Service Return Tips & Questions

on online chat today Rich Simpson asked about fixing his service return.

here is the Chat Session copy and Tips i posted

Tweet your questions to @TennisprocoachV

• to rich Simpson CoachVtennis.com #Serve #Return #TennisTip: go forward to the ball using the same leg on the first step. the ball goes to your Left side use your left leg for the first step. right side use right-leg

• 9:15 AM
• Mark / Mr. Mayor

  V, what do you mean by left side, left leg. Do you mean Ad side, have the left leg in front? This might help me.

• 9:25 AM
• Me

  ok if the Serve goes to your left side of your body your first step should be with the left leg and not a cross over

• more open stance movement, than closed stance

• Mark / Mr. Mayor

  let me ask more about the return advice.

• Mark / Mr. Mayor

  if the ball is coming to my backhand (as a rightie) and I step forward with my left leg, it seems like I will be turning away from the ball, not opening up to it.

• 9:29 AM
• Me

  ok : Step to the Ball, or position yourself in the best way possible, step forward, all mean the same thing its a loosely used term I just used the the Common Teaching pro Term version

• Mark / Mr. Mayor

  i like the step toward the ball

• i did some of that last night on the weaker serves

• it gets your body prepared

• but i don't know if I should stand with my left or right leg forward?

• Me

  Practice getter better by having someone serve to you from the service line and work on the return that way, you will go up levels

• as a kid

• Mark / Mr. Mayor

  cool

• 9:34 AM
• Me

  I got into ready position with my left leg forward. only because I can hit my single from any leg....open stance or closed. I used the open stance because if you are a little late on a single it will come back weak.

• 9:35 AM
• Me

  I could always move backwards on a forehand and hit a good return. but not really with a serve moving to the backhand side

• if you have a double take a regular stance and work on your anticipation with someone serving  from the service line.

• Mark / Mr. Mayor

  ok

• I have a double, but I do like standing with one leg in front

• so there is no right and wrong way to stand?

• Me

  correct.

• but where to stand matter

• Mark / Mr. Mayor

  thanks.

• Me

  you want to have 1 leg on the singles line....that's the middle......if you are up against a big server try to step back or forward. if you step forward you are taking a short swing block return.....if you are stepping back you are working on running or sprinting down the ball.