Doubles Return of Serve

[theSHAMOO]

I am a player that heavily relies on a slice on the backhand slice. It's not necessarily a weak component of my game, I often use it to my advantage to move opponents vertically on the court or to chip and charge with a deep low slice.

However, after getting my doubles partner absolutely killed a few times when servers target my backhand, I have lost confidence in my gameplan for return of serve. I usually take return of serve on the ad court so that after the initial return I can take inside out forehands.

Is a slice return ever feasible in doubles or should I plan on only blocking/lobbing backhand returns.

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

I'm assuming that ad side righty servers are kicking the ball up more than your used to. This seems to be the general direction of tennis.

Definitely need a flat DTL return that will keep the net player honest.

 

[Purestriker]

I am a player that heavily relies on a slice on the backhand slice. It's not necessarily a weak component of my game, I often use it to my advantage to move opponents vertically on the court or to chip and charge with a deep low slice.

However, after getting my doubles partner absolutely killed a few times when servers target my backhand, I have lost confidence in my gameplan for return of serve. I usually take return of serve on the ad court so that after the initial return I can take inside out forehands.

Is a slice return ever feasible in doubles or should I plan on only blocking/lobbing backhand returns.

Having played with someone who normally plays singles and does this, I can say you are better off lobbing or ripping it. Or at least your partner is better off if you do that. After three games where the slice return was slammed at me, I moved back to the baseline. Which is also an option.

 

[eah123]

The slice return from the ad side is a major part of my doubles return strategy. However, the slice must be short, angled, and low to prevent it from getting picked off.

 

[Dragy]

You still have options with slice return:
- make more of block, flattish slice rather than high RPM slice
- return from closer position so that the net person has less time to react
- hit it lower
- hit it shorter - don’t need to mandatory return deep in such a case (but watch out for if the server abuses short ball to better approach and take the net)
- hit wider angle - since you already applied two previous suggestions and go low and short, it’s safe
- try slice lob CC/DTM every once in a while to make it less predictable

 

[Purestriker]

The slice return from the ad side is a major part of my doubles return strategy. However, the slice must be short, angled, and low to prevent it from getting picked off.

Agree. I use the chip slice. But I don't think that is what OP was doing.

 

[LeeD]

Play the side that your backhand is up the middle. That lows a dtl return for you, shorter court, less need th hit hard. Keep it low and lob when you see opposing net man get anxious.

 

[theSHAMOO]

Play the side that your backhand is up the middle. That lows a dtl return for you, shorter court, less need th hit hard. Keep it low and lob when you see opposing net man get anxious.

I am right handed, I have a harder time slicing inside out if they choose to target my backand, but I can give this a shot.

 

[Shroud]

I am right handed, I have a harder time slicing inside out if they choose to target my backand, but I can give this a shot.

on the ad side SHORT angled bh slice returns can be pretty hard to deal with for most rec players. Key is to make sure they are short and angled. Even if they poach often they still have to volley up. Downside is that is a hard return to pull off consistently. Think of it is a dropshot return.

 

[LeeD]

You have to have SOME skills to play tennis
If, rightie, can't play deuce court, then LOB every time.

 

[Cashman]

You have to have SOME skills to play tennis

not doubles

 

[LuckyR]

not doubles

Huh? You need way more return skills in doubles than singles.

 

[Cashman]

Huh? You need way more return skills in doubles than singles.

Ok grandpa

 

[LeeD]

You have to excuse Cashman..he's a skilled future pro singles player, focused on singles.
Of course, ignorance comes with his inexperience and newbie status, so he's speaking out of his other end.

 

[LuckyR]

Ok grandpa

You are familiar with the server's partner standing close to the net in doubles, right sonny?

 

[Cashman]

You are familiar with the server's partner standing close to the net in doubles, right sonny?

if you are scared of OAP net play then it’s probably best you stick to doubles

You have to excuse Cashman..he's a skilled future pro singles player, focused on singles.
Of course, ignorance comes with his inexperience and newbie status, so he's speaking out of his other end.

take your meds

 

[LeeD]

Funny the posts of Cashman.
Just like 14 year old....clueless, and of course, thinks he knows anything, but he knows nothing.

 

[theSHAMOO]

Glad my post could bring this dysfunctional family together

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

I'll play an entire doubles match sometimes with all slice backhands, I'm lefty and play the deuce side. I have a high level of accuracy though. You've seen firsthand what slices you hit are getting your partner killed, try practicing serve returns with a friend and get to a point where your slice isn't that bad or you have an alternative. Is this one match or 5 in a row, seems like you said only a few times.

