improving return of serve

[raiden031]

I have a terrible weakness when returning serve on the deuce side in doubles. I have recognized three causes for this weakness.

The first is that when the ball goes to my forehand, I tend to return the ball too much down the line instead of cross-court. I do this in both singles and doubles. In singles its not a big prob but in doubles I get poached because I hit it right to the net person.

The second problem is the difficulty hitting an inside-out 1-handed backhand return. If I hit with topspin I am likely to get poached because I can't control this shot very well. If I slice it my slice is often too slow and gets poached as well.

The third is that in order to try to compensate for the first two weaknesses, I tend to mishit my shots by trying too hard to place them.

Any tips for effectively practicing aspects of the return of serve either against the wall or during match play? One problem is that I can't really find too many people willing to do hitting practice indoors so I really have to incorporate practice into playing sets or hitting against a racquetball court wall.

 

[TonyB]

1. Learn how to hit FH returns crosscourt. This is a bread-and-butter shot for doubles. There aren't many alternatives and very few substitutes. Just practice it and learn it.

2. Having a slice BH isn't the end of the world for service returns from the deuce court. I do it all the time. But you can't float them over. You need a driving slice that clears the net by less than a foot. If you can't do that, then you have to look for alternatives. One option would be to simply lob the return over the netman's head. Assuming the server is a right-hander, then they'll have to hit either a backhand overhead or a high bouncing backhand return. Either way, it's not an easy shot. Of course, returning a hard serve with a flat/slice lob perfectly into the corner of the ad court is not necessarily a high percentage shot, so you're taking some risk.


Find someone to either serve to you or to rally with you crosscourt on the deuce side. There aren't many drills you can do by yourself to simulate service returns. I guess that's maybe why most people are so weak at hitting them.

 

[oldhacker]

HI Raiden - I am trying to address similar problems with my doubles service returns. Here are a few things which are helping for me:

I can especially relate to the problem you are having with the forehand cross court return being too near the netman and it drives me nuts as most people I play singles aginst remakr on what a great cross court angled forehand I hit !

I had terrible problems the other day returning cross court forehand against a leftie server who slices all his serves and I realised that the problem is that I tend to get too close to the ball on return of serve and so get jammed and so cannot hit round the outside of the ball for the angle.I have recognized three causes for this weakness. My tip for this one is to set up for the service return further back than you usually do but take a good step in before the split (watch Andy Murray who does this and is one of the best returners in the game). This seems to give me more time to take a look at the serve, set-up and makes sure I have my weight moving forward. And if you are having a really bad day returning on that side then swallow your pride and start lobbing the return over the net mans head.

My topspin backhand has the same problem. It is my newest shot and I have it pretty consistant and accurate when hitting or playing singles when I have time to set up but it is not good enough to return decent serves in doubles yet. I find 'chiseling' (basically a short backswing low slice taken early by stepping right in with your weight really moving into the court) the ball back on the backhand return of serve is very effective. Taking the ball early takes time away from the netman and so reduces the risk of being poached and I always follow straight into the net which can really throw the server. Takes practice but well worth it. Drill it by getting a friend to serve to your backhand from the service line. Again of you are having a bad day and the opposing net man is gobbling up your returns swallow your pride and start lobbing those return over his head.

I
The first is that when the ball goes to my forehand, I tend to return the ball too much down the line instead of cross-court. I do this in both singles and doubles. In singles its not a big prob but in doubles I get poached because I hit it right to the net person.

The second problem is the difficulty hitting an inside-out 1-handed backhand return. If I hit with topspin I am likely to get poached because I can't control this shot very well. If I slice it my slice is often too slow and gets poached as well.

The third is that in order to try to compensate for the first two weaknesses, I tend to mishit my shots by trying too hard to place them.

Any tips for effectively practicing aspects of the return of serve either against the wall or during match play? One problem is that I can't really find too many people willing to do hitting practice indoors so I really have to incorporate practice into playing sets or hitting against a racquetball court wall.

 

[Ballinbob]

what grip are you usuing for returns?

 

[raiden031]

1. Learn how to hit FH returns crosscourt. This is a bread-and-butter shot for doubles. There aren't many alternatives and very few substitutes. Just practice it and learn it.

In a rally I don't have a problem hitting cross-court. I don't know why I can't control the shot on the return though other than a serve being faster than a groundstroke.

what grip are you usuing for returns?

Same as my normal groundstrokes. I always start off in a continental when waiting to receive.

FH - Semi-western
BH - Eastern-BH
BH Slice - Continental

 

[fuzz nation]

Tony's right; there's not much that can substitute for having someone hit serves to you. If you find the court time and a willing hitting partner, have them serve at you from up near the service line so that they can feed you a realistic ball without wearing out. For me, there's nothing better for improving every aspect of those shots.

