How to return a hard flat serve?

[crystal_clear]

I switched my grip to continental - eastern grip from SW grip to block the serve back and it works better than my SW grip.

Am I doing alright?

What is the proper grip for return of serve? Flat serve, kick serve or slice serve? Thanks~

 

[Hot Sauce]

Yeah, that's fine. When I'm returning hard serves and I want to block, I use continental on both wings with some slice.

 

[Fedace]

Continental would work if you are chipping it back with slice. Otherwise, if block return, you can just use the normal grip that you use but it is more of the motion that is different. Block return is more like a Volley, very short backswing but still with a good followthru.

 

[masterxfob]

Yeah, that's fine. When I'm returning hard serves and I want to block, I use continental on both wings with some slice.

that's exactly what i do, although i wish i could read the ball better so i could pound the return back.

 

[Fedace]

that's exactly what i do, although i wish i could read the ball better so i could pound the return back.

many ways to read the serve. Agassi was the Master. Toss is the easiest way, but you can read the eyes as well. or way the feet are placed before the motion starts.

 

[Nellie]

Honestly, I would try to hit the return of serve like your regular groundstrokes, but with a shorter back swing. The key for me, with the different serves is to set up with the back swing to the height of the serve. So if the ball is low, prepare the racquet low, whereas, if the ball is high, bring back the racquet high. Think about this - if you take back the racquet low (around yuor knees) and the serve is high (e.g., around your shoulders), you will need to take a big cut up at a ball that, leaving you with a small margin for error.

If you are having problems with the speed of the serves then, of course, you can try to block back/ slice with a continental grip motion that is just like your vollies. Again, set up at the height of the serve, or you really struggle (handle below the ball, racquet head at shoulder height, with a step into the ball).

 

[In D Zone]

If I have time and can read direction of the serve, I'd go with SW normally.
But I have used continental, eastern and SW on returning serve to my forehand.

Key is to be able to get your racquet in front of the serve, use a compact swing
and forward motion to block the ball back. I have used the continental primarily to chip the ball back especially when I am stretch wide.

 

[fuzz nation]

Remember to move forward into your split step as you set to return a hard flat serve. That forward motion is the same thing that energizes a good volley and if you're using that same style of shot to deal with this serve, your forward movement will save you the trouble of needing any windup to take the racquet through the ball. If I get stuck on my heels when returning a tough flat serve, I'm lucky if my ball even reaches the net before it bounces.

 

[Jaewonnie]

i'm gonna add to your question, how do you return a flat serve coming straight at you ?

 

[fuzz nation]

It might be the case that you can only lob that return back deep when it's coming right at you. I like to use a 1hbh when I have time to set it up, but I use a 2hbh for more aggressive returns or for fighting off a ball that gets in on me. It's just easier for me to manipulate the racquet on short notice that way.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

People use different grips, and in returning, the choice of grip, should be the one that is most effective for you. There is no "standard" answer. Most people, however, return with their normal groundstroking grip- whatever that may be.

The most important thing in returning a hard/flat serve is to, first, get your racket on the ball, and second, get it over the net, deep enough, and/or placed well enough that it causes the opponent some distress.

A hard/flat serve is normally an attempt at an ace- so they are hitting the ball (if they can) beyond your reach. So the main thing for you to do is 1) give yourself room to react to the ball/serve. Take a step back if necessary. 2) Watch thir racket strike the ball and determine where it is going- left or right- or right at you. 3) Crouch down, since the bounce will be low, get down there where the ball is. 4) Have tension in your legs. Be ready to push off/turn/step into the ball. 5) If it is really a fast ball, you do not have time for a big, full stoke. Keep your stroke simple- much of your work (as far as powering the ball back) will be done for you with the server supplying the pace. 6) Have some idea of what you want to do with the ball as you are sending it back- depth, down the line, crosscourt, spin.

But, first, get your racket on the ball, if not, all the rest, well, becomes pointless.

 

[autumn_leaf]

i'm gonna add to your question, how do you return a flat serve coming straight at you ?

if you're quick enough side step it to use the stroke you're comfortable with, otherwise i would try to block it back with a backhand in front of my body.

to OP: only thing i haven't seen posted is to step back to give yourself more time with the serve.

 

[crystal_clear]

i'm gonna add to your question, how do you return a flat serve coming straight at you ?

It is a good question. I can try to block it back with 2hbh if I am lucky.

 

[crystal_clear]

It might be the case that you can only lob that return back deep when it's coming right at you. I like to use a 1hbh when I have time to set it up, but I use a 2hbh for more aggressive returns or for fighting off a ball that gets in on me. It's just easier for me to manipulate the racquet on short notice that way.

Lob it back with my 2hbh ... good advice.

 

[Kirko]

Splendid ! >>

I switched my grip to continental - eastern grip from SW grip to block the serve back and it works better than my SW grip.

Am I doing alright?

What is the proper grip for return of serve? Flat serve, kick serve or slice serve? Thanks~

especially if you pulled it off more than once. its pretty tough to "tee-off" on a return of serve.

 

[crystal_clear]

especially if you pulled it off more than once. its pretty tough to "tee-off" on a return of serve.

What does that mean?

 

[chunlimeyers]

The biggest key for me is to simply move back. Most of the time on a flat serve, it is going to be down the T going for an ace. So, also, you can anticipate this. Moving back 6 feet or more behind the baseline makes that hard hit serve much less hard, and gives much more time to hit a proper return. If he can also hit angles, your screwed.. haha But, not really, as at least your protecting the shot he surely is going to try, say, 80 percent of the time in my experience, though each server varies. A wise pusher once told me, "Play to their favorite serve, forcing them to serve something they don't like".. And, it works.

 

[ttbrowne]

A 4.0 guy that I play in doubles on a regular basis has one of these. It just seems to skip with no spin at all. I found that ,for some reason, using an eastern grip gets does the best returns for me. Guess it's cause there's no room to get under the ball??

 

[120mphBodyServe]

For hard serves, use continental on backhand and eastern on forehand, if you're just blocking it back using the pace and hitting with no slice.
Another thing that people forgot to mention is, have your body weight moving FORWARD.

 

[acehole]

i swing a regular groundstroke on both sides. i prefer the hard flat serve because the trajectory is more stable and power is provided. when i return a serve that big i will gererally put it right back to the servers feet. it is exponetially easier to send the ball back on the same line it came in on.
a drill i do with my players to build a solid return of big serves is this.
i make then return swinging volleys. they stand about halfway between the service line and base line. i feed them balls that they take out of the air with with a stroke that is 50% power and 50% placement. the ball will be coming in with all the power they need, so their task is to take the ball a little below shoulder height (with no bounce) and direct it with top spin. this teaches them that the position of the racquet at contact is much more important than the speed of their swing. i have a good bit of success with this method. as they improve i increase the speed of the balls fed to them and before to long they are able to relax, and redirect power. also try loosening your pointer and middle finger slightly for the return

 

[LeftySpin]

What everyone else says, just slice it back, even floating it isnt a bad idea, as long as its a deep return. The point of a powerful serve is to get an ace or to set up the point for a finish at the net. Keeping it deep will take both of those away.