Serve Misses (Net or Long)
Also known as: serve going into the net, serve keeps going into the net, serving into the net, serve going long, serve keeps going long, serving long, serve too long, serve miss diagnosis
Serves into the net usually come from a low or drifting toss, hitting down on the ball, or dropping the head before contact. Serves that fly long often come from a toss behind the head, an open racquet face or too little spin. Fix the toss first, reach up to the ball, and add spin to bring the ball down into the box.
It is natural to aim at the box and try to hit down into it. On a flat serve, though, the ball has very little room to clear the net and still drop in. A toss that drifts too far forward or too low makes you reach out and hit down. Pulling the head and chest down early does the same thing. Toss high enough to hit at full reach and keep the head up through contact. Then swing up and out toward the ball.
Long serves usually mean the racquet face is open at contact or the ball has too little spin to drop. A toss behind the head forces you to lean back and swing under the ball. A forehand-style grip also opens the face and pushes the ball. Spin is the safety net. Topspin and kick pull the ball down. With more spin you can aim higher over the net and still land in.
Look for a pattern before changing anything. Toss a few balls without hitting and let them drop. Many coaches want a first-serve toss that would land slightly in front and to the hitting side. If misses go both ways, the toss is often the cause. If they are always in the net, check contact height and head position. If they are always long, check the grip and the spin. Change one thing at a time.
Tips by skill level
Practice the toss on its own. Let it drop and see where it lands. A repeatable toss fixes many net and long misses before you touch the swing.
Use spin to widen your margin. A second serve with more topspin can clear the net by a safe height and still dip into the box. Track where your misses go under pressure and adjust the toss, not your target.
Example
A player keeps netting first serves. Letting a few tosses drop, she sees they land well in front of the baseline. She tosses a little higher and less far forward, reaches up to the ball and starts clearing the net with room to spare.
Why it matters
Net misses and long misses have different causes. Knowing which one you see points to the right fix and cuts double faults.
Common mistakes
- Trying to hit down into the box on a flat serve
- Tossing behind the head and leaning back to reach the ball
- Dropping the head and chest to watch the ball land before contact
- Changing grip, toss and swing all at once after a few misses
Frequently asked questions
Why does my serve keep going into the net?
Common causes are a toss that drifts too low or too far forward, trying to hit down into the box, or pulling your head and chest down early. Toss a little higher, reach up to the ball and swing up and out.
Why does my serve keep going long?
Long serves usually come from a toss behind your head, an open racquet face or too little spin. Toss slightly in front, check that you use a continental grip, and add topspin to bring the ball down.
Should I aim higher over the net on my serve?
Often yes, if you add spin. Topspin and kick pull the ball down, and a higher net clearance can still land in. A flat serve with no spin has much less room.
Related terms
- Serve Toss PlacementServe toss placement is where the ball is released relative to the body. It determines which serve types are physically possible to hit from that toss.
- Double FaultA double fault occurs when both the first and second serve land outside the service box, awarding the point directly to the returner.
- Trophy PositionThe trophy position is the serve checkpoint at the toss's peak: hitting arm up, body arched, tossing arm raised. The kinetic chain is fully loaded to fire.
- Kick ServeA kick serve mixes heavy topspin and sidespin. It clears the net safely, then kicks high and sideways, making it the standard high-level second serve.
- Second Serve SpinSecond serve spin is the extra rotation a player adds to the follow-up delivery after a miss. It raises net clearance and margin for error.
- Waiter's Tray ServeA waiter's tray serve is hit with a forehand grip and the palm under the racquet, like a waiter carrying a tray. The racquet face points at the target the whole time, and the ball gets pushed with little power or spin. The fix is a continental grip and a forearm that turns over through contact.
Related guides & benchmarks
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