To answer your question...I've played entire doubles matches never hitting anything but slice being lefty on the deuce side. I'm pretty surprised a lot of teams abandon down the T serves when backhands are on the outside, but I've played many matches where I hit maybe 4-6 forehands the entire match. I'm only one example, but one is enough to say it is possible.

 

[ubercat]

I ve block slice passed the net guy DTL many times unintentionally. So working on your slice is an option. I should work on it more.

 

[Cashman]

Funny the posts of Cashman.
Just like 14 year old....clueless, and of course, thinks he knows anything, but he knows nothing.

do you speak English by any chance

 

[Dartagnan64]

I think slice from deep returns is a recipe for disaster unless the net opponent is a tree. But taking serves from inside the baseline and directing a short wide slice is a good option. Basically chip and charge.

If you are back deep and can't hit a 2HBH drive CC, then the lob return is your best option.

 

[PURETENNISsense]

Is a slice return ever feasible in doubles or should I plan on only blocking/lobbing backhand returns.

Of course it's feasible. Just needs to be hit hard and low. Or it can be softer and a little bit more floaty if it's placed x-court enough so the opponents can't tag it at your partner.

I typically use it as a chip lob DTL or XC then come in behind it.

 

[socallefty]

It depends on the quality of the slice - if you can hit with enough pace and under spin for it to be a weapon at your level, it is fine. Especially if you have real good control over the target location also. If you hit high, slow and floaty slices, it is a problem for your net partner - just like if you hit high, slow floaty returns when you try to drive it with topspin. Many players have a slower, higher slice shot compared to their topspin shots on returns and then it is not a viable return or passing shot option.

 

[ubercat]

Probably due to my crappy technique I find it easier to put a bit of side on a slice. Slice lob DTM from as side is a bit of fun. It will drift to FH and unless net guy is awake can end up with wide open court. Same side a low short FH slice can tempt net guy. If both get eaten up reconsider

 

[LuckyR]

if you are scared of OAP net play then it’s probably best you stick to doubles

So your point is that you're scared of singles players hitting your returns of serve? Okay. My point is I'm not scared of that.

 

[nyta2]

I am a player that heavily relies on a slice on the backhand slice. It's not necessarily a weak component of my game, I often use it to my advantage to move opponents vertically on the court or to chip and charge with a deep low slice.

However, after getting my doubles partner absolutely killed a few times when servers target my backhand, I have lost confidence in my gameplan for return of serve. I usually take return of serve on the ad court so that after the initial return I can take inside out forehands.

Is a slice return ever feasible in doubles or should I plan on only blocking/lobbing backhand returns.

one of the best returners i've played against, exclusively slices the return... that said he used to do exo's with the likes of ashe "back in the day"...
random notes, in no particular order/priority
* when i poach against him, he seems to be able to decide "at the very last minute" which direction he's hitting to... IMO i think because he can take a very short backswing (vs topspin return), he can pull the trigger, later...
* related, even against good/big serves, he can stand closer or inside the baseline since his contact is later, and his backswing is so short (taking time away from me the poacher)
* his typical return is short and low (he always plays deuce side), so even when i do poach correctly, i'm often digging out a low volley that is hard to attack
* when he does guess my poach correctly, or if he is having trouble with the serve (say a high kicker), his bailout is to hit a high lob (which challenges us to hit overheads from between the service line & baseline)
* to keep me honest he will intentionally go at me even when i'm not poaching, either low at my body, or a "semi lob" to my alley (forcing me to hit a neutralizing bh overhand of force me to switch) - which he will always coordinate with his partner
* if the serve is really giving his bh return issues, his partner will back up to the baseline, and go into lob-queen-mode, which is particularly annoying on a sunny no cloud day, or if slightly windy
imo returning from the ad side, gives you extra margin of safety as it's easier to return cc than inside out bh (mainly because i'm more practiced hitting cc slice from singles)
personally when i'm returning my best (either attacking or neutralizing), i never hit a topspin return,... but sometimes it feels like it requires i higher degree of timing because of the precision (specifically height) required

for OP, imo, work on being very precise about the height of your return,... lob if net person is crowding/poaching the net, chip low if they move back to anticipate the lob

 

[FatHead250]

Slice is fine. Slice can be anything, just like topspin. You can lob or you can attack with it and it depends on your opponents. On a slow kicker move inside and attack with the slice, go both down the line and cross court to keep the netman unsure.

