2HBH Return of serve: Need help!

[Mansewerz]

So, today on the return of serve, I could not hit one with my two hander. Ironically, the only BH return of serves I hit in were with one hand (NOTE: they were slices, floater slices, but slice nonetheless).

I whiffed on a couple that were too close to me. It was strange.

Also, they kept flying off the court, like I hit them late.

Any tips to help?

[Mansewerz]

No tips????????????

[David]

I am not an expert but I'd love to help.
Since you said the balls"kept flying off the court, like I hit them late." I think it may because you have too much back swing for the return. I am a 2HBH player, when I return the serve, I try to use shorter swing, which help me get those fast serves back.
another one is the position you stand. I usually will not stand on the corner, instead I stand on the place that is 10 inches inside the single border line.
hope this will help.

[NightBandit]

Mansewerz,

Were you playing singles or doubles? And if doubles, which side of the court were you returning from (deuce or add)? Was your opponent hitting huge booming serves or was he hitting them with lots of spin? It's hard to give you tips without actually seeing your game, but if you were hitting the ball late, you might want to try one of the following: take a step in, shorten up your backswing or make sure that you're stepping forward into your shot.

Then again, maybe you were just having an off night (we all have them).

NightBandit

[NightBandit]

Mansewerz,

I just saw your other thread about the follow-through on a backhand slice. This makes me think that maybe you were thinking too much about your mechanics. Thinking about mechanics during a match will usually mess up your game pretty bad. Work on mechanics during drills or practice and don't think too much during your matches.

NightBandit

[Mansewerz]

Mansewerz,

Were you playing singles or doubles? And if doubles, which side of the court were you returning from (deuce or add)? Was your opponent hitting huge booming serves or was he hitting them with lots of spin? It's hard to give you tips without actually seeing your game, but if you were hitting the ball late, you might want to try one of the following: take a step in, shorten up your backswing or make sure that you're stepping forward into your shot.

Then again, maybe you were just having an off night (we all have them).

NightBandit

I was playing singles. It was on both sides, and the serves were both booming, and other times with spin (topspin that is)

Mansewerz,

I just saw your other thread about the follow-through on a backhand slice. This makes me think that maybe you were thinking too much about your mechanics. Thinking about mechanics during a match will usually mess up your game pretty bad. Work on mechanics during drills or practice and don't think too much during your matches.

NightBandit

Yea, but these were points played out, not a serious match. But good advice, I do overthink it at times.

I am not an expert but I'd love to help.
Since you said the balls"kept flying off the court, like I hit them late." I think it may because you have too much back swing for the return. I am a 2HBH player, when I return the serve, I try to use shorter swing, which help me get those fast serves back.
another one is the position you stand. I usually will not stand on the corner, instead I stand on the place that is 10 inches inside the single border line.
hope this will help.

Yea, I think I'm having too big of a backswing. I'll be sure to try that out.


Any more tips?

[asafi2]

i told u to shorten ur backswing but u didnt listen bra

[Mansewerz]

i told u to shorten ur backswing but u didnt listen bra

Oh, I thought you said not to swing as fast.

[Lejanius]

I use a 2HB and I my service and return are my two biggest weapons actually.

I try to use a real short backswing when I return service, especially at first until I can time the pace of the serve. There are time when you almost have to just block the serve back but for me it is all about the backswing. Also I can hit my 2HB with an open stance if I have too, I know a lot of people can't and one shouldn't if they can help it but when returning serve this helps a lot.

it's all about the backswing though