To develop an effective serve it is best to learn control and deception through the use of spin. First learn to slice the serve by using a clock face for visualization. Toss the ball to the normal contact point for a flat serve but instead move across the ball with a 9 to 3 motion with a standard finish. A slice is a great serve to use when playing in difficult weather conditions such as wind or midday sun. You can always drop the height of the toss to limit the effect of wind.
The benefit of a slice serve is to add deception to your serve. If your opponent has begun to run around their backhand when you are serving to the deuce court, it is very possible to take them off the court to the right with a strong slice to the forehand. This would cause your opponent to move back to the center of the receiving area. A slice to the backhand corner of the deuce court that would curve into the body of your opponent would then add the impossible job of handing a ball in the stomach just as they were preparing for another wide forehand.
Your job as a server is to keep your opponent guessing so here is the best way to get there. Learn a slice serve, a flat serve, and a kick serve. With these three weapons in place you have the makings of a weapon.
Mix in some flat serves and kick serves to the backhand and you are well on the way to having a match winning serve.
