Estimating Serve Speed From Flight Time

No radar gun? You can still estimate your serve speed. Record the serve in slow motion, measure the flight distance (baseline to service box ≈ 60 ft), and count the frames from contact to bounce. Speed = distance ÷ time, adjusted upward for drag because radar measures initial speed while the ball decelerates in flight.

What the Numbers Mean

Recreational serves sit around 60–85 mph, club-level 85–105, college and ATP challenger level 105–125, and ATP pros routinely 125–145 mph with 150+ first serves at the very top. Placement and spin matter as much as raw speed — a 110 mph kick serve can be harder to return than a flat 125 mph ball.

Accuracy Notes

This estimate assumes a straight-line measurement and typical drag. Errors in frame counting (±2 frames at 240 fps) shift the result by several mph. Treat it as a training marker; official matches use radar or Hawk-Eye.