Return of Serve:
Flexibility, Shot Selection, Split Step

Bill Tym

In the first article in this series we looked at the first 3 components in developing a great return. (Click Here). These are consistency combined with accuracy, the position of the racquet head, and watching the ball properly.

Flexibility

Now let's move on to 3 more principles, starting with flexibility. Flexibility is a critical component in my overall teaching philosophy. And, as with all strokes, flexibility and the ability to adjust are important components of the return.

So a few general words about flexibility. Tennis is a very difficult and complex game. It requires a myriad of skills and responses.

My goal is to give my students a complete toolbox by mastering all of the shots and different styles of play. A complete toolbox enables a player to choose what strategy and tactics work best against a particular opponent and to have multiple game plans if your first game plan is not working.

If all you can do is hit power baseline drives and either your opponent is superior in that phase of the game or your power drives are not working that day, you are going to lose. But if you have other tools such as the ability to slice and/or loop the ball or to rush the net, you still have a chance to win the match. Having all of the shots also allows you to surprise your opponent with a different shot once you have set the trap of making him or her conditioned to your “typical" shot.

Closely allied to flexibility is making adjustments as the match goes on. Having a full toolbox helps you make adjustments during the match. I view a match as a problem solving exercise. In particular, how am I winning points, how am I losing points and what adjustments can I make to increase the percentage of winning points?

Furthermore, making adjustments during the course of the match allows you to improve your level of play so that when the critical moments of the match occur at the end of the set you are playing at a higher level.

Flexibility on Returns

So let's see how all this applies to the return. To give one example, if the maximum serve speed you typically face is 90 mph and then you find yourself returning a 105 mph serve, you will not have the proper reactive skills to return from your normal return position.

So don't be stubborn--move back. The same thing would apply if you are playing against a more typical opponent but having an off day. My basic rule of thumb is that for every step--approximately 3 feet--you take back, the serve effectively becomes 5 miles per hour slower since the step back gives you more time. (For more on how ball speed declines over the course of serves and other shots, Click Here.)

While Rafael Nadal employs a good deal of variety in his return position, against a really big server he often returns from yards behind the baseline. From that far back position, he can use a swing much closer to his regular groundstrokes than the much more compact stroke he would have to use if his return position was close to the baseline. Nadal is not alone in employing this strategy.

Many top European pros are very effective having their backside pretty much touching the back fence when they return. But if they are playing an opponent with an excellent wide serve who can back that up by serving and volleying, then they will need to adjust and move up their return position to improve their chances of breaking serve.

Shot Selection and Targets

Flexibility and adjustment are not only important when it comes to return positioning. They are also important in return shot selection and tactics.

For example, if your normal return is a compact drive but you are making too many errors or not able to hit it effectively enough to neutralize the serve, go to a chip return where the backspin will enable you to take pace off the serve. This means you have to have the chip shot in your toolbox.

Being able to vary your returns also enables you to use the element of surprise. For example, if you normally return a serve hit down the T in the ad side with an inside out drive to your opponent's backhand a chip or drop shot crosscourt is very effective once your opponent is conditioned to your typical return.

The Return is Unique

I will detail below specific technical components of the return. But keep in mind the overarching principle that, the return is its own unique shot that is different a normal groundstroke--unless you are returning from far behind the baseline or you are returning a slow weak serve.

It is a different shot because you are dealing with a different type of incoming shot. The serve is the one shot in tennis that your opponent has complete control over and high level servers can consistently hit big serves to their targets.

The ball is coming at you 30-40% faster than is the case in a normal groundstroke. Frequently, the ball is still rising when you make contact.

Finally, a well-placed serve often only gives you time to take one step--which may be in the form of a lunge--before making contact. In sum, the situation is inherently unstable and highly variable. What you need to do is make the technique on the return as simple as possible so that you interject as much stability as possible into that unstable situation.

One of the reasons that Djokovic is such a superb returner is that he is extremely compact and smooth in his technique which brings calm to a chaotic state of affairs. Because the return is a truly different shot, it requires devotion and much practice to perfect. Spending hours mastering your normal groundstrokes will not translate into mastery of the return.

Ready Position and Split Step

The next principle is the Ready Position and Split Step. These are the key checkpoints. Feet at least shoulder width apart. Knees bent in an athletic posture. Weight on the balls of your feet.

Racket held out in front with you racket handle approximately at waist height. A relaxed grip. Among other advantages, a relaxed grip will enable you to switch grips more quickly.

As a lead in to the split step, I prefer that you take one or two steps forward and then go into your split. The momentum from that step forward can make you even more explosive when you land and then spring out of the split step. For many players, the forward step or steps also gives them a better rhythm.

From the forward step, you go right into the split step. Several things are crucial for the split-step on the return. First, as noted in the first article, (Click Here) your eyes need to be on the ball as the server's toss arm goes up to release the ball and keep watching the ball for the entire return process.

Second, you should time your hop into the air so that you are at the apex of your split step at the moment the server is making contact with the serve. Third, you need to make a wide split so that on your landing your legs are split wide apart with a good amount of flex in your knees.

This wide landing position places your outside leg (right leg for a right-handed forehand and left leg for a right-handed backhand) that much closer to where you need to reach for a serve placed in either corner should you have to lunge on the return. Landing with flexed knees allows you to more effectively push off the ground should you need to leap out to meet the return. Being low also assists in your balance.

One final point on the split step. When you come down from the split step, you want to be facing the server.

Since the server is somewhat diagonally across the returner, that means that your feet will land in a slightly staggered position as demonstrated by Novak Djokovic below. Not every top player adheres to this principle, but it makes sense to follow it.

Just like a guard in basketball squares up to the player he or she is defending to be able to react to the offensive player's movement, you will react better to the serve if you are directly facing the server when you land your split step.

I personally like to take this one step further and have a slightly staggered position in the ready position which promotes landing the split step in the staggered position.

Note that in the photo on the left, showing a return from the deuce service side, Novak's right foot lands ahead of his left foot so that he directly faces the server; and in the photo on the right, showing a return from the ad service side, Novak's left foot lands in front of his right foot so that he directly faces the server.

Three more return principles to come! Stay Tuned.