Leg Drive on the Serve
Also known as: serve leg drive, using legs on the serve, use my legs on the serve, use your legs on the serve, knee bend on the serve, knee bend serve, legs on the serve
To use your legs on the serve, bend your knees as you toss and let your hips move forward toward the court. Then push up and forward into the ball as the racquet drops behind your back, and land on your front foot inside the court. The leg drive adds height and racquet speed.
A good serve starts from the ground. As the tossing arm rises, the knees flex and the hips move forward over the front foot. The front shoulder tilts up toward the ball. This loads the legs like a spring. The leg drive is the push up and forward out of that bend. It sends the body up toward the ball, helps the racquet drop behind the back and adds speed to the swing. Players whose legs drive well often leave the ground and land inside the baseline.
Timing matters more than how deep you bend. The knees bend while the ball rises and the trophy position forms. The drive starts as the ball nears its peak, just before the racquet drops. Pushing too early leaves you rising before the arm is ready. Pushing too late leaves the arm to swing alone. Drive up toward the ball, not forward along the court. A toss too far in front pulls the body forward and turns the push into a lunge.
Common faults are bending at the waist instead of the knees, no knee bend at all, and a toss too low to leave time for the legs. Start with a modest bend and a smooth push. Many coaches add the leg drive once the toss and the continental grip are reliable. Then they build depth of bend gradually.
Tips by skill level
Practise the toss with a small knee bend and a gentle push up, without swinging. Then add the swing at half speed and feel the legs start it.
Film from the side. The knee bend should peak around the trophy position. The hips should then move up and slightly into the court as the racquet drops.
Example
His serve feels all arm. His coach has him bend his knees as the toss goes up and push up toward the ball as the racquet drops. Within a few sessions his first serves land deeper and with more pace.
Why it matters
The legs are one of the biggest sources of serve power. Using them well means the arm does less of the work.
Common mistakes
- Bending at the waist instead of the knees
- Pushing up before the arm is ready and leaving the swing behind
- Driving forward along the court instead of up toward the ball
- Tossing so low that there is no time for the knees to bend
Frequently asked questions
How do I use my legs on the serve?
Bend your knees as the toss goes up and let your hips move forward over the front foot. Push up toward the ball as the racquet drops behind your back, then land on your front foot inside the court.
How much should I bend my knees on my serve?
Enough to load the legs while keeping your balance. It varies by player. Timing matters more than depth. The bend comes with the toss, and the push comes just before the racquet drops.
Do I need to jump on my serve?
No. Leaving the ground is a result of a strong push up, not a goal. Focus on bending and driving up toward the ball. A small hop and a landing inside the court often follow on their own.
Related terms
- 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.
- Platform vs Pinpoint Serve StanceBoth serve stances work. In the platform stance your feet stay apart throughout the serve. In the pinpoint stance the back foot slides up next to the front foot before you drive up. Pinpoint can add upward drive and rhythm. Platform is simpler and steadier for many players.
- Kinetic ChainThe kinetic chain passes force from the ground up: legs, hips, torso, shoulder, arm, racquet. Each segment speeds up the next, multiplying racquet-head speed.
- Racquet DropThe racquet drop is the racquet head falling passively below the wrist after the unit turn. From there, a low-to-high swing whips topspin onto the ball.
- 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.
- Flat ServeA flat serve is struck with minimal spin at maximum racquet-head speed. This produces the highest velocity and least margin for error of the three main serve types.
Related guides & benchmarks
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