Slice Return

[BCTennis]

I am a level 4.0-4.5 junior player. Starting now there are many big and powerful guys with monster serves that has good placement( I'm only 5'6 and 160 pounds, and I maxed out my serve at 114 mph) However, I consider myself as a horrible returner. I slice everything, backhand and forehand, on even the slowest serves. My backhand slice return is in fact incredibly good against junior players, as many of them have a hard time ripping the low skidding slice. But my forehand return looks like a JOKE. It either just drops over the net, or its a float slice easy to be pounded. Any tips on forehand returns? What should I practice?

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Depending on your grip choice. If you have an eastern(ish) grip, you have a fairly easy time blocking back serves if it's within your reach. Use the serve's pace and focus on making good contact with the ball off the bounce, take it early, and block it back with good placement (if you can).

Lastly, you don't want to slice ALL the time so that your opponent knows it's your go-to (or perhaps the only shot).

If you have a western(ish) grip, I'll have other people help you. But still, your focus should be take it early, use the pace of the serve, and block it back deep/good placement.

I know this wasn't your question originally, but if you're a junior, there's no reason why at 5'6, you're ~160lbs. I'm not picking on you, but it'll be tremendous for your game if you can drop at least 10 pounds.

[mikeler]

Once you start slicing your returns, it is difficult to break out of the habit for at least the remainder of the set. You need to go for your returns right off the bat and at least see if you can hit through the ball. The slice return is always going to be there as a backup if you need it.

Do you play doubles? The reason I ask is that it is much more difficult to get away with a slice return and it forces you to come through your returns.

[BCTennis]

Oh haha, Im an amateur bodybuilder as well. I know its not good for my tennis game, but at times it proves to be helpful because i can outpower most people. It also helps my serve because im short, but my upper body strength can cover that problem.

[BCTennis]

Good question- the reason I asked about slice returns is because im starting to play doubles as well. I find that people just absolutely murder my slice shots. Thats why i want to practice topspin or flat returns.

[julian]

Originally Posted by BCTennis

I am a level 4.0-4.5 junior player. Starting now there are many big and powerful guys with monster serves that has good placement( I'm only 5'6 and 160 pounds, and I maxed out my serve at 114 mph) However, I consider myself as a horrible returner. I slice everything, backhand and forehand, on even the slowest serves. My backhand slice return is in fact incredibly good against junior players, as many of them have a hard time ripping the low skidding slice. But my forehand return looks like a JOKE. It either just drops over the net, or its a float slice easy to be pounded. Any tips on forehand returns? What should I practice?

If you are from a Boston area please get in touch with me via an E-mail
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[slowfox]

Until you develop a more driving return, your slice can still be effective. Just do a high floater deep to the middle of no man's land. (Nadal does that often.) Assuming you're a baseliner.

[BCTennis]

Oh sorry I live in Canada

[BCTennis]

Originally Posted by slowfox

Until you develop a more driving return, your slice can still be effective. Just do a high floater deep to the middle of no man's land. (Nadal does that often.) Assuming you're a baseliner.

Yes I agree. My backhand slice is very effective and can draw lots of misses. However my forehand slice is very weak and often too short.

[arche3]

Originally Posted by BCTennis

I am a level 4.0-4.5 junior player. Starting now there are many big and powerful guys with monster serves that has good placement( I'm only 5'6 and 160 pounds, and I maxed out my serve at 114 mph) However, I consider myself as a horrible returner. I slice everything, backhand and forehand, on even the slowest serves. My backhand slice return is in fact incredibly good against junior players, as many of them have a hard time ripping the low skidding slice. But my forehand return looks like a JOKE. It either just drops over the net, or its a float slice easy to be pounded. Any tips on forehand returns? What should I practice?

If you have friends with big serves have them practice serves to you. You practice actually hitting them back with top spin.

[BCTennis]

Ok so bascially practice makes perfect. But I still would like to know if I should drive through the ball more or return with spin. Or does that depend on the speed of the serve?

[OHBH]

Originally Posted by BCTennis

Ok so bascially practice makes perfect. But I still would like to know if I should drive through the ball more or return with spin. Or does that depend on the speed of the serve?

I always try to drive the ball more. A slice only going to get you into the point unless you place it very well and can really put you at a disadvantage if it pops up a little short. Drive the ball deep with good pace and you are in pretty good shape to start the point unless you put the ball right on their racket.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by BCTennis

Ok so bascially practice makes perfect. But I still would like to know if I should drive through the ball more or return with spin. Or does that depend on the speed of the serve?

I like to put returns in the court so I go for more spin. A few of my opponents love to tee off on my 2nd serve with flat returns. They have a few winners but also quite a few misses.

[BCTennis]

Ok, so it really depends on the speed/height of the ball. So on higher slower balls I should rip through flatter(maybe down the line?), and on lower balls I should brush up deep cross court? Where do most advanced players place their returns?

[arche3]

Originally Posted by BCTennis

Ok so bascially practice makes perfect. But I still would like to know if I should drive through the ball more or return with spin. Or does that depend on the speed of the serve?

