serve footwork

Question
Can you tell me the proper footwork for an overhand serve?  She is a right hand hitter and she was taught two diffent foot patterns from two experienced coaches.  Is it start with left foot forward, step right and hit at the same time then step left?  The other coach has her start also with the left forward, then throw and as she throws step with the right and then step with the left as she hits the ball.  I'm not sure which is correct and it is confusing her to the point that she can't even hit the ball anymore.  Please help her understand the proper footwork during a serve.  Thank you.

Answer
Good afternoon!

Thank you for visiting www.allexperts.com!

Both footworks sound odd to me.  Either I'm not understanding what you're typing, or I do understand and don't remember ever seeing either.  

When you say "experienced," are you saying they've been coaching for 10 or 15 years?  If so, the footwork they're teaching her is so unusual/unique.  

a) Let's assume your daughter isn't really strong and has trouble overhand serving.  If this is the case, then footwork is probably not her issue at all.  Lack of physical strength is.  I'm saying that on her best day, she 10% of her serves don't even make it to the net.  If this is the case, then please read the other answers that I've given in the past few months.  

b) Let's assume your daughter is strong enough to serve overhand.  In other words, let's say her serves always goes over the net unless she makes a goofy mishit or is purposely trying to really serve low.  Then your daughter should limit her serving procedure to nothing more than "toss, step with left, hit".  That's it.  For 100% of right-handed girls who are both strong and have had good coaching, the right foot either does nothing or drags behind the girl after as contact is being made.  No. Girls who are strong and proficient right-handed servers don't step with their right foot during their serve.

c) Let's go a step further, and let's say your daughter is a 5'9", 160 pound beastly athlete.  (Beastliness is a complement for females here!) Then the little footwork I just described is often too much body movement!  These girls may use no footwork at all, and just "toss & hit" w/o taking any steps.  Yes, this will limit the power of their serve -- which is just what we want.  And after a girl becomes accustomed to it, she will see experience a nice fringe benefit:  increase control of the serve.  

I hope this helps.  If you have more questions, please ask me!  And if you have a moment, please visit me at www.coachhouser.com.  I think you'll like all the smiling faces!

Coach Houser
Roanoke, VA