on RETURN OF SERVE...

[tbini87]

i need some advice on return of serve. i am a left with a western fh and 2hbh. around 4.0 and only ok with my returns. i am actually more comfortable with my backhand when returning serves, it feels easy to let it and rip and to just block it when need be. i am not as comfortable with my forehand, and i think it is because it is hard to get to the full western quickly enough from the continental grip.

my main question is how do pros (or you guys) wait for the serve and how do you switch from one grip to the other when returning serves?

i keep the grip neutral and then switch to either fh or bh grip. is is better to keep it in the fh grip and switch to bh if necessary? i just feel like i don't have a lot of time to be switching grips while trying to hit a good return. any advice would be appreciated!

 

[krprunitennis2]

I'm probably around 3.5 up or lower, but I keep my grip on the forehand grip. When the ball goes to my backhand, it seems that I have more time to prepare for it. Then when I'm set, I swing all the way forward towards the center of the court. I don't ALWAYS do this since I forget, but I'm working on it.

If that doesn't work, you can always try to see or guess where your opponent serves more often and keep your grip to your forehand grip or backhand grip, wherever your opponent serves more often to. -- this is just an idea right out of my head. doesn't make much sense sometimes but iono.

 

[Cervantes]

You need...

an additional step on your forehand return with a Western grip. I think (and what do I know) an Eastern or Continental grip will provide you with more options and allow better control on low serves, than a Western grip.

Regardless, I think the better players all learn the different grips and changes for the situation...

 

[tbini87]

thanks guys. any other help out there?

 

[fbone]

i need some advice on return of serve. i am a left with a western fh and 2hbh. around 4.0 and only ok with my returns...any advice would be appreciated!

Hey...we're twins! (lefty, WFH, 2HBH, 4.0'ish, ok w/returns, good looking, great dancer, etc. )...and I actually 'had' the same situation as you.

I use to wait with the continental grip (BH) and switch to WFH, but I found myself punching and slicing back forehands more times than not because of the time restraints.

Now, what I do is...WFH grip (left) and my (right) WBH grip, so the only adjustment I make if I get a BH is to re-adjust my FH grip. Since I'm holding the racquet w/both hands, adjusting the BH grips became a lot easier.

So, now I'm always able to return serve with my WFH grip and easily adjust to a WBH or even a one-handed continental slice BH. It took me a couple of weeks for it to feel natural after a lifetime of the latter but well worth the change.

 

[Doc Hollidae]

Do not wait around in your backhand grip nor a continental grip unless you plan on chipping your forehand. Start with your normal FH grip and keep your non-dominant hand in your nomal BH grip. You'll find that it's a lot easier to switch from a FH to BH, than a BH to FH.

 

[tbini87]

Hey...we're twins! (lefty, WFH, 2HBH, 4.0'ish, ok w/returns, good looking, great dancer, etc. )...and I actually 'had' the same situation as you.

I use to wait with the continental grip (BH) and switch to WFH, but I found myself punching and slicing back forehands more times than not because of the time restraints.

Now, what I do is...WFH grip (left) and my (right) WBH grip, so the only adjustment I make if I get a BH is to re-adjust my FH grip. Since I'm holding the racquet w/both hands, adjusting the BH grips became a lot easier.

So, now I'm always able to return serve with my WFH grip and easily adjust to a WBH or even a one-handed continental slice BH. It took me a couple of weeks for it to feel natural after a lifetime of the latter but well worth the change.

not so much with the dancing... but everything else is correct! haha. but as i thought about it last night i thought it would help me to stay with my forehand grip. i realized that i shouldn't wait in a grip that i don't use for anything but volleys... and since the wfh grip is the most dramatic change i might as well wait in that one! thanks for the help.

 

[tbini87]

Do not wait around in your backhand grip nor a continental grip unless you plan on chipping your forehand. Start with your normal FH grip and keep your non-dominant hand in your nomal BH grip. You'll find that it's a lot easier to switch from a FH to BH, than a BH to FH.

thanks doc. i also realized that i was rotating my grips almost 360 degrees to get from my backhand to my forehand, instead of the shorter and quicker route. so if i practice going from my foehand to backhand quickly using the shorter turn in my hand, i should have a lot more time on returns. thanks for the help! now i get to go practice!

