The LAST Ball Toss Lesson You Ever Need To Watch 

My interview with Aryna Sabalenka’s Coach: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9vv5PRdQgC0.htmlsi=QXTH42_JgczO8dcF

The best, most comprehensive instruction video on the ball toss! Thank you for taking the time to produce this.

9:50 - wow! That's a great cue/point. Never ever thought about this. Tried it and it already helped me a ton. That's amazing.

This is the most comprehensive ball toss instruction on your RU-vid I have seen. Great job! I will definitely forward it to my friends. Personally I prefer to place the ball on the palm and slightly pressed by the thumb. This way gives me the most consistent toss without interference from the fingers.

Finally I have info to work with! My serve has been the most trouble I've had playing. Thanks to your breakdown of the serve I actually have the the correct tools to work with! Your approach to teaching is first class, can't thank you enough! New subscriber!

Clear and simple. Very helpful. Thank you.

This video was extremely helpful and has helped me improve my serve with which I was struggling. Great insight into importance of the mechanics of the Ball toss! Thank-you!

I really like that that different ways for the parts of the toss are discussed and motivated.

The best tennis serving techniques and lessons I have ever heard. Thank you.

I'd like to make a suggestion as someone who has watched a few of your videos. I know you will be holding a tennis racket, and I know you will be holding a ball. I also now know that you are not going to use either of them very often. Even on this video, where it about the ball toss, I would like to see a large basket of balls behind you and every time you demonstrate something, you follow through and actually hit the ball. Not only will there be action to watch that is more interesting than standing there and talking, but I actually want to observe how you serve, and how what you are instructing works in practice. It's a little bit disconcerting to see you with one ball cos I immediately know you are not going to hit that ball away. I want to see you hit it as you explain. It will keep me engaged with the video a lot longer; what do you think?

Listen to this man, folks. Get out there and put in the reps to ingrain his tips into muscle memory. I spent five years gradually discovering them on my own through trial and error. Save yourself that kind of time. Practice your toss....not your serve.

Extraordinarily didactic! Very helpful. Thank you!

Terrific Lesson. You are a fine teacher!

fantastic video, comprehensive, detailed, clear. Thank you tons!

Hi John Your review and summary of the serve ball toss IS Right ON. I have said for over 55 years that a Great Serve, starts with a Great toss. Will forward to my tennis group. Thank you again And look forward to more videos. Blessings Jack

Love this! Can't wait to go start fixing my toss!!!

Great video. Thank you!

About to play tennis for the first time in my life. Glad to see a thorough explanation off a ball toss for when I get to that step. Here’s hoping it’ll help me achieve a better serve quicker than most seem to have struggled with for a long time. Thanks for the videos

Fantastic video, thanks!

Thanks much, great video! Just happened on it when watching some Wimbledon matches. I've been working on my serve and frustrated with an inconsistent ball toss, knowing that the right placement is the key to a good serve. Too low goes long or into the net. Too high messes with timing.

One of the best videos ive seen on the tennis serve, would love to see some tips on the jumping part of the stroke also, many thanks

The most comprehensible tutorial on the toss iv'e seen. thanks.

Any remedy for a late ball release? Tendency to late ball release, and causes the ball arch too far behind me. thanks

It would help a great deal if you would explain all this with ball placement in mind. After all if we had all the power from the pronation but no idea where the ball would be going, we could not be confident in hitting it.

Thank you John I wanted to listen to this video before going to practice my serve this morning. Excellent video.

One advantage to having slight variation is variety in spin and direction. You don't know for sure, niether will your opponent. Obviously everything within reason.

I tried some of his tips and it improved my serve a lot, thanks, please do more videos

This video lives up to its title! Watched it twice already. I use the side palm technique but have struggled with the actual release. John’s demo of the release shows how he fans the back of his hand at the top towards the net. Thanks!!

Always thought this action should have been called a ball "placement" versus "toss"...A big difference between "tossing" an object and "placing" it....great video. as usual

Very well done video. I picked a number of pointers from your break down of the serve related to the ball toss, Thanks

Probably the best lesson on RU-vid about the ball toss 🎾. Thanks 🙏

I had try Serving with different coach and different ways , i watched bunch of videos on youtube about the tips, but this video is the perfect one, it helps me to improve my tennis serve by 80 percent, really amazing, palm side and try to focus on floating the ball then start the second hand to hit the ball are the points i've never seen in other videos. i try them and yes it works.

The weirdest ball toss I can remember is Roscoe Tanner's. He used to hit the ball on the way up.

Thank you John. This is such a great lesson, so clear with really practical drills too. I really enjoy the clarity of your lessons.

Absolutely brilliant.Tnx so much.cheers from France

I had rotator surgery. My toss has suffered. I'll try these tips.

Very thorough, thanks. Can't wait to put it into practice.

