Man, I'm trying to learn the hook serve, but I'm having trouble getting a consistent sidetop one that isn't too obvious. It seems like somehow my sideunder one looks like sidetop, because people dump that serve into the net quite often. I think I'm starting with the bat too high, so I can only really brush down.
I have done an experiment yesterday with the same goal.
Learning a hook Serve, mostly side/Topspin.
My goal Was to simply Hit 100 serves ( at home on my table).
At first, İ just did 20 to try it out and get a feel.
Important point: I generally did 3 serves at a time, not just mindlessly picking the balls from the Box and repeating, 3 serves, then thinking and picking the balls up from the table ( I did it so they would not easily fall of).
Then I Set up a camera to see my self.
The next 40 balls I worked on specific parts to get a feeling, mostly wrist and forearm swinging and snapping.
If it didnt work, I imagined myself from a 3rd Person POV, how it would Look like if I did it correctly, that really helped me get the movements better.
After 60 balls, i took a break, I Watched myself and 5-10 minutes of YT Videos on the topic, I think Fang Yinchi and Craig Bryant.
Tried to imitate the instructions and get a feeling.
Then again, I did the remaining 40 serves in 2 Sets of 20.
And voila, it worked really well, my return Boards were getting furious at my serves.
There are things I learned throughout that Practice, but it is best to experience it yourself.
Later in the evening I Watched 2 more tutorial from Fang Yinchi.
I might do the 100 Serve challenge again today.
My recommendation:
Set a specific, numerical goal like 100 serves and count in your head ( doesnt need to be accurate, I probably did 10-15 more)
Practice it in larger Sets, where you reflect and take a break each time and work on something.
Practice in smaller Sets in those larger Sets ( for me It was 3 or 3-5 serves at once).
Gl and have fun!
