Return of Serve Tennis Drills

Gain insightful tips from our expert tennis coaches and video analysis of great champions. Everyone can learn by watching our video tennis lessons. Improve your tennis skills today!

1-Handed Backhand Return Of Serve: Movement/Deuce Court

1-Handed Backhand Return Of Serve: Movement/Deuce Court

Forehand Return Of Serve - The “V” Attack

Forehand Return Of Serve - The “V” Attack

brand logo
SHOP NOW

Volkl V-Cell 8 285

brand logo

Use code setv10 at checkout to get 10% off your order.

BUY NOW

tennis BLOG

Read the latest, in-depth thinking from the world’s best coaches about technique, tactics, conditioning, injury prevention, nutrition and much more.

Pure and Cross Dextral Visual Strategies: You Are ONE or the OTHER - Visual Training for Tennis

Pure and Cross Dextral Visual Strategies: You Are ONE or the OTHER - Visual Training for Tennis

Everyone has a dominant eye that processes information to the brain just a few milliseconds faster than their non-dominant eye. [...]

Before College, the Path for Success - College as a Stepping Stone - Part 1

Before College, the Path for Success - College as a Stepping Stone - Part 1

Claire Carter discusses the process of evaluating and getting ready for a college tennis career. [...]

What Gets Measured Gets Managed (but Should It?)

What Gets Measured Gets Managed (but Should It?)

“What gets measured gets managed” is a popular received wisdom, i.e., common knowledge that is held to be true, but may not be. [...]

SHOW MORE BLOGS

FAQ

A return of serve is the ball hit by the player not serving to start a point. While serving is considered an advantage in a point, great returners like Andre Agassi and Novak Djokovic have been quite effective at breaking serve (winning the games served by their opponent) in their careers.

If the server is right handed, the slice serve will curve to the right side of the returner after it bounces. Therefore, the returner will likely be hitting a wide forehand shot when returning. If the server is left-handed, the ball will curve to the left of the returner, leaving them to hit a backhand shot. The key to returning the slice is to detect the spin early and start moving toward the ball before it bounces. If the server is left-handed, the direction of the spin would be reversed.

A good doubles returner tries to keep the ball away from the net player and low to the feet of the server, if the server is rushing the net, or deep crosscourt, if the server is staying back at the baseline. A deep lob over the net player can also be effective off the return.