Great video. All excellent, except I would question the instruction of looking at the release point instead of looking at the target point. In fact, the photos of the pros actually show their eyes looking much higher than at the release point. Does a darts player look at the release point or the target?

You have the best lessons on the serve for someone who needs to improve, or fix a serve gone bad.

The best Toss Lesson I saw yet. I'm going to learn it starting today.

Love the way you go through many information points on the serve as separate topics. I like it. Most kind of teach one serve, and you seem to recognize that people are different, and give them great data points to consider in the context of their own serve, and more particularly, to their mistakes. One thing though. The word OKAY is pronounced OKAY, not N-KIGH.

excellent serve clinic session.. covers all potential variables that a serve can go wrong.. from a fellow tennis coach

Very valuable step by step explanations. Subscribed.

These instructions are so good!

Very clear, excellent guidance. Thank you!

hi coach john. i first thought you were paul annacone. i run a two local programs and coach a few 100 kids and juniors a year. ive been interested in creating instructional channel and videos but there's already so much content on youtube. i just came across this, your video about the serve toss and its the best one ive seen. you cover everything i tell my students, im going to reinforce my instructions by sharing your video with all my students. ~coach dudley

I’ve noticed with a palm up style, the ball sometimes rolls off my fingers which leads to inconsistency. Palm to the side, my fingers move away perpendicular to the upward motion of the ball so there is less rolling and more consistency

Like your instruction, as a righty when serving, I was taught to position my left foot toward the right net post. However, unless I'm mistaken, many of the high performance players appear to place their left foot parallel to the baseline. I didn't hear or see you address that option.

Great lesson, any insight on holding the ball? More in palm or fingers? Thank you.

Great, clear instruction...but...No discussion of toss relative to the baseline for flat, spin, kick, etc?

Excellent! Well thought out commentary. Will definitely improve my serve.

Hands down ( no pun intended ) the best serve lesson I’ve seen….

A lovely intructional video. Whats your opinion about the constraints led approach that would say 'deliberate practice' ie isolating a skill by serving into an empty box or isolating a ball toss ect is not preparing you for match day. For example if i practice 100 ball tosses and 100 serves with my coach by me giving me explicit instructions one day. Then the next i step on court for a match, there is a opponent which can make me nervous or the sun is in my eyes ect ect, doesnt this make the way my body reacts totally different, its almost an alien situation from said lesson.

Great lesson John. I recently determined that I needed to refine my toss in order to dial in my full power and precision potential. This did the trick as I was crushing a very high percentage of first serves with ease today. Thank you!

So good!! Really helpful. Love it!!

thanks coach...lost some of my balance as older and can't toss the way I did when I was younger.....wits end after 2 years of trying to get it back. chasing toss all over so I will try it your way. 🎾

The only thing missing here (IMHO) is the timing of the leg bend. Top pros all have major leg bend engagement in their serve. The question therefore is the timing of that element in the mix described here.

Thanks a lot for this lesson, man! 👏

My ball toss goes behind my head every damned time. I've tried a million cures. It goes away sometimes only to return next match. Very maddening.

Thanks John. After you release the ball and your arm is raised are you looking at the ball along the inside or the outside of your arm? Also, for the ball to return to your hand, are you saying that there’s no need to toss forward into the court as other coaches recommend? Otherwise I don’t understand how you’d be able to catch it.

Great instructional video, I've watched a lot of content on the subject and have learnt a thing or two here. How does the putting weight on the back foot... then tossing, work within the context of a pinpoint serve? At what stage of the toss do you start to bring up and shifting forward the weight from the back foot to the front foot?

Amazing lesson!

Great tip about keeping still! Discovered it was my big mistake!

This may be the most comprehensive exploration of the topic I've seen on the youtubes.

This is a very comprehensive video, except for one thing. You do not address who far forward (into the court) the ball should be tossed. Looking from the side, should the ball be tossed overhead (12 o'clock) or more forward (toward 1 o'clock)? If the toss was allowed to fall down onto the court, should it land just behind the baseline, on the baseline or 6 inches in front of the baseline?

I’m just curious…what do you think of the Sampras serve? To me, Sampras has the best serve of all time.

Palm up is like a layup in basketball!! It's the best way to think of it!

Thx so much.I used to do the J toss but am now working on that angle you showed.From Canada 🇨🇦 🍁 JESUS is King

Oh typo at 6:29: ought to read "slightly." At least you know I am concentrating and listening intently. Consider me your friendly spellcheck/editor from New Zealand.

I was skeptical about the video title but turns out this is a really good comprehensive video!

Short Toss balls are better for flat serves. I found success in my junior years with that. I had a fast flat serve with good placement.

I disagree on the "weight slightly back during the tossing phase". At the very initiation of the movement, yes definitely, but as your arm 45º then 90º even more, your hips are already moving forward as your knees bend. Just look at Roddick's serve again. That time when your arm ascends is also your weight transfer time. Also, this may be the reason you like a higher toss: you need extra time to bend your knees and shift your weight forward *after the toss*. High efficiency serves from Tanner to Kyrgios, including Sampras and Roddick, all do that weight transfer *during the toss*.

