All the small things add up. 

The backhand serve is a serve played using a backhand swing from the forehand side of the server.

The backhand serve is a little trickier to execute at first for most players as people tend to start off with weaker backhands so they get comfortable with a forehand serve from both sides and by then, it’s difficult to change.

There are so many advantages to being able to play a backhand serve though that once you get to a certain level, it’s almost obligatory. Even as a beginner the backhand serve is still very relevant, as serves can already be difficult to return in general and a well executed backhand serve is even more difficult to return.

For more on how to play a backhand serve, click here. You can also watch our YouTube video on the backhand serve by clicking here.

Watching 

When you play a backhand serve, you are able to watch the ball properly the entire time, as with all the will in the world, you will lose track of the ball whilst playing a forehand serve from the forehand side of the court. You’ll also be able to watch the opponent better as well as you’ll be facing in their direction as with the ball.

Movement

Movement wise a backhand serve is also beneficial, as you are stepping towards the T-Position when you serve and the momentum of the serve will nearly take you there on its own. The serve and return of serve is all about who gets the T-Position in the early exchanges of the rally, so any advantage like this should be seized upon.

The spin 

When you play a backhand serve from the forehand side, the ball won’t come off the side wall so much which means it would be more difficult for your opponent to return. When you play a forehand shot, the ball bounces out off the side wall quite a long way like when you play a cross-court drive. When you play a backhand serve however, the ball behaves like it would for a straight length shot and stays tighter to the side wall, which is typically more difficult for your opponent to hit.

WARNING: Some players play a backhand serve from their backhand side of the court but this is the same as playing a forehand serve from the forehand side of the court. You are facing away from your opponent and the T-Position, as well as the direction of travel of the ball.

Even if you struggle at first, it’s a real investment in your long term game to practice the backhand serve.