This is my opinion.
Against a big server you need to just redirect the first serves back to hopefully neutralise the serve. Hard to do. So just focus on meeting the ball properly and use the pace of the serve for your return. On second serves it is my belief that you should attempt to at least get the point to neutral. Good servers have good second serves too so that is hard to do as well. But it is easier to rip a return if you happen to get one that sits up in your strike zone.

Good Big servers are used to winning their serves. You need to accept that fact he will win most. Your job is to at all costs hold your own serve. And do something to break his confidence enough to get a break on his serves. To do this you need to have a return he feels if he let's up even a little you will take control of the point. Do this enough times and he might crack enough for a break.

So you need to have a driving return with placement. He needs to know if he gives you anything in your wheelhouse you will pound it. If all your doing is floating them back it does nothing to rattle him. He knows he can go safer on his serves and still control the point.

So practice returns.

[arche3]

Originally Posted by BCTennis

Ok, so it really depends on the speed/height of the ball. So on higher slower balls I should rip through flatter(maybe down the line?), and on lower balls I should brush up deep cross court? Where do most advanced players place their returns?

On higher slower 2nd serves to the fh rip it DTL. Both sides. Or severe angle cross court to pull him wide. To neutralise a good second serve just high and deep with a lot of pace and top spin.

It also depends what the opponent doesn't like

[BCTennis]

Originally Posted by arche3

This is my opinion.
Against a big server you need to just redirect the first serves back to hopefully neutralise the serve. Hard to do. So just focus on meeting the ball properly and use the pace of the serve for your return. On second serves it is my belief that you should attempt to at least get the point to neutral. Good servers have good second serves too so that is hard to do as well. But it is easier to rip a return if you happen to get one that sits up in your strike zone.

Good Big servers are used to winning their serves. You need to accept that fact he will win most. Your job is to at all costs hold your own serve. And do something to break his confidence enough to get a break on his serves. To do this you need to have a return he feels if he let's up even a little you will take control of the point. Do this enough times and he might crack enough for a break.

So you need to have a driving return with placement. He needs to know if he gives you anything in your wheelhouse you will pound it. If all your doing is floating them back it does nothing to rattle him. He knows he can go safer on his serves and still control the point.

So practice returns.

Thank you for clarifying things.
I think these are very good points. I noticed that my serve falls apart when I feel pressured that the opponent could threaten me with a driving shot off my second serve. So it should be the same for other servers as well. Sorry to ask one more question(you seem to know a lot about returns) What is considered good placement on a block return off a strong first serve?

[arche3]

Originally Posted by BCTennis

Thank you for clarifying things.
I think these are very good points. I noticed that my serve falls apart when I feel pressured that the opponent could threaten me with a driving shot off my second serve. So it should be the same for other servers as well. Sorry to ask one more question(you seem to know a lot about returns) What is considered good placement on a block return off a strong first serve?

Well against really good servers with a big first I consider a good return one that goes in the court. Lol. Even if you watch pros you will notice they are just trying to get it into the court however they can. Good servers have a lot of variety. Or just too much heat to deal with effectively.
If the guy serves big but lacks variety I'd suggest anticipating the same serve and picking a spot he doesn't like. Usually I like to hit it back at his feet deep middle of the court or the BH corner is always safer. The thing is if you block back a serve it is really a defensive shot. It you give too much angle you will get run around like mad. I'd stay away from most peoples fhs blocking a return.
The point is if your talking about people with real consistent and strong serves you can only hope to bring the point to neutral. And any easy second serve openings you have to take control of the point because they won't come too often.

So the best way to be a better returner is to make your own serve better so you can take more chances on your serve returns. Since you have less chances of losing your own serve.

[Bowtiesarecool]

For me, I had to focus on leading with the hand and letting the racquet come around on it's own. Otherwise, I found myself taking too much of a backswing on the return.

[BCTennis]

Originally Posted by arche3

Well against really good servers with a big first I consider a good return one that goes in the court. Lol. Even if you watch pros you will notice they are just trying to get it into the court however they can. Good servers have a lot of variety. Or just too much heat to deal with effectively.
If the guy serves big but lacks variety I'd suggest anticipating the same serve and picking a spot he doesn't like. Usually I like to hit it back at his feet deep middle of the court or the BH corner is always safer. The thing is if you block back a serve it is really a defensive shot. It you give too much angle you will get run around like mad. I'd stay away from most peoples fhs blocking a return.
The point is if your talking about people with real consistent and strong serves you can only hope to bring the point to neutral. And any easy second serve openings you have to take control of the point because they won't come too often.

So the best way to be a better returner is to make your own serve better so you can take more chances on your serve returns. Since you have less chances of losing your own serve.

Ya you're right. Most pros just block back huge serves(except djokovic).
And because I have taken up my game to the next level I'm facing other top juniors. Some of my opponents can place the ball perfectly in the corners with great speed, so its hard for me to break. I myself have a powerful service game, but I have a bad return game.