Ball trajectory on a serve around impact...

[stotty]

Why would you think that there would be a slight upward movement after contact?
Just curious... Is it because the movement of the racket at contact?

Because we hit up the back of the ball to create kick...or at least that is what it feels like. The racket prior to contact is angled in such a way so as to move left to right (right-hander). Just seems logical that there must be at least some hitting up on second serves where kick is involved.

I guess we can do the math on whether a ball can leave the racket moving upwards yet still hit the service box. It would be a Howard Brody exercise to work that one out.

[lobndropshot]

http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/~cross/TRAJECTORIES/42.%20Ball%20Trajectories.pdf

explains how to calculate the magnus effect.