Do you prefer to return from the ad or deuce side?
- Thread starter dlam
- Start date
S&V Specialist
Rookie
Ad side (unless my opponent has the stupid lefty slice). It's where the most important points are.
goran_ace
Hall of Fame
I'm not a big believer in putting the stronger returner on the ad side. I find this leads to the stronger returner having to save a lot of ad in points and generally playing from behind in the game. I like to put the stronger returner on the deuce side to so he's receiving in the neutral situations (e.g. 0-0 or 30-all) to get ahead in the game, create more break opportunities, and put more pressure on the server. Unless you're playing a clutch big server this can also result in seeing more serves that the weaker returner can get into play or even attack.
dizzlmcwizzl
Hall of Fame
I have two regular partners. For one I play the deuce and the other the ad.
I always go with this philosophy .... if my partner has a strong preference I will play the other side. But if I had to chose I usually go AD side ... especially if it is a lefty.
I love returning leftys.
I always go with this philosophy .... if my partner has a strong preference I will play the other side. But if I had to chose I usually go AD side ... especially if it is a lefty.
I love returning leftys.
kelkat
Rookie
My return is probably one of my strongest aspects my game (doubles). I like the ad side b/c my backhand is much for efficient on this side. I am really able to turn my shoulder and lean into it, where as on the deuce side it's more difficult. However, on the deuce side I can really pull the op out wide with my topspin forehand. But generally, Im an ad girl. Plus are volleys down the middle are forehands
chatt_town
Hall of Fame
fI return well from both sides but several thoughts go into which side I play on any given match. Who I'm playing with and how well they return. I return massive kick serves better from the deuce side....I generally lob it back into play but it is much easier from the deuce side if it kicks away from you.
OrangePower
Legend
Assuming we're talking dubs here, I have a slight preference for the ad court, because my inside out FH return is better than my inside out BH return (I'm RH).
In singles I return better from the duece court because my forehand is generally stronger, and I don't have to go for the BH return inside out (can just hit it DTL).
EDIT: Just saw NLBwell's post - must have been posting at the same time, but I think we're saying exactly the same thing!
In singles I return better from the duece court because my forehand is generally stronger, and I don't have to go for the BH return inside out (can just hit it DTL).
EDIT: Just saw NLBwell's post - must have been posting at the same time, but I think we're saying exactly the same thing!
AtomicForehand
Hall of Fame
I prefer the ad court, because most of the important points happen there, and I tend to be more clutch than most people. I like the responsibility of having to "save" the game or having to win it for the team. Seems to me most people panic when in the same position. I like the pressure.
Makes no difference, except to my partner, who might have his own preferences.
Either side, you still have to go sharp CC most returns, DTL once in 4 if poaching is a tactic, cover mid to high center balls you can reach, so who cares what side you play?
Now if you can't hit CC on one side, you may have a preference.
Either side, you still have to go sharp CC most returns, DTL once in 4 if poaching is a tactic, cover mid to high center balls you can reach, so who cares what side you play?
Now if you can't hit CC on one side, you may have a preference.
InspectorRacquet
Semi-Pro
I return on the ad-side because as a right hander, if I were to swing a bit late on a big serve, I would still direct the ball away from the net person in doubles.
dcdoorknob
Hall of Fame
Similar to a couple others, in doubles, I feel like I'm better on ad, b/c I can hit an inside-out FH better/more consistenly than an inside-out BH. Also my crosscourt BH might be my best shot.
In singles I don't have a strong preference, especially since you've got to do both anyways, I've never spent much time even thinking about it.
In singles I don't have a strong preference, especially since you've got to do both anyways, I've never spent much time even thinking about it.
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Angle Queen
Professional
I'll be contrary. I'm a RH...and prefer to hit returns from the deuce...but would rather play the ad side. Somehow, along the way, I've developed a rather decent inside-out BH (probably out of necessity? and/or just am catching the ball a bit late as I get older/lazier!) and don't have the equivalent on the ad side. Also, I've a similarly decent sharp CC FH. Both reasonably reliable returns.
Love, however, to return and come on in...for a nice FH volley pressure or outright winner on the ad side. I've certainly not developed a nice DTL BH from the ad side . I'll get there as a I play it more.
Love, however, to return and come on in...for a nice FH volley pressure or outright winner on the ad side. I've certainly not developed a nice DTL BH from the ad side
. I'll get there as a I play it more. 