A big key for my returns is my setup where I move forward into a split-step upon the server's contact. That forward momentum energizes my shot without my needing to swing too big to hit the ball well - a compact motion can make for a more healthy return. My one handed bh return is dead without that forward motion. The timing for a cross-court forehand from the deuce court is demanding because I think I need to be just a fraction of a second farther ahead of the ball compared to my routine stroke. Some repetitions are helpful for learning to go after it effectively with a minimal backswing.

Although I've embraced the one-hander in a big way, I still use the two-handed bh for some returns to give the ball a quick smack since it's a quicker setup and release for me compared with the 1hbh, even for an inside-out shot. I also don't want to be too predictable on my returns and if I hit a slice all day, a poacher can capitalize on that return too easily. That forward momentum through my return is also a must for that slice - if I get stuck on my heels for that shot, the slice simply can't penetrate the court. I think that the good news on the deuce side is that it's easier to slice up the line (for a righty) than over on the ad side.

Pick one spot to send your return, regardless of where the server's ball goes (unless it's super-wide and all you can do is chuck up a lob). This way, you already know what to do with the ball when it's served to you. I've had to get realistic with my returns and back off a step or two for a better read on the ball given my crappy eyesight. I've also found that the rock star return doesn't do much for me compared with decent placement. A relatively soft ball that lands short around the singles sideline with a low bounce is usually impossible for an opponent to hit back with aggression. Free lunch for us! Over eager poachers are toast when you lob up their alley, too, right?

Stay dedicated and hit through those returns so that you control them more than they control you. Sorry for the rant, but I've been fascinated with good returning lately. As the second shot of every point, it's obviously a seriously high priority.

 

[Nellie]

If you are hitting down the line too much, it sounds like (1) you are not lined up cross court and are setting up to hit down the line. It happens when you hit too much and do not play enough points.

Also, (2) you may be catching the ball too late on the forehand. You may need to shorten than stroke.

If you want to practice with a friend, try playing a set where you can only hit cross court (Down the line is an automatic loser). Play with the doubles alley being in.

 

[raiden031]

If you are hitting down the line too much, it sounds like (1) you are not lined up cross court and are setting up to hit down the line. It happens when you hit too much and do not play enough points.

Also, (2) you may be catching the ball too late on the forehand. You may need to shorten than stroke.

If you want to practice with a friend, try playing a set where you can only hit cross court (Down the line is an automatic loser). Play with the doubles alley being in.

I think it might be #2. Its not like I'm hitting completely down the line, but its really like I'm hitting directly to the righty net man's forehand volley. I would say I'm probably getting to the ball late. I don't have this problem during normal groundies though. I'm also wondering if maybe it has something to do with me being a singles player and not going for too much angle until I'm actually going for a winner because I'm used to playing within the singles lines and not the doubles lines.

 

[Rickson]

You shouldn't get poached on your fh if you go extra wide dtl or extra sharp on the cc. On the bh, you could go right at the net guy with some mustard or you can lob a few.

 

[raiden031]

You shouldn't get poached on your fh if you go extra wide dtl or extra sharp on the cc. On the bh, you could go right at the net guy with some mustard or you can lob a few.

Thats the thing. I can't seem to control my fh returns too well so I inadvertently hit it right to the net man.

 

[TonyB]

Thats the thing. I can't seem to control my fh returns too well so I inadvertently hit it right to the net man.

Have you read all the articles about split-stepping, getting your body weight moving forward, taking short backswings, and watching the ball all the way into your strings? If not, then you probably should look around the internet for those articles, because they exist.

Other than that, there aren't any other shortcuts you can take. You just need to practice. Practice returns of serve. Period. That's how you get better at them. If you hit at the netman because you have no directional control, then nobody can TELL you what to do. You have to just keep hitting balls until you feel confident in being able to control your shots.

 

[LuckyR]

raiden031- This is a common problem for 1HBH right handers. Although I generally play the ad court when everything else is equal I have definitely put in a lot of time in the deuce court.

As I have mentioned elsewhere, I have really worked on my ROS as it is the least consistent part of my game in doubles.

1- Decide before the server even starts into their motion where you are going to hit the ball.

2- As to stroke choice these would be my bread and butter: wide to forehand --> into the alley with a lot of topspin, regular forehand --> step in early and hit it CC with some angle but not too much pace. Wide BH --> slice perhaps as a lob if it is right at the T, regular BH --> high spin, average pace inside out BH CC on the first serve and on the second, chip and charge.

Good luck.

 

[Ballinbob]

I cant really help you there. I use a western grip/eastern backhand for the return. If your having trouble going cc though, something that helps me is to just flick my wrist a little in that direction. Use the pace given to you and try and flick it cc. I dont know, it works for me. Just a thought