The Strategy Zone:
Return Control

Nick Bollettierri with Lance Luciani

Is the return of serve the most important shot in tennis?

In the Strategy Zone system we identify three components in winning points: Control, Hurt and Finish. In the last two articles, we've looked at control off the ground and off the serve.

In this article I want to give you two fundamental ideas for establishing control on the return of serve. These are to counter the first serve with deep neutral zone returns, and to attack the second serve with sharp angle returns.

These two return patterns are underutilized at all levels of play. Together they give you the potential for seizing control on more of your opponent's service points.

In future articles we'll continue to build our system by looking at how you move from control to hurt, and finally to finishing your opponent, not only on the return points but in all areas of the game.

The Process

As we saw in the first articles, winning points in tennis is not primarily a matter of hitting spectacular shots. That view is naive at all levels of the game.

Two secrets of return control: deep netural zone and sharp angled returns.

Too many players are mesmerized by highlight reel winners. They don't understand that building points is a process and that the spectacular shots are the natural outcome of that process.

So the first step is just to start to think in this way. The next step is to master the execution of the components of this process for yourself.

Controlling the return of serve may be the most important factor in tennis. If you cannot break serve, you cannot win matches. And if you cannot get the return in play, you cannot begin the process of breaking serve.

There has never been a great champion who did not have a great return game. Many players who may have had spectacular shots in some areas fell short because their returns were not at the same level.

The Problem of Power

When it comes to serving power and speed, the professional game has reached a new level. Players like Andy Roddick are consistently serving at 140mph and higher. And on the women's side, a player like Serena Williams is serving at speeds of 120mph.

A deep slice return can neutralize a power server who stays back.

The speed of the serve has created new and even more difficult challenges when it comes to using the return to establish control.

To return effectively in the modern game you must find a way to do two things. First, you have to get more serves in play. Second, you have to establish control using your return when ever possible.

To do this you have to neutralize big servers on the first ball and make them play points. You must also take your opportunities to attack on the second serve whenever possible.

Neutralizing the First Serve

The neutral zone return is the key to dealing with the big first serve, making those big servers play, and taking control on more return points. Many players try to fight fire with fire when they return against good servers. They think the answer to a huge serve is a huge return.

Deep returns directly at the server can lead to errors and/or control on the next ball.

A supremely gifted player like may be able to step in and pick up a 140mph serve on the rise and hit an amazing return winner that looks absolutely effortless.Not many players even at the pro level have that ability.

And as we move down through the levels, this approach makes no sense as a primary strategy for the vast majority of players.But even Andre Agassi and Roger Federer know how to neutralize the serve as a basic return strategy.

One way to do this is with a deep floating slice the way Federer plays against Andy Roddick. Many big servers never come to the net, so there is little danger of your opponent picking off a higher floating ball.

You can also play the netural zone return with a deep topspin drive. Besides simply putting the ball in play, this return has many other potential advantages.Often you would see Agassi hit a deep neutral zone return and then take control with the next ball. At the Academy we work every day on returning the serve deep and right down the center of the court.

The deep neutral zone return is your best chance against a big server. It can confuse the server. The serve may be surprised that the big bomb is coming back. Since it's is coming directly at him, he may also have trouble deciding whether to hit a forehand or a backhand.

A big server can be forced backwards on the defensive by a deep netural zone return.

When you return deep you can also catch the server off balance. Many big servers land well inside the court. Sometimes they are off balance and leaning quite far forward at the waist. When the ball comes directly to them, they can be caught unexpectedly in this position.

They may have difficulty regaining their balance and recovering to a sound ready position. The deep neutral return can force them to move backwards, and also to rush the return. It can force them to play a shoulder high ball.

All these factors can lead to unforced errors, or they can force the server to make a defensive reply. This can give you the opportunity to hurt them with the next ball.

In dealing with a high velocity serve there are some critical technical points. The first is the timing of the split step. You should begin your forward movement toward the split step when your opponent reaches the trophy position. This means you will be in the air at the actually hit, and have both feet back on the ground by the time the ball crosses the net.

Second, keep your swing compact. An early contact point is critical in dealing with big serves. A compact motion is critical to keeping that contact point in front.

Sharp angle returns: hit crosscourt or with inside out forehands.

The Sharp Angle Return

So the first idea is to neutralize the big serve with the deep neutral zone return. The second idea is attack the second serve with a sharp angle.

Many times a sharp angle return allows you gain immediate control of the point from the first ball. Establishing that type of control can lead to dominating return games.

This shot is neglected by many players, but the angled return is a shot we emphasize everyday at the Academy. On the second serve you can't just think north and south. You need to take control by moving the server, taking him inside the baseline or outside the singles sideline, or both.

You can create the short angles with crosscourt returns on the second serve in either court. But you can also create sharp angles them by running around the serve hitting forehands on either side.

One of your goals as the returner is to break the server down mentally. Pressuring them with the angle return can cause the server to worry about missing the first ball, and sometimes this worry will lead to tentative serving and lower first serve percentages.

When hitting the short angles, the keys are again to use a very compact motion, and also to add extra spin to angle the ball wide and still bring it down inside the sideline.

Sharp angles; clean winners and control of more return points.

The short angle return can sometimes be hit for a winner, but more commonly, a player can use it to establish control of the point to finish or the next ball or one or two balls later.

Two pro players that are masters of the short angle return are Serena Williams and Andre Agassi. This return can absolutely drive the server nuts.

So now you understand two fundamental ideas about return control that we share with our elite young pro players. But understanding is only the first step.

You must learn to work in a series of progressive drills to develop and incorporate these returns into you game. The Strategy Zone system Lance and I have developed is loaded with hundreds of fed ball and live ball drills that can take you toward your goals on a step by step basis. (Click Here.)

To read more of my thinking about the return, and especially the technical and the mental aspects of the return game, be sure and check out my previous articles for Tennisplayer in the Famous Coaches section. (Click Here.)