 

[Dartagnan64]

imo returning from the ad side, gives you extra margin of safety as it's easier to return cc than inside out bh (mainly because i'm more practiced hitting cc slice from singles)

That's interesting. I almost never slice returns from ad side unless it's a short high bouncing second serve. Then I'll slice a short out wide return. Everything else to BH is generally a CC drive. IF the poach I'll hit a DTL drive and that keeps them honest.

But on Deuce side I'm like your buddy where I will slice most BH returns into the opposite doubles alley. For some reason I have much better control on an inside out BH slice than an outside in BH slice. And I can hit them sharper with more pace.

 

[nyta2]

That's interesting. I almost never slice returns from ad side unless it's a short high bouncing second serve. Then I'll slice a short out wide return. Everything else to BH is generally a CC drive. IF the poach I'll hit a DTL drive and that keeps them honest.

But on Deuce side I'm like your buddy where I will slice most BH returns into the opposite doubles alley. For some reason I have much better control on an inside out BH slice than an outside in BH slice. And I can hit them sharper with more pace.

i probably return cc bh slice at a higher % because i've practiced it more (eg. in singles when i slice, i usually want to find my opponents bh.. even when i go to the fh (like approach), it's usually straight ahead. seldom do i go inside out slice bh in singles (i also don't play alot of lefties))
i can return inside out slice from the deuce side, but IME it's a specialty shot i've practiced specifically for doubles.

 

[Nostradamus]

is there anyway someone can practice return of serve without another player serving to you ?

 

[nyta2]

is there anyway someone can practice return of serve without another player serving to you ?

but cost probitive for me... mainly because i'd only get it if i had a house with a court on it

 

[Dartagnan64]

i probably return cc bh slice at a higher % because i've practiced it more (eg. in singles when i slice, i usually want to find my opponents bh.. even when i go to the fh (like approach), it's usually straight ahead. seldom do i go inside out slice bh in singles (i also don't play alot of lefties))
i can return inside out slice from the deuce side, but IME it's a specialty shot i've practiced specifically for doubles.

I do more outside out slices in singles. Take that CC BH slice from my opponent and slice it into the FH corner and follow it in. I'm very happy to have my opponents hitting a running FH off a low bouncing slice. Few of them have the shot that can clear the high part of the net and stay in the court. Also plays off the drop shot so that the opponent doesn't' know if I'm hitting short or deep and you can wrong foot them.

 

[Nostradamus]

but cost probitive for me... mainly because i'd only get it if i had a house with a court on it

Too expensive,, NO money and No tennis court in my back yard

 

[Nostradamus]

but cost probitive for me... mainly because i'd only get it if i had a house with a court on it

Also do you know a good way to practive Serve and Volley without a practice partner ??

 

[nyta2]

Too expensive,, NO money and No tennis court in my back yard

true, but it's a better answer than plain-ole-"no"

 

[nyta2]

Also do you know a good way to practive Serve and Volley without a practice partner ??

closest ive done is to shadow the split, first-volley, second-volley, overhead... but obviously not great feedback of whether i'm doing it right or not
theoretically you can time the serve & and an incoming ball from a ball machine, but i was never talented enough

 

[Nostradamus]

closest ive done is to shadow the split, first-volley, second-volley, overhead... but obviously not great feedback of whether i'm doing it right or not
theoretically you can time the serve & and an incoming ball from a ball machine, but i was never talented enough

I always wondered if there is a best way to use the Hydrogen ball machine to mimic the ball coming back after i serve and run in ? I could put the machine on delay but not sure if 10 sec delay would mimic the return ? I have to find out how many seconds for me to be behind the service line at 1st volley position, then maybe i could time the feed from the machine ?

 

[nyta2]

closest ive done is to shadow the split, first-volley, second-volley, overhead... but obviously not great feedback of whether i'm doing it right or not
theoretically you can time the serve & and an incoming ball from a ball machine, but i was never talented enough

actually i do recall someone serving into a rebounder type thing (ball would hit the ground, then the rebounder, then they would volley)
was pretty cool, but i never tried it because:
* the rebounder thing looked solid (think wooden bench turned on it's side), and no chance i'll be lugging something like that around (but would if i had my own court....)
* didn't think i'd get many reps (as i had to hit the serve perfectly just before the rebounder)
* much easier to just call up a buddy and do the drill

 

[WestboroChe]

You should be able to slice a BH return in dubs. But the basic rules apply. Either low and CC or rip it down the line. Lobbing is a good change up too.
If you’re returning a hard serve or a kick serve that jumps up out of your strike zone you will need to develop a flat or TS return otherwise your partner will just have to move back.