Problem: Player X has a very flat first service but seldom gets it in (over hits it). Plus, he/she just pushes his/her 2nd serve over. It goes in, but is always short and weak (he/she under hits it and places his/her partner in a very defensive postion).

Cure: Realize first that the 80 miles per hour (mph) serve seldom goes in. Then realize just getting your 2nd service in will not allow you to improve.

Make an estimate of the speed of your 1st and 2nd serves. Let's say you think you hit your 1st serve around 80 mph and your second serve around 40 mph. For several weeks, while in match situations, hit both your first and second serves the same exact way, except hit them at only 3/4 the pace of your current 1st serve. (In this example, that would be 60 mph).

What you will discover right away is this -- you may not be serving any aces, but you will be getting in a higher percentage of serves (which is psychologically in your favor). Your new pace will be significantly higher than the pace of your old 2nd serve. Then, over the course of several months you will become more confident and comfortable with your new 3/4 speed serve. This will eventually become your new 2nd serve, thus giving you more confidence to hit your 1st serve like you wished (80 mph).

Note: As you become a more accomplished server, you will think about maintaining the same racquet speed on both your 1st and 2nd serve. The exception is, you will drive (hammer, hit through) your 1st serve and add more spin on your 2nd serve (hitting more of a glancing or brushing motion with slice or topspin).