Ding Ning's reverse Tomahawk serve

Is Fukuoka Haruna's serve a reverse tomahawk

thx 

I've seen DN use this in the flesh.  Down 2 sets to zero against LSW, she started using the tomahawk, both forehand and backhand.  LSW, who has played DN countless times, fluffed numerous returns and let her back into the match.  LSW eventually won 4-3, but not until after an almighty tussle.  The greatest match I have ever seen.

The thing about DN's serve is not that she just varies forehand and backhand.  She also varies placement, spin and speed.  This isn't something we really pick up in videos, but in the flesh it is the most awesome thing imaginable.

From the same position, we can get under or top side spin towards both sides, there is no other serve offering that. That would be the only advantage to me, giving away less information before the serve starts. At a high level it might be the edge that people can't afford not to take if they develop the serve but I feel like at mine, the investment to get it stable in a match is huge compared to the added value. There are so many compartments of the game that would have priority. But again there is the fun factor that is a totally valid motivation. That serve is utterly cool and it works, there is nothing wrong in showing off and surprise people in a last game deuce for example but there again I disagree, keeping secret serves for the end is not a sound strategy. It's got to be all or nothing.  Gimmicks are just that, gimmicks.

Thinking of that serve my conclusion is always the same: make it so it can be your only serve (develop it fully, not like a gimmick) or don't touch it. Then the pendulum, reverse pendulum (I got those about ok), the bh (it is a very hard one to me because the touch and contact are trickier) and the crouching tomahawk (I began using it but let it go) are all at the same level and the server is scary.

Let's also keep in mind that for every new serve, a new third ball must be prepared for. 

To me the pendulum is the safe way, the reverse pendulum is the safe way with a twist (or when I want the ball back on my fh), the crouching tomahawk is ninja do it all while from the bh is the ultimate serve because the dominant position (I'm not going to move from here) and the hiding of intentions the latest in the serve. It is the hardest to me.

Note: I posted a comment about a year ago in the forehand serve video which begins with "Thank you for a good lesson!" Some should find it quite amusing.