Overdrive
Legend
I'll be contrary. I'm a RH...and prefer to hit returns from the deuce...but would rather play the ad side. Somehow, along the way, I've developed a rather decent inside-out BH (probably out of necessity? and/or just am catching the ball a bit late as I get older/lazier!) and don't have the equivalent on the ad side. Also, I've a similarly decent sharp CC FH. Both reasonably reliable returns.
Love, however, to return and come on in...for a nice FH volley pressure or outright winner on the ad side. I've certainly not developed a nice DTL BH from the ad side
It's no surprise. Look at your location....
atatu
Legend
Agree with this, I feel the deuce side is the much harder side to play and the stronger player should be on that side. I always played the ad side until recently and now I realize I was slacking on the ad side. The backhand return on the deuce side is the toughest shot to hit well.
Mongolmike
Hall of Fame
Same here... I'd rather return from deuce, but would rather play the ad, but generally I will defer if my partner has a strong preference.
On both sides I like to go DTL, but especially on the deuce side... please, please serve me out wide... as wide as you can.... I'll run it down and rip it behind you into the alley.
On the ad side, I have no problem with kickers going wide... it's the rockets to my BH I have trouble with. I've been working on the block slice BH return... I'm just not quick enough to set-up and bring my 1H BH around on fast serves to my BH. Deuce side is ok because being a little late on a BH return still gets the ball cross court in play.
For play, I think it is an interesting debate which side the stronger player should play... I lean towards the stronger player anchors the match on the ad side... I don't have the statistics, but it seems like the ad side faces more game points... to either win the game or lose it... so put the better player there, or at least the steadier player.
LuckyR
Legend
I usually play ad side, but not because of return preference, rather because I usually have a better net game than my partners and I play more net points from the ad side. Needless to say, I am used to returning from there. One advantage for RHers returning from the ad side in doubles is that a lot of doubles players, are really singles players and thus like to serve up the T, which, of course is a FH return from the ad and an inside out BH from the deuce side (very difficult esp when the netman is looking to make a FH poach).
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
I think this theory is very solid.
There is a lot to be said for keeping your opponents under pressure. Personally, I hate serving down break point to the ad court.
In fact, I think I am much more likely to serve well in mixed when the opposing male is in the ad court. If he is in the deuce court and gets me down break point, I can get a little tight serving to the woman in the ad court.
For ladies play, it seems rare to find a woman who likes to poach aggressively on her BH wing. Might as well have the weaker returner on the ad side, who won't feel like she has to work hard to get the ball past an active poacher.
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storypeddler
Semi-Pro
Deuce side. Powerful crosscourt forehand or backhand lob over net man and charge the net.
atatu
Legend
Well if the only shot you can hit on the bh side is a lob, your opponents are going to adjust and pretty soon they will be hitting overheads right at your partner....
dlam
Semi-Pro
i was always naturally better at returning from the ad side.
but I developed equally strong ROS from deuce side.
I dont think it really matters in doubles for me.
I like the Bryans strategy to play the wing that fits better for you at the net.
As they pick the side that like to poach from.
but I developed equally strong ROS from deuce side.
I dont think it really matters in doubles for me.
I like the Bryans strategy to play the wing that fits better for you at the net.
As they pick the side that like to poach from.
corbind
Professional
Ad side for sure...
I can see why people like returning serve from deuce side for the natural FH crosscourt. Yet a serve down the T to the BH absolutely sucks as it's to the weaker wing and often the net man will poach/crush for a winner. Yuck.
- Serve to my BH I naturally hit crosscourt
- Serve to my FH I can hit at the net man or inside out
- Net man less apt to poach as it will go to his BH
I can see why people like returning serve from deuce side for the natural FH crosscourt. Yet a serve down the T to the BH absolutely sucks as it's to the weaker wing and often the net man will poach/crush for a winner. Yuck.
athiker
Hall of Fame
I preferred the ad side for a long time. I think it's easier and the return game is usually not my strong suit in doubles. Easier because most opponents are right handed and are more effective poachers during a deuce serve.
I've worked on shortening my backswing on returns so I'm not late and opening up my stance on deuce returns and have less of a preference now. Still on the deuce side I prefer if my opponent serves to my backhand.
