You will find that a large percentage of errors on the serve are from an incorrect toss. Here are some tips that I have given my students over the years to help them understand the toss better.

1. As you turn your left shoulder toward your opponent, think of a clock face -- your left shoulder being at 12 o'clock. Throw your toss at 1 o'clock (11 o'clock for a left hander).

2. Make sure your right elbow goes to full extension. It should be above your eye level on contact (before the wrist snaps).

3. Keep the toss approximately 18 inches in front of your left hip (right hip for left handers).

4. Cup the ball in your toss hand -- do not grab it with your fingers.

5. Hit the ball at full extension (get up on your toes).

6. A good toss will barely rotate (almost remaining neutral). If it is turning, you are using fingers too much -- allowing the ball to wander away. Set the toss up like a waiter raises a tray of food above his head.

7. A good toss will peak only a few inches above your full extension -- allowing you to hit the ball slightly on the fall.