Moonball Serve Returns - pros / cons / counters

[mnttlrg]

I think it would be interesting / useful to have a discussion about moonballing serve returns. I have seen guys like Nadal use it as a change of pace return with some degree of success, but I am sure there are lots of ways it can hurt you.

When do you use it and why? What would make you avoid using it?

Are there any good instructional videos dealing with this topic?

I think it's also worth distinguishing between a block lob, topspin lob, slice lob, and/or a heavily spinning high attacking shot when addressing this topic.



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[2HBH-DTL]

It can frustrate ball bashers with high floaty balls that land deep. They can take huge rips at it but can struggle to put the ball away against someone who does this and is super fast around the court. I speak from experience. However against a high 4.5 or 5.0 player, they will crush it back down your throat in a heartbeat.

 

[LeeD]

Isn't that junior girls 10 tennis?

 

[Ronaldo]

Isn't that junior girls 10 tennis?

Only when playing seniors

 

[LeeD]

Only when playing seniors

That's the only game that doesn't work against seniors. Against the old fart, you need to hit short low angles, pulling them forwards, until they get to the service line, then you lob forcing them to backpeddle.
Every senior who can play tennis knows what to do with moonballs. They just slice it low and angled, forcing the moonballer to run wide and dig the ball from shoetops.

 

[Ronaldo]

That's the only game that doesn't work against seniors. Against the old fart, you need to hit short low angles, pulling them forwards, until they get to the service line, then you lob forcing them to backpeddle.
Every senior who can play tennis knows what to do with moonballs. They just slice it low and angled, forcing the moonballer to run wide and dig the ball from shoetops.

These days pulling everyone in seems like a layup. No one likes the eyeball to eyeball short game.

 

[heninfan99]

I used it against type A guys that try to crush everything. They can't keep 4 balls in a row on court.
Moonballing off the serve is a wonderful tactic but I would avoid it against a serve & volleyer.

It's much harder and more tiring to create pace off a nothing burger than to reflect back pace.

I think it would be interesting / useful to have a discussion about moonballing serve returns. I have seen guys like Nadal use it as a change of pace return with some degree of success, but I am sure there are lots of ways it can hurt you.

When do you use it and why? What would make you avoid using it?

Are there any good instructional videos dealing with this topic?

I think it's also worth distinguishing between a block lob, topspin lob, slice lob, and/or a heavily spinning high attacking shot when addressing this topic.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mnttlrg]

Here are some time codes where they hit some version of the shot I am talking about. They are not necessarily moonballs, but they are very loopy / high returns:
Nadal 0:00
Djokovic 2:02
Nadal 6:07
11:00 Nadal
11:15 Djokovic

It seems like if you can hit it with just the right trajectory / depth / spin, you can force the server to hit a tricky groundstroke off of their feet, thereby neutralizing or even taking over the point.

It doesn't seem mechanically that far off from hitting a topspin lob, which makes me wonder if there's a way to use it even against serve and volleyers.

It may seem silly and perhaps low-percentage, but I don't find it that much harder than trying to perfectly redirect their pace with a line drive deep into the court.

 

[mnttlrg]

That's the only game that doesn't work against seniors. Against the old fart, you need to hit short low angles, pulling them forwards, until they get to the service line, then you lob forcing them to backpeddle.
Every senior who can play tennis knows what to do with moonballs. They just slice it low and angled, forcing the moonballer to run wide and dig the ball from shoetops.

So if I am returning against a big server, and he responds by slicing low at an angle, I consider it a big win for me. What I am trying to counteract is a guy moving 4 steps into the court and hammering my returns in a way that I can't handle.

My goal is to return the ball in a way that neutralizes their advantage. I am genuinely starting to wonder if hitting loopy high junk is often the most viable solution.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

against big serves...
moonball or lob return (aiming deep) is my default return...
high %, ok at neutralizing (rely on my speed to get back into the point).

but if you do it against me a couple times, i'll start s&v... to keep you honest... (ie. volley or overhead your moon ball/lob return)...
which hopefully will make yoiu return lower (then i'll stay back and approach the next shot)
and/or drive more (producing errors)
etc..

then it becomes a rock paper scissors game of how to return

 

[2HBH-DTL]

yup. once the moonballing returns start that's when i start sneaking in after the serve and make em pay for it at net. then it questions what they're trying to do.

 

[atp2015]

Here are some time codes where they hit some version of the shot I am talking about. They are not necessarily moonballs, but they are very loopy / high returns:
Nadal 0:00
Djokovic 2:02
Nadal 6:07
11:00 Nadal
11:15 Djokovic

Djokovic won all 5 of these? I guess you should not use it against him !

 

[mnttlrg]

Djokovic won all 5 of these? I guess you should not use it against him !

He's the one returning on two of them, and it seemed pretty effective on those points.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

It doesn't seem mechanically that far off from hitting a topspin lob, which makes me wonder if there's a way to use it even against serve and volleyers.

If I face a TS lob/moonball to my FH, I will hit an aggressive volley, swinging volley, or abbreviated OH.

If it comes to my BH, I may not be as aggressive but I still feel confident that I can dictate play.

If you can hit it within 5' of the BL consistently, I might be in trouble.

Having said that, I have never played someone whose primary response to my S&V was to TS lob. I have played vs semi-pushers but once they see I'm crashing the net, they realize pushing likely won't work.

 

[revolutiontenniz]

[deleted]