How to _return_ a kick serve?

[peter]

I must learn how to handle the kick serves... I'm in big trouble every time I meet guys that can perform kick serves. And this always happens in tournaments since my normal practice partners doesn't hit any kick serves.

Anyway, I've noticed that I return slightly better when I stand quite a bit inside the baseline so I can take the serve early on. But it's still not a good solution (I still spread the balls all over the place).

What other tips can you give that I should try?

[Except for finding a practice partner with a good kick serve ]

 

[andreh]

Have you tried slicing the returns?

 

[TwistServe]

Well you can either take the ball on the rise or stay well behind the baseline and take it when its at your comfort height. Look at where Roddick stands when returning second serves. He actually stays back more.

Also if you have a good forehand (and semi or western grip), you can usually pound the ball no matter how high it is. If it goes to your backhand, then you may have to use a defensive stroke. Thats why you see lots of people doing inside out forehands to attack kickers.

 

[TennsDog]

I usually just block back tough serves that are too high for comfort. I stick with a 1HBH on serve returns, especially for ones like these where 2 hands are not easy to use so high up. I was told before that it is fine to simply block back serve returns, just make sure they get pretty deep.