Why You Should Prioritize Tennis Serve Practice from the Ad Side

You want your serve to hold up when it matters most, so make your tennis serve practice count by focusing on the ad side.
Practicing more serves from the ad side helps you build confidence in the exact situations where pressure points usually occur.

Why the ad side matters

In match play, many of the pressure moments when you’re serving fall on the ad side. Think of those game-closing or breakpoint-like scores: 30-40, 40-0, 0-40, advantage-in (ad in) points, and even mid-game pressure sequences like 15-30 or 30-15. Because you’ll often be serving from the ad side during those moments, your tennis serve practice should reflect that reality.

Which serve to prioritize

When you want reliability under pressure, focus on the slice and kick serves from the ad side. These serves tend to feel more controllable and safer than a flat first serve when nerves kick in. The slice can jam your opponent, while a well-executed kick can push the returner up and give you time to take control of the point.

Practical drill ideas

• Hit a block of 20 slice serves from the ad sideline into the deuce-court box, aiming for a consistent target.
• Alternate 10 kick serves and 10 slice serves during a simulated game where every second serve is “under pressure” (imagine it’s break point).
• Practice first-serve percentage by counting how many of 30 serves land in under simulated pressure; focus on depth and placement rather than sheer speed.
• Use a partner to return and force you to play out the point after the serve so you rehearse the transition from serve to rally.

How this improves match play

By repeating the same patterns and serves you’ll use in real pressure moments, you build muscle memory and mental certainty. When you’ve done the same slice and kick combinations from the ad side countless times in practice, they’ll feel familiar instead of shaky during a crucial game. That’s the goal of targeted tennis serve practice: prepare the exact scenarios you’ll face so you can execute confidently.

F.A.Q.

Q: Should I stop practicing serves from the deuce side?

A: No. Balance is important. But prioritize more reps from the ad side since many pressure points occur there. Keep some deuce-side work to maintain variety.

Q: How often should I include ad-side serves in practice?

A: Aim for at least half of your serving reps to come from the ad side during focused serve sessions, and increase that percentage before tournaments or important matches.

Q: Are slice and kick the only serves to practice?

A: They’re the most reliable under pressure, so give them priority, but keep developing a dependable flat serve for surprise and variety.

Q: How do I simulate real pressure during practice?

A: Create point scenarios (e.g., “this is game point” or add a penalty for missed serves), practice under time limits, or have a partner hand out consequences for double faults to increase mental pressure.

Bottom line: Tailor your tennis serve practice to the situations you face most often. Put more reps on the ad side, focus on reliable slice and kick patterns, and rehearse pressure scenarios so your serve becomes a consistent weapon when the score is tight.