I've worked on shortening my backswing on returns so I'm not late and opening up my stance on deuce returns and have less of a preference now. Still on the deuce side I prefer if my opponent serves to my backhand.
duketennisgal
Rookie
I prefer the ad side because I have a really strong inside out forehand and probably 75% of serves go to my forehand when I play the ad side. However, in women's doubles, I play whichever side my partner feels less comfortable playing and in mixed I tend to play the deuce court bc the man always wants the ad side. I'm fine in the deuce court because my inside out backhand is a pretty strong shot. Also, in mixed most guys tend to serve up the middle to the women's backhand for some reason (at least that's what I've come across). I never understand why that's the case because I think it's much easier to handle a serve with a ton of pace with by two handed backhand instead of a one handed forehand. I always tell my mixed partner to serve to the women's forehand because it's harder for her to get much pace behind it with one hand and it's much easier for me to pick off the return!
deuce
What s/he said. You need better returns from deuce to eliminate poaching, which rarely occurs with service into ad (bh poach for rh net opponent, and a lh net opponent starts at net only one game out of every four games).
Also puts better player into more proactive role shaping future of each return game instead of digging team out of 40-30 points over and over.
What s/he said. You need better returns from deuce to eliminate poaching, which rarely occurs with service into ad (bh poach for rh net opponent, and a lh net opponent starts at net only one game out of every four games).
Also puts better player into more proactive role shaping future of each return game instead of digging team out of 40-30 points over and over.
NoZak Djokovic
Rookie
My return is one of my best shots, i can hit a winner of most peoples serve on the ad side
Nostradamus
Bionic Poster
On ad side. you just have to deal with the big kick serve to your backhand. going inside out with the forehand is easy.
Anyway, there are some Idiot teaching pros that believe, players have side that they return well from and they should always play there. Not true, you should be proficient enough to make adjustments to your partner.
If you are much better player than your partner, you play the AD side because that is where most important points are played. but if you are equal and your 1-handed backhand can't handle the big kick serve then you play the deuce side
Anyway, there are some Idiot teaching pros that believe, players have side that they return well from and they should always play there. Not true, you should be proficient enough to make adjustments to your partner.
If you are much better player than your partner, you play the AD side because that is where most important points are played. but if you are equal and your 1-handed backhand can't handle the big kick serve then you play the deuce side
spaceman_spiff
Hall of Fame
Except smart servers, who will serve down the middle over and over if you have a weak backhand. And then, when you move over to protect your weakness, they slice out wide for an ace.
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
Only if they are 4.5, b/c bellow that in order to serve DTM they will serve from the T and are vulnerable even to BH drop shot returns. I've managed 2/3 yesterday, plus a couple of drive 1HBHs. Not to mention tons of FH returns, cc, flat.
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
Bamboo man, you made me reply to a guy 10 years from the past!@%/×=
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dlam
Semi-Pro
Hey Im the OP from ten years ago
and I still care about your rely
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
There is another new thread on the same topic.
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
Almost everything is a new thread on an old topic that had been posted, if not discussed ad nauseam. Having been around since the early 2000's days, it is interesting to see the different spins and nuance of each iteration. Usually just conidtional and irrelevant information, like when someone says "There was this guy who was using a two handled racquet and playing with the sun in his eyes. He says he is rated as a 4.5, but then said his UTR is like 10! So we start playing and he is calling EVERYTHING close and I start questioning him and he gets pissed, but we continue on. So my question is, do you prefer to play with the sun in your eyes or not?", or you get the point.
Anyway, threadsurrections are fun to see how little is really new, just new people to the same discussions.
Connor35
Semi-Pro
I prefer the ad side for two reasons
(1) Inside out just feels more natural to me and I'm pretty decent at hitting a deep ball to the backyard (for righties) corner off the return.
(2) In doubles, I just prefer that the guy at the net has to hit a backhand poach if I'm going cross court. When returning from the deuce side, with a righty at the net, he can poach with his forehand, and it's a tiny bit easier.
(1) Inside out just feels more natural to me and I'm pretty decent at hitting a deep ball to the backyard (for righties) corner off the return.
(2) In doubles, I just prefer that the guy at the net has to hit a backhand poach if I'm going cross court. When returning from the deuce side, with a righty at the net, he can poach with his forehand, and it's a tiny bit easier.
Absolutely. This is so amazingly obvious, but people believe slogans withou thinking it through. Why is an ad point any more importtant than the point that LEADS to the ad point? Brad Gilbert, in Winning Ugly outlined the idea of the "hidden ad points": 30-0, deuce, 30-15, 30-30. The point that give you a game point or break point. THAT'S where you should raise your game and elevate your concentration. If you wait until a game point or ad point, you've already missed the boat. You put scoreboard pressure on the opponents by getting the lead. That's why you have the better returner return the FIRST serve of each game....from the deuce side. Putting th pressure on the servers right from the git-go.
silverwyvern4
Semi-Pro
People should say if they are lefty or righty at the beginning of their reply.
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