when faced with a fast first serve,

[sportsmad]

when faced with a fast flat serve which method do you find to have the greatest results?

[Voltron]

Hit a winner.

[sportsmad]

do you ever come up against a really quick server you just cant seem to return consistanly like that?

[Voltron]

Nope, never have yet. Either I get aced, or I hit a solid return, BTW my coach has me practice against his 138 mph former pro serve.

[drakulie]

Wow Voltron! You are doing what pros can't do. Maybe Roddick with his weak returns should fire Connors, and hire your coach.

To the OP, depends where the serve is hit. To my backhand (1 hander), I will either slice it back or block it. If I get a good jump then I will take a normal swing. To my forehand, either block it or take a full swing.

[Voltron]

I said solid, not winner(that was a joke). Basically I shorten up my swing and get it back deep crosscourt, nothing more, nothing less.

[Voltron]

And yes, they should hire my coach, two years of tennis, and I'm a 4.5 to 5.0 player

[psamp14]

i tend to block back fast flat serves but as the match progresses i find a way to adapt to those fast flat serves and take a compact swing, and stay ready in case my opponent decides to slow it down considerably in attempt to try to throw me off..then i take a full swing and smack it down the line for a winner :)

[Swinging Simian]

Depending on how well placed this fast serve is If it's to my body blocking is by far the most effective. Either flanks and I tend to slice until I get my opponent's timing/rhythm/tells down. Then I go for compant topspins.

[drakulie]

And yes, they should hire my coach, two years of tennis, and I'm a 4.5 to 5.0 player

Too funny about the coaching comment.

On aother note, I want to see a vid of you playing 4.5 -5.0 tennis.

[Voltron]

You know about that, I probably should. No promises because I doubt my parents would like that(there really particular about that). God, now it sounds like I'm making excuses. I will try however.

[Noveson]

The return I hit usually depends on what side the serve comes to, the spin ect. On my backhand I usually hit kind've a block/compact stroke, while on my forehand I usually slice it(odd I know) or hit deep crosscourt. Most of all though I just try to concentrate on hitting deep no matter what kind've of return I am hitting.

[jackabee]

I think this is an impossible one to decide - as Noveson said it depends on the kind of serve - I would also say the placement of the serve as well. I think it is always good to mix it up if you can as well - I mean that is obvious when you're playing a serve that you can attack off but even when they're coming at 120-130 I think it is best to mix up the block, slice or topspin shot if you can. Off the forehand though I would probably on the majority try and block it back using their pace. On the backhand I would more often than not slice it back as it is the percentage shot but as I said you can never beat the element of surprise :)

J

[dave333]

question: for the topspin forehand return, should you turn your shoulders?

[Freedom]

Answer: Yes. Take a shorter backswing, but still turn your shoulders.

Just do whatever it takes to get the ball in play until you figure out the serve, then you can start being more aggressive with it.

[dima]

If it comes to my forehand I block it back, backhand I slice it.

[Kabob190]

if i am faced with a first fast serve the main objective is to try and get it in the center of my strings and use their power back at them. that or the compact topspin stroke.

[DiabloTS]

You know about that, I probably should. No promises because I doubt my parents would like that(there really particular about that). God, now it sounds like I'm making excuses. I will try however.

Than just don't tell your parents ;)

[Voltron]

Than just don't tell your parents ;)

They both have masters in computer science, they'd know before it was seen twice. Both were programmers, I'd be surprised if they haven't recorded everything I've said so far.

[Sagittar]

slice it down the line , works for me

[Bottle Rocket]

Depends on the moment in the match.

If it is the beginng of a match, I cut my errors down. I get the ball in play, this is when it is time to block the ball back. I get the ball back deep and make it an even playing field. It is too bad the people I play with the best flat serves can't volley.

If I am up in a set, I start taking risks. I start taking full swings, but returning a hard flat serve is a hard thing to do with any consistancy.

If I get behind in a match, I go back to blocking the serve back. If I am completley losing a match I tend to go for it on just about everything...

I much prefer kick serves over flat serves... I feel much more comfortable returning those.

[Redflea]

Boy, we are just all so good...

I think you're missing the most common responses that nobody is talking about:

- Whiff!
- Framer!

:D

[arnz]

They both have masters in computer science, they'd know before it was seen twice. Both were programmers, I'd be surprised if they haven't recorded everything I've said so far.


I believe you, truly I do....NOT:p

[Voltron]

I believe you, truly I do....NOT:p

Well, know this, there is no way I could get away with that. Trust me on that if nothing else.

[Voltron]

I believe you, truly I do....NOT:p

Part of that is exaggerated, can you tell which part arnz?

[OrangeOne]

And yes, they should hire my coach, two years of tennis, and I'm a 4.5 to 5.0 player

Basically I shorten up my swing and get it back deep crosscourt, nothing more, nothing less.If you're 4.5-5.0, and you haven't come up against someone who serves in a way that prevents you having a controlled shot except when they ace you, then you need to play against more people.

Why do people exaggerate so much on these forums? Why is everyone's coach a legendary former pro? Why do people necessarily attach "can do" with "can teach"? Why is everyone able to return 10-foot-kickers at 150mph?

[Voltron]

If you're 4.5-5.0, and you haven't come up against someone who serves in a way that prevents you having a controlled shot except when they ace you, then you need to play against more people.

Why do people exaggerate so much on these forums? Why is everyone's coach a legendary former pro? Why do people necessarily attach "can do" with "can teach"? Why is everyone able to return 10-foot-kickers at 150mph?

I know I do, most juniors don't have that kinda serve though eh? My coach just aces me though, I either whiff, or miraculously get it back deep. By whiff I mean FE. Sorry for any confusion.

[power_play21]

voltron, i just noticed you string crosses 1 pound lower then the recommended tension range. actually, whats your grip size? might not be.

[Voltron]

voltron, i just noticed you string crosses 1 pound lower then the recommended tension range. actually, whats your grip size? might not be.

I do, what about it?

[Voltron]

Recommended tensions are a joke, how can my racquet get hurt at lower tensions?

[OrangeOne]

Recommended tensions are a joke, how can my racquet get hurt at lower tensions?

Agree entirely - why one earth would anyone care about 1lb in the first place (to care about 1lb is to assume accuracy that just isn't there anyways). As you say - why would anyone care about 1lb off the recommended range, especially in the lower direction!

(Cool reply above too about whiffing - I get you now)

[power_play21]

Agree entirely - why one earth would anyone care about 1lb in the first place (to care about 1lb is to assume accuracy that just isn't there anyways). As you say - why would anyone care about 1lb off the recommended range, especially in the lower direction!

(Cool reply above too about whiffing - I get you now)

well i dont care really, i too sometimes have it go down even lower.

i stated below the recommended range as a point of reference.

i was gonna say that when i put stiffer strings like the PHT i like to go that low too, thats all.

but when i put softer polies and softer multis, i like to go higher, was just wondering about that.

im not anal about his stuff.

btw, the tensions in my sig are long gone, im using 57 / 54 and 58 / 55.

edit

wait guess not, its at 57 / 54 on the one w PHT and 62 / 59 on the other.

[sportsmad]

well i only asked this question because i was going to play in the aus open and in case i came up against safin or roddick.but it didnt matter any way because mum wouldnt let me play.i better get off the computer my parents are going to do some programming.
TRUE
duhhhhhhhhhhh:-D