How do you like to return kick 2nd serves to your BH?

[torpantennis]

So this is a basic very common match situation: You're both right handed (or both left handed...). Opponent likes to hit almost all his 2nd serves as high bouncing kick serves to your BH. You're expecting that serve, and then the opponent hits it. What is your most common tactic to return that kick 2nd serve? Let's limit the poll and the thread into the WIDE kick serve, not the one down the T.

 

[spaceman_spiff]

I'll actually use two different returns, depending on the situation (placement of the serve, opponent's positioning, trends in previous points, etc.).

Usually, I'll go with the topspin BH hit on the rise. But sometimes, if I feel like going for a sharp angle or I've decided to chip and charge, then I'll go with the slice hit on the rise.

 

[Capulin Zurdo]

Typically I like to slice kick serves to the backhand.

 

[movdqa]

It depends on the situation but if he's hitting it there consistently, then I like to stand well inside the baseline and hit it on the rise - and this is on hardcourts. On clay, I'm more likely to stay back and slice the ball back as it's harder to time the return where the bounce is inconsistent.

 

[Easy Rider]

I voted for something else, cuz I mix it up : Bh spin on the rise or bh slice on the rise
Edit : Im 1handed bh

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Against folks with really big kicks i need to move forward to about 3-4ft from the service to return the ball, before the ball has a chance to kick and jump over my head. I'm only 5'4", so if I stand at the baseline it'll be over my head when I make contact.

 

[MisterP]

Apparently I like to stand there like a bump on a log until the very last second when I swing my racquet vaguely at the ball and watch as it sails high over my incredulous opponent's head down the line and paints the baseline for a winner. #lateandluckybaby

 

[Shroud]

I'll actually use two different returns, depending on the situation (placement of the serve, opponent's positioning, trends in previous points, etc.).

Usually, I'll go with the topspin BH hit on the rise. But sometimes, if I feel like going for a sharp angle or I've decided to chip and charge, then I'll go with the slice hit on the rise.

same here. Both are viable returns. It depends on the server and how I am hitting things that day.

 

[torpantennis]

Personally, I like to return those wide kick serves with topspin BHs, on the rise from well inside (5-10 ft) the baseline. That way, I don't give up any court positioning and I can more easily contact the ball at a good height.

People on TTW often say that "it's very hard to hit on the rise", but IMO it's not all that hard. Surprisingly, most like to indeed return the kick serve on the rise, either topspin or slice. I wonder if these are the same people who claim that hitting on the rise is difficult?

 

[10isMaestro]

While I did answer that I privilege slices on the rise, my response depends on my current habits.

Sometimes, I just get the slice. For some reason, I sometimes get to play it more often and, with such practice, I manage to get the hang of making the ball to bite the ground with a nice, angled trajectory. In these circumstances, I play it because it just works so well.

However, if I get a little more dominant with my opponents -- say, because I happen to move peculiarly well and hit good forehands --, I might also happen to trade slices for more forehands. Unsurprisingly, my slicing skills go off progressively when I do that and, well, hitting a high backhand slice that doesn't bite is like an invitation to hit an approach shot or even a winner. So, when the slice isn't really nice, I go for a top spin backhand. I try to start high and slam the ball downward with some spin -- and, hopefully, I manage to hit such a good cross-court I am no longer into trouble.

This narrative doesn't only apply to kickers -- as a one handed backhand player, people tend to (try to) prey on my high backhand, so the problem can occur in the midst of any rally.

 

[10isMaestro]

People on TTW often say that "it's very hard to hit on the rise", but IMO it's not all that hard. Surprisingly, most like to indeed return the kick serve on the rise, either topspin or slice. I wonder if these are the same people who claim that hitting on the rise is difficult?

In my case, I took "on the rise" as meaning anything between ground contact and the apex. If I respond to a kicker or a high roller on the rise, it actually means I'm catching it around my shoulder, not hitting nearly a half-volley. For other people, this means trying to catch it around their waist -- and that's quite a bit trickier.

In the order of things that you should try, aiming to cut short on the time of your opponent is the last one in line. Unless you're increadibly skilled at hitting rising balls and peculiarly disadvantaged by high balls, moving forward to hit back the serve early in its trajectory is the last thing you should try. You don't seek to hit rising balls and move into the court all the time unless your opponent is good enough to compel you to take the corresponding risks -- and, for most people, that's never the case.

 

[Govnor]

If he's an aggressive player, I would try and take on the rise with topspin. If not, I"ll back up and catch it when it's coming down, again with top spin.

 

[r2473]

If he stays back, slice BH on the rise.

If he comes to net, either lob with my BH or runaround and hit FH on a dropping ball.

 

[Fuji]

I like to take it early with a bit of topspin if it's on my backhand. In general I like to be about 1-2 feet inside the baseline for returning seconds. (I have a 2HBH)

-Fuji