The best ball toss tennis lesson

thank you John. I was tossing the ball when the body weight was shifting to the front (instead of my weight on my back foot). Now I realize this is dead wrong and create all the inconsistency of my toss. I am going to practice the ball toss with all your tips and is excited to see what will happen.

Place dont toss. Love that!

Really fantastic instruction!

Thank you so much! Check out my Serve Playlist for more including leg drive. And let me know if you have questions or want me to cover another topic for you. Thanks, John

At time of release, eyes look at the spot where you intend the ball to go. This is very well seen in the image of Serena used by you to illustrate this. When we want to throw at a target, we look at the target at release, not at the ball. Otherwise your video was excellent and useful. Thanks a lot.

I literally haven’t played tournaments in over 10 years. I have not been watching tennis videos AT ALL on RU-vid or elsewhere. I had a dream LAST NIGHT where I was telling my friend how the ball toss is >50% of the serve after you get the technique down because if you think about it that’s the only piece that varies widely each serve. Then this video and ONLY this tennis video shows up in my algorithm. Explain yourself, RU-vid.

Hi John! This is an amazing video that helped me so much with my serve. Do you have any drills/tips for dropping the racquet fully while serving? I often find I don't do it fully and I'm not sure if that is from habit or because I am not giving myself enough time.

🎾 Ball Holding Techniques: Exploring palm-up and palm-side holding styles, the video discusses the advantages of each and recommends the palm-side method for its less spin-inducing release and smoother ball exit. 🔄 Serve Tempo and Routine: The importance of establishing a consistent pre-serve routine that sets the right tempo and ensures the ball is held comfortably for a controlled toss. 🏋 Body Movement Control: Tips on weight shifting and maintaining heel-down posture during the toss to counterbalance the arm's motion, aiming for minimal body movement for accuracy. ⬆ Tossing Arm Angle: Advocates for a 45-degree angle toss to maintain alignment, encourage proper shoulder rotation, and ensure a vertical ball trajectory for easier timing and contact. 🎯 Ball Release Point: Identifying the optimal release point at the top of the head and using visual cues to release the ball at the right area, ensuring consistency and accuracy. 🌬 Smooth Lift and Release: Emphasizes a smooth, controlled toss that makes the ball seem to float out of the hand, contrasting with the common misconception of 'tossing' the ball. 📏 Ball Toss Height: Discusses the debated topic of toss height, suggesting a slightly higher toss for more time to execute serve motions effectively, using the fence height as a practice reference. 📍 Ideal Contact Point: For a powerful serve, the ball should be hit slightly inside the shoulder to ear level, promoting long-axis rotation and maximizing power. 🛑 Discerning Good from Bad Tosses: Encourages players to practice recognizing and opting not to swing at poorly tossed balls, enhancing serve reliability. 🔄 Practice Drills: Provides drills for refining ball placement and serving technique, including exercises focusing on the tossing arm's movement, consistency in ball return to the hand, and balancing. Summary by chatgpt

I practice tosses using a couple of spring loaded clothes pins placed on the fence at my preferred ball toss height. No need for a racquet during that exercise.

The toss should really be going a bit forward over the baseline to enable better body weight transfer into the serve.

Is it not the case that we throw the ball a bit into the court to utilize leg drive, and in that case the ball would not come back into our hands?

As a kid i didnt have or worried about my toss, as a grown up i cant seem to throw it consistently

Hi John, great vid as usual. I’m a little confused as to where the starting toss arm position is. Is it more straight towards the net starting off and then you turn to having arm and then toss at the 45. Or is your arm just already at the 45, the latter feels static to me and a bit off in regard to momentum. Thanks!

What an amazing video..

Este ejercicio es muy Antiguo, Amigo.

Hi James, thanks for your feedback and contribution to the video! Please keep me updated on your progress, and I hope you enjoy other content here on the channel. Kindly, John.

The best!!!

Hi coach, I am in south Orange County and would like to take in person tennis lessons from you. This is a serious inquiry! Thank you coach.

3:19 sure roddick is foot-faulting here, right?

Wow, can't wait to use these tips. Thanks

regarding ball toss height.... you hit the ball in the same spot on either toss..the only difference is that with the high toss you have created another moving piece to the serve... so IMO the high toss is too difficult for anyone that is not a pro

Basically do a million things right every time and your toss will be perfect every time - duh 😢

perfect kinetics of a perfect serve,

Great toss vid!

Finger grip is a disaster for me. Have to take all finger action out and only use the palm and thumb or ball goes in a million directions. Finger action is very difficult to control consistently.

You are very good ! Knowing tennis and I am saying - you are good !

Well done, comprehensive presentation.