Graham

To perfect your flick serve you need a good helper.

1) ask the helper to toe the service line in receipt of your serve and lift their racket in the air as high as possible. This gives you a good feel for the height the shuttle needs to be to pass beyond your opponent. You need to measure the difference in order to quick size up different opponents of varying heights.

2) read up on new service rules so you don't make the mistake many players do of trying to flick using the old rules.

3) place a box in the corner and flick into the box taking into consideration the height you must achieve to get beyond your opponent. Both speed, height and depth have to be good in order to make this serve effective.

4) many players strike the shuttle when it is too close to their body. This prevents them from getting any momentum or height. Test strikining the shuttle further in front of your body and I expect you will have a pleasant surprise.

5) When you hit the shuttle you need to feel you are hitting through it and not across it – another common fault. This ensure the shuttle is flying quickly.

6) send me your video from different angles and I will take a good look.

7) check you are serving with a backhand grip. I've spotted so many universal grips before and this is not the strongest grip for this serve, hence the lack of power.

8) try serving a few with your racket cover on. It will amaze you when you take the cover off how much more speed you have when hitting the shuttle.

I'll cover your return of the flick serve when I see you video (please make sure you show me lots of examples rather than 1, and post onto youtube, sending me the link.

Good luck

Paul