiting the returner's options.
A second serve that is too weak invites the returner to step in and attack; a second serve that is too risky produces double faults. The optimal second serve lands high on the bounce — a kick serve into the body or to the backhand is the most common solution — because topspin pulls the ball down into the service box quickly (higher net clearance) and makes the ball bounce awkward. Professionals typically serve their second serve at 65–80% of first-serve speed but with 50–100% more spin. Recreational players often push their second serve tentatively, losing racquet-head speed through caution, which paradoxically reduces spin and increases the double-fault risk. Developing a reliable heavy second serve is one of the highest-leverage improvements in recreational tennis.
Example
After a first-serve fault, the player commits to a heavy kick second serve at 70% pace — the ball kicks high to the backhand, neutralizing the returner's attack.
Why it matters
A weak second serve is the most exploitable position in tennis. SwingVantage identifies whether your second-serve issues come from reduced swing speed or incorrect ball toss position.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop being afraid of hitting a double fault?
Trust your spin rather than slowing your swing. Commit to full racquet-head speed on a kick or slice second serve — the spin creates margin. Slowing the swing removes the spin and paradoxically increases fault risk.
Related terms
- Kick ServeA kick serve is a serve hit with heavy topspin and side spin so it clears the net with margin and then bounces high and to the side, making it a reliable second serve.
- Flat ServeA flat serve is struck with minimal spin at maximum racquet-head speed, producing the highest velocity and least margin for error of the three main serve types.
- Slice ServeA slice serve applies sidespin by brushing around the outside of the ball, causing it to curve away from a right-handed server's deuce-side opponent and stay low after the bounce.
- Double FaultA double fault occurs when both the first and second serve land outside the service box, awarding the point directly to the returner.
- Serve RoutineA serve routine is the consistent pre-serve sequence — bouncing the ball, breathing, positioning the feet — that helps players enter a calm, focused state before every delivery.
- Continental GripThe continental grip positions the base knuckle of the index finger on bevel 2 of the handle, the universal grip for volleys, serves, overheads, slices, and drop shots.
- Trophy PositionThe trophy position is the peak of the service motion — hitting arm raised, body arched, tossing arm extended — resembling a trophy. It loads the kinetic chain for the serve.
Related guides & benchmarks
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