 

[tbini87]

anyone know how nadal waits and prepares for return of serve? i think my strokes and grips are somewhat similar to his (without the monster top spin or swinging the racquet up over my head)... and so i am guessing i could adopt his way of returns.

 

[anachronism]

I usually use a more conservative grip on returns compared to normal rally groundstrokes.

 

[Doc Hollidae]

I usually use a more conservative grip on returns compared to normal rally groundstrokes.

This really reduces the effectiveness of your return game. There's no need to be constantly be fumbling around with grips when returning. Before you hit your return, you should have already choosen how you're going to return the serve. Either you're going to chip it, block it, or hit a normal ground stroke. With the latter two, you should be sitting in your FH groundstroke grip and with chipping in a continental. Additionally you should be able to pick up where the serve is going during your split step. During my split step is when I will most often change my grip.

I've tried going from BH to FH grips and I've tried staying somewhere in the middle, but both just waste time. It's easier to switch from FH to BH by far. With neutral grips, you aren't going to hit a return from either side with it, so why be in it in the first place. If you're sitting around in your BH grip, you'll find youself chipping forehands more often than you should be.

Nadal most likely follows the same practice, starting in a FH grip and adjusting accordingly.

 

[hyogen]

This really reduces the effectiveness of your return game. There's no need to be constantly be fumbling around with grips when returning. Before you hit your return, you should have already choosen how you're going to return the serve. Either you're going to chip it, block it, or hit a normal ground stroke. With the latter two, you should be sitting in your FH groundstroke grip and with chipping in a continental. Additionally you should be able to pick up where the serve is going during your split step. During my split step is when I will most often change my grip.

I've tried going from BH to FH grips and I've tried staying somewhere in the middle, but both just waste time. It's easier to switch from FH to BH by far. With neutral grips, you aren't going to hit a return from either side with it, so why be in it in the first place. If you're sitting around in your BH grip, you'll find youself chipping forehands more often than you should be.

Nadal most likely follows the same practice, starting in a FH grip and adjusting accordingly.

hmm that's interesting. I've never tried that...I've always thought I needed to stay in backhand grip while waiting for the serve. The reason is because my backhand is more weak so I think I need to be better prepared for it.

I'll have to try this out today....makes sense

 

[Doc Hollidae]

hmm that's interesting. I've never tried that...I've always thought I needed to stay in backhand grip while waiting for the serve. The reason is because my backhand is more weak so I think I need to be better prepared for it.

I'll have to try this out today....makes sense

When right handed players hit a backhand and are switching to their forehand grip, players will briefly release their grip and then grab the racket in their FH grip while their left hand holds the racket up. By releasing I don't mean completely taking their hand off the racket necessarily. What I mean by releasing their grip, is their fingers relax and have to curl around the handle again to get into a FH grip.

When switching from forehand to backhand a player doesn't have to let go of the racket and grab the racket again. They can simply slide their hand over to their backhand grip without having to release the racket, thus allowing them more time to prepare and see the serve. Small things like this often go unnoticed, but one extra second in tennis is a lot of time.

 

[hyogen]

That's a lot of one extra seconds and mishits of returns of serve......in 10+ years of playing...............................wow.

 

[1171]

Watch Da Bounce. Watch Da Bounce.

Watch Le Bounce, Watch Le Bounce.

 

[tbini87]

hmm that's interesting. I've never tried that...I've always thought I needed to stay in backhand grip while waiting for the serve. The reason is because my backhand is more weak so I think I need to be better prepared for it.

I'll have to try this out today....makes sense

i am actually lucky ( i guess...) that my backhand is very solid and consistent. it is also compact and comfortable, unlike my forehand. my forehand tends to be less consistent/compact but is also more dangerous. so for me i think waiting in the forehand grip will really benefit me.

 

[tbini87]

tried it today when playing doubles against 2 decent servers. felt great on my forehand side and i was really able to get set and unleash my forehand. switching to my backahnd was tricky though. i am so used to going from the continental to my bh, that going from wester to bh felt odd. but with enough practice and reps i should be fine! thanks for the help!