Develop a routine for your serve. A routine helps to:

• put you in control of the serve
• you concentrate
• you block out distractions
• increases your trust in your serve

When serving, use two parts of your mind: the "Thinker" and the "Doer."

• The Thinker – analyze, self-talk, set goals
• The Doer – motor memory; automatic performance

Phase I: Thinker (ABC)

• Select target zone (A)
• Relax – take a deep breath; be calm and in control (B)
• Set goal for the serve: pace/speed; trajectory; placement (C )
• Imagery – see and feel the serve (C )

• Trust your serve (you have practiced so many repetitions (practice and imagery) that serving successfully should be very strong in your muscle memory)
• Use your serve thought "Straight Line" or "Palm to Target" to trigger your serve (you may also use another serve trigger that helps you (e.g., "Strong and Straight"), but your serve trigger should be consistent (i.e., use the same trigger all of the time)
• Execute – just do it; serve the ball (D); at this point do not think about the serve. Thinking about the serve disrupts the automatic performance; questioning creates doubt, decreases confidence, and slows reaction time. After you have served the ball, get ready for action.

When the ball is dead:

• Observe the outcome of your serve

• Good Serve – reinforce the successful serve through imagery (repeat the serve in your imagery); feel good about your serve
• Missed Serve – correct the error; use positive imagery to correct errors; rehearse proper serving; let go of the error, forget about it

• Move On – focus on the 3 P’s, the Positive Present Performance; what you need to do right now to make your team successful (whether it is execute another serve or defense)

© Dr. Betsy Shoenfelt, Department of Psychology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

Sport Psychology