One of the keys to a consistent serve is a consistent toss.  You can improve the placement of your toss by making sure to release the ball from your fingertips rather than the palm of the hand.  This will result in a toss that is out in front of your body instead of behind you.

To ensure you are releasing from the fingertips, place two balls in your hand, go through your service motion but just toss the ball positioned in your fingertips.

With a soft grip on the toss, as though you’re releasing a butterfly from your hand, you will have better control and a loose arm to swing through the serve.

Ben Zaiser is a head tennis professional at the USTA National Campus at Lake Nona in Orlando, Fla.