It’s your second serve. The pressure is building. Whether you didn’t hit the lines on your first serve, the ball touched the net and fell, or you made a foot-fault violation, it’s a frustrating position to be in. For many players, the risk of a double fault in this situation can be overwhelming. What can do you do to handle that pressure? 

Stay in the Zone

The single best thing you can do is take deep breaths and focus on staying calm and composed. As you prepare your serve, remind yourself that it’s just another shot and that you have the ability to execute it successfully. Do what you can to boost your self-confidence. Just a few whispered positive affirmations under your breath can often help. You may also want to take a moment to visualize yourself hitting a successful second serve before stepping up to the service line. Picture the ball landing in the desired location and visualize yourself executing the shot smoothly.

Don’t Forget Your Technique

Concentrate on the technical aspects of your second serve. Pay attention to your grip, ball toss, and swing technique. By focusing on the mechanics of the shot, you divert your attention away from the pressure and channel it into executing the stroke correctly. Be sure, in this process, that you stick to your routine. It can help create familiarity and adds a sense of control, reducing anxiety and pressure.

More than that, though, instead of going for an aggressive or risky shot, focus on a reliable and consistent second serve. Aim to get the ball in play and place it strategically to make it difficult for your opponent to attack.

Practice Makes Perfect

It may also help to simulate pressure situations in practice by creating scenarios where you have to hit second serves to win important points. By practicing under pressure, you can become more comfortable and confident in those situations during matches. You may also want to consider some drills with second serves. All it takes is a bucket of balls so you can play against yourself. You get one serve. If it goes in, you score a point. If you miss, your imaginary opponent scores. Work to see how many of these “sets” you can win against yourself. 

All too often, tennis is a mind game. Learning how to master that second serve is usually just part of it. If you’re interested in learning more about how to improve your serve, consider booking a private lesson with us!