whats a good way of keeping your opponent back after they serve

[anbu4ever11]

wondering whats the best way after you return there serve and you hit is short or slightly enough were they come in to get them back on the baseline.is it better for you to try lobbing it or moonballing it to back them up.Taking it as though they would hit an approach shot and come to the net. Ill play anywhere on the court but my chances sky rocket from the baseline more so im looking to see if i can keep them back on the baseline when there serving.any ideas?or what do you do to try and keep them back?

[In D Zone]

I often play against a guy who likes to take the ball early and is very athletic, he just keep charging forward and a good all court player. He's game plan is to take your timing off.

I can pretty hit a good and aggressive return but sometimes I found myself missing a great return because I was not focus (thinking of way ahead of the game.

I had to remind myself of my game plan:

Goal number 1 is to return your ball long - always keep this thought in your mind at all time before returning each serve.

Vary your shot - with slice, block, taking an aggressive cut and a high loopy topspin.
Found the block / punch to be very effective against a heavy fast flat serve to my backhand or body. The block absorbs the blow and returning the same velocity back to the server often jamming him or have him hit back a weak reply.
SLice - when serve wide on both sides. I chop the ball back with enough underspin - low and long.

Attack the 2nd serve - I'd go for the body shot or to the corner on my return. I want the opponent to keep guessing.

Change return from going long to short shots - but use it sparingly. Element of surprise can win you easy point, but be ready for a battle when the opponent caught the bait.

[Bagumbawalla]

Abput 98% of players now days are baseliners and rarely come to the net, unless forced. Against the serve/volley player type player you need to have a good return-- even then, many s/vers will come in behind virtually everything-- since that is their game.

Any sort of lob-moonball type thing will usually only send up an easy ball for them to come in and hit a winner or tough placement.

Try using topspin, keep the ball low and drive it crosscourt to the far corner or, with more angle and spin, to where the service line meets the sideline.

Alternate those returns with a drive down the line.

If you can do that sort of thing all the time, you may keep him back orwin some points outright.

In you can't, then keep the ball low-- so, even if he charges, he will have to hit up on the ball and the pressure will be on him to make a good placement.

[anbu4ever11]

alright thanks for the info guys

[downdaline]

I also suggest varying your type of return. Even u manage to get a good topspin return back, once he gets used to it, he'll begin to come to net.

As long as he doesnt know what to expect, he'll be more tentative when approaching.

[Ballinbob]

you cant do anything if your facing any descent S&Ver... If I hit an aggressive spin serve then I don't see any way I'm going to be driven back. Your best bet is to attack the 2nd serve and go from there. Driving a S&Ver back on their first serve is tough. Just get the return low and you'll neutralize the point for yourself at least.

[Nellie]

If you watch the pros, the return of serve is usually a pretty basic shot, medium pace deep and to the middle of the court to keep the return percentage high. It sounds like your opponent is mostly coming in when you return short. If your opponent is coming in off the serve regardless of your return, then you will need to hit shorter. Often, this means you taking the ball sooner (and further in the court) and blocking the ball back so that it is coming back to the server so fast that they have to hit a shot before they finish their serve motion.

[jasoncho92]

you cant do anything if your facing any descent S&Ver... If I hit an aggressive spin serve then I don't see any way I'm going to be driven back. Your best bet is to attack the 2nd serve and go from there. Driving a S&Ver back on their first serve is tough. Just get the return low and you'll neutralize the point for yourself at least.
You cant do anything to push back any S&Ver on the return of serve. Its either they hit your return back then you lob them, or you hit a winner.

[LeeD]

Only way to keep a determined volleyer off the net is to pass him, lob your ball 2' from his baseline, or hit his knee with a baseball bat.
Seems the last is playing not fair, so resort to the first two.
An oz. of prevention is worth.....
So just return deeper, higher, harder or whatever to keep him back, instead of writing him a formal invitation to crowd the net.
OK, hit dead flat 90 mph into his belly button.

[Mick]

i find it easier to pass them than to lob them because your first passing shot doesn't have to be perfect to get them off balance.
and when they are off balance, you can finish them off with the next shot.

with the lob, if you don't hit it perfectly the first time, guys with great overhead will finish the point for you.

[In D Zone]

If the opponent successfully moved into the net to volley.

First passing shot - I put enough pace (not really hard) to keep him off balance. Key on the first pass is that you make sure to hit the ball where he does not give you an aggressive volley back (you will get killed for sure). I keep my eyes on the ball (not focusing where he is standing at the net) - I want to be able to move quickly to his volley for the next shot (which is going to be more harder or I would fake my shot and lob over him). You got to be prepared to go 2 to 5 shots against a good volleyer. Don't panic... eyes on the ball at all times blocks out any distraction even the fake movement made by the opponent. If you are able to get to the ball first, you'll have enough time to glean over to see where the opponent is position - you'll be able to control the direction of your shot in essence fake and hide your shot till the very last nano second.

Now if he gave me a short volley - forcing me to come in to the net. This is when I would hit a hard approach or volley to his body or to his feet. He is pretty much in your face - not enough room to pass him without him killing you. I know its kinda bad - but its either his or my point. Albeit - he pulled me in to the duel. I will take the ball back at him.