TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

KICK SERVE [1 record]

Record 1 2011-08-30

English

Subject field(s)
  • Racquet Sports
DEF

A type of topspin serve hit with a combination of topspin and sidespin. The ball not only takes a high bounce, it also flies in a direction opposite of what one would normally expect it to.

CONT

An exageration of the topspin serve turns the service into a kick service or "American twist". A right-hander's American twist serve puts left-to-right spin on the ball. Such a serve can present difficulties for the receiver, particularly on grass where the bounce could be tricky.

OBS

The "kick serve" is also called the "kicker". It became known as the "american twist" or "american twist serve" in the first Davis Cup match in 1900 when the finalists, Holcombe Ward, a Harvard man, and his college friend, Dwight Davis, used the stroke they had developed to beat their English opponents.

CONT

If the kick serve is correctly delivered it can often be followed in so as to make your next shot the volley you might have tried on a successful power serve ... Try to mix the angle of [your] serves and watch for weaknesses in your opponent, e.g., a backhand to a high-kicking serve is not easily played at club standard.

Key term(s)
  • American twist service

French

Domaine(s)
  • Sports de raquette
DEF

Service brossé où la balle rebondit haut et dans la direction opposée à son mouvement original.

OBS

On l'appelle aussi à tort «service lifté».

OBS

Termes connexes : service brossé ou service lifté (ou service à effet toppé).

Key term(s)
  • service lifté
  • service brossé
  • service à effet toppé

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Deportes de raqueta
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