Returning like Andy Murray: Moving starting far back, and moving forward?

[Mansewerz]

When we watch Murray playing, it seems he is returning from very far back. But in reality, he starts far back, and takes steps forward as the server is in his motion.

Such as in here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxg4TfFRedE

Would this be a good strategy to use? It seems like it encourages moving forward.

[ChuDat]

Well to me it's a good strategy but only when I'm returning a flat serve. If I'm returning a kick I usually step into the court.

[Mdubb23]

Well to me it's a good strategy but only when I'm returning a flat serve. If I'm returning a kick I usually step into the court.

No, really? You actually want to give yourself more time to return a faster ball? I never would've guessed.;)

And, yes, it's a good startegy, not only because it ignites your momentum, but also because, if you do it loudly enough, it can throw off your opponent.

[ronalditop]

No, really? You actually want to give yourself more time to return a faster ball? I never would've guessed.;)

And, yes, it's a good startegy, not only because it ignites your momentum, but also because, if you do it loudly enough, it can throw off your opponent.

to me thats bad sportsmanship. i rather lose than cheat.

[ChuDat]

No, really? You actually want to give yourself more time to return a faster ball? I never would've guessed.;)



No need to be cruel. I've seen some player return fast serve from inside the court.

[beckham]

I've used it recently, and it's great, gets me moving into the ball for more penatrating returns.I like it.

[jasoncho92]

to me thats bad sportsmanship. i rather lose than cheat.
I too would not do it, but bad sportsmanship and cheating are completely different things so dont get them mixed up like that.

[FedererISBetter]

to me thats bad sportsmanship. i rather lose than cheat.

I blame the person serving for the lack of concentration for one, and two for disrespect from the receiver lol

[naylor]

It's a standard move to get your weight moving forward to intercept the ball.

If you're waiting stationary and leaden-footed, if the serve goes to the corners of the box your first move is sideways (and often a lunge) and you have to cover more distance to intercept the ball; and if it comes at you you have to get out of the way and away from the incoming ball to make room to block/swing. Even if you're moving slightly the wrong way (say, favouring left but the ball comes to your right), it's easier to correct direction if you're moving than if you're stationary).

Also, it's easier on your body. Turning in a specific direction once you got moving is less explosive than starting a move with a sharp push off one leg to lunge in the opposite direction. So it's quite a good technique to learn for when you get older but you still want to play reasonably good tennis.

[GPB]

I always try to set up farther back than it seems necessary, and then step in and split step as my opponent makes contact with the ball. This loads my calves and gets them ready to explode in whatever direction they need.

Check out the fuzzyyellowballs explanation of the return of serve here: http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/videos/.../Step_1_Tennis_Service_Return_Step_Up_and_Split (http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/videos/index.php/view/965/136/Step_1_Tennis_Service_Return_Step_Up_and_Split).

[matchmaker]

Interestingly the return strategy on tour seems to have changed. You often saw Agassi standing on or even inside the baseline to return serves. Federer rather stands back a little, using the extra time for the ball to get to him to run around his BH and to hit a devastating FH return.

Nadal and Murray are players who stand back even further. Although I wouldn't consider the former to be a great returner, he often coughs up too short returns. The latter does seem to use his return very effectively at times, immediately putting the ball deep and putting pressure on his opponent to deal with the return.

[naylor]

Agassi was very good at taking the ball on the rise with a very short backswing, so by standing inside the baseline he could do so off either side, cutting the angle and therefore not needing to move too far either side. But of course, to be effective he also had to read the serve right as to which side it was coming too (and was so good at it that it was a read rather than a guess).

Most players need more time, hence they stand further back. And what claycourters do is to stand even further back, to take a big carve at the ball when it's dropping. What Murray does is to set about it like a claycourter (in terms of buying some extra time), but as soon as he sees where the serve is going his forward movement helps him take the ball early and go for a deep placement.

[Nickk]

I always try to set up farther back than it seems necessary, and then step in and split step as my opponent makes contact with the ball. This loads my calves and gets them ready to explode in whatever direction they need.

Check out the fuzzyyellowballs explanation of the return of serve here: http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/videos/.../Step_1_Tennis_Service_Return_Step_Up_and_Split (http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/videos/index.php/view/965/136/Step_1_Tennis_Service_Return_Step_Up_and_Split).


That's a great vid and helped me tremendously as the newb that I am. I was recently in a group lesson(my first lessons ever) and the instructor told me to step back first and it just felt wrong.

[raiden031]

That is the way I learned to return serve (watching fuzzyyellowballs.com video) so I'd say its good to do.