Learned how to serve!

[emate007]

Thanks to some extremely helpful tutelage from joesixtoe, I've learned that I've been playing this game wrong for almost two years.
Beat a few really good players the last couple days that I normally get destroyed by, and I'm hitting a few aces at times when the opponent actually moves the right direction. It used to be my only aces came when an opponent froze or moved the wrong way.

Thanks joe!

[djarvik]

Congrats man. What did you do wrong before and what are you doing right now?

[Mack2300]

Great to see the top players helping others out with their games.

[emate007]

Well, as you know it's really hard to explain the serving with text in this game but I'll try. My problem was timing both the start of the aiming process, and when I released the button. I was waiting until the very top of the ball toss to aim, then just kind of flicking it. Now I'm aiming juuuust before the ball is released in the toss, holding for a split second, and releasing both the stick and button simultaneously. More power AND accuracy.

My old first serve is now my second serve! No more lame seconds right down the middle of the box.

[emate007]

f l i c k is censored? Really? What could possibly be the problem with it???

[Rob ITST]

To cover all the bases, there's a lot of possible variations of profanity censored, one of which resulted in "flicking" being censored. (funny, "flick" would have been fine, but "flicking" was censored )

Anyway, it's fixed now.

About the aiming, you said, "Now I'm aiming juuuust before the ball is released in the toss". Try aiming even sooner to hit even closer to the lines. That, essentially is the difference between my first and second serves - the sooner you aim, the closer you can get to the lines, but it's a bit more sensitive and is easier to hit it out.

If you go back to the TopSpin School, you'll see the part about aiming early. Actually, pretty much everything you need to know about serving is in there.

[djarvik]

Well, as you know it's really hard to explain the serving with text in this game but I'll try. My problem was timing both the start of the aiming process, and when I released the button. I was waiting until the very top of the ball toss to aim, then just kind of flicking it. Now I'm aiming juuuust before the ball is released in the toss, holding for a split second, and releasing both the stick and button simultaneously. More power AND accuracy.

My old first serve is now my second serve! No more lame seconds right down the middle of the box.

Sounds good. I really can't believe you didn't do that before

Great to see you serving better, with your ability to get to the net in mid rally, the serve can be the missing link to your success.

[emate007]

If you go back to the TopSpin School, you'll see the part about aiming early. Actually, pretty much everything you need to know about serving is in there.

Yeah, I did that too. Wasn't getting it with just what joe said, but relearning from scratch in the school was what put it all together.

[emate007]

Sounds good. I really can't believe you didn't do that before

Seriously... I think I just assumed that was the best I could do with X on serve, and never really put much effort into making it better. Pretty excited now though.

[joesixtoe]

what rob said about starting earlier is right as well, but it comes down to feel. you may have to hold the stick longer, and then maybe not as you start to loose stanima. blah blah. just you now know how to get on track and you will constantly be learning more things about your serve, as well as the game. bro I've hit some pretty awsome passing shots against you these last 2 matches. I feel like nadal sometimes lol. even though you won our last match.

[ILuvBillVal]

FLICK

[jayl0ve]

THE BEAN

[djarvik]

LMAO

[The Confirmator]

LMAO

CONFIRMED...