I want to give you some email feedback and my responses from our recent post http://webtennis.com/archives/232 on the return of serve in doubles, especially the 2nd serve return of serve…
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Hi Brent. Thanks for the tip. It is good but I note that you are using an underspin return of serve rather than a topspin backhand.
This underspin back hand return is a weak return and makes you vulnerable for a stronger shot from your opponent.
My response:
Not if I get my return down to the incoming server’s feet.tip-dubs-ros-2nd-serve
Create space with your feet to the path of the incoming serve so you can always move forward through your return to establish superior court position.
If the server has to consistently hit up towards me and my partner, then they have a big time problem.
There is no question that a nice hard dipping topspin return of serve certainly can be a weapon, but the reality is that it’s tough to be consistent with it unless the server has a really weak serve.
Also, executing a topspin drive can inhibit your natural ability to move forward through your shot and gain good court position after your return (as I mentioned above, I always want to force my serving opponent to have to volley up to both of us, not just my net partner).
If you stay back on your return of serve because your stroke mechanics don’t allow you to naturally move forward, and if the server volleys well enough to consistently receive your return of serve with a simple in-play volley back to you, the serving team now has better court position, and trying to win points when you’re back on the baseline and your opponents are both up at net is really rough…
I play doubles every Monday against a player who’s serve is not strong and could appear to be an opportunity to go for a big topspin return of serve drive, but he’s adapted really well by getting quickly up to net and simply handling the return with a volley that he consistently lays down at the feet of the returner.
He’s not bothered by the big topspin return knowing that he’ll have the better court position if he can simply play his volley back to the returner.
It’s best to be really versatile with your returns where you could drive cross court (and occasionally at the net player), slice, and lob.
To me, the 2nd serve return of serve should always be an approach shot opportunity even if you decide to play a lob over the server’s partner. Your opportunity here is to get better court position before the serving team can.
Even if you have a big time topspin return drive, if you become too predictable, better doubles players won’t be bothered by it.
Keep working on your different grips and always remember that spacing to the ball is #1.
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Related Detailed Lessons by Brent…
Return of Serve Fundamentals (comes with a BONUS lesson on 1/2 Volley Fundamentals)
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About Brent
Hey Brent really enjoy your stuff – the biggest issue that I have is playing doubles against a left hander. He creates tremendous anagle on his serve and takes me right out of court(on my backhand side) – when I stand in the tram lines to take it on my backhand he smacks it down the middle.
Do you have any specific advice on playing doubles against left handers and coming to terms with the different angles that they are able to create.
Any help woiuld be appreciatted.
Cheers
Anthony
All I have to say is, “Ken Rosewall”.
Nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me Bill…
Just made my day big time!
Brent
It’s too bad you don’t have old clips of Bill Crosby’s reutrn of serve. It was truly a thing of beauty and one of the best that I have ever seen.
I was just talking yesterday to Michael Wayman about that doubles match back in the 60s at the Berkeley TC at the Pacific Coast when Bill and Whitney Reed beat the current Wimbledon champs, Osuna & Ralston. Michael and I were working on my backhand and trying to get me to set the grip early and not get too much into a laid back wrist position prior to contact where I had to sort of catch up to the eventual contact point.
Blah, blah, blah… The point here is that Bill Crosby once told me to just set that wrist into the eventual contact position and swing the racket with that already set. It works like a charm and I know Bill probably didn’t miss a doubles return of serve for a few years… Maybe a couple here and there, but you’re right Jake, I wish we had footage of Bill’s return of serve…
http://www.webtennis.net/Tennis-Backhand.htm
Brent
I completely agree with you. Nothing better than a slice backhand to you opponent’s feet. Most hard hitting players don’t like slices at all(calling it “no-tennis”)and can’t cope with it. The same holds good for a nasty lob on their backhand.
Enjoy your suggestions and practise them whenever I can. Even changed my forhand grip.
Nico
Hi Brent,
Could you elaborate a little more on what you exactly mean with “create space with your feet to the path of the incoming serve”. Is this separate your body from the ball and find the exact position for your stroke? Many thanks.
Carlos Vinuesa
You’ve got it exactly right Carlos.
Your feet really need to help you get to a specific alignment to the path of that incoming serve so you can hopefully move forward efficiently either through the ball at contact or just slightly afterwards in an effort to get great court position along with your partner.
Brent’s Detailed Lesson on the Return of Serve
I aggree wholeheartedly. I usually play the add court in dubbs, & any time I get medium to weak serve, either 1st or 2nd I go cross court (short hopefully) with the slice (why does everyone call it backspin? that’s like calling a top spin “forward spin” yikes. My partner is there to cover the alley & I come in & cover the middle of the crt. I will give the server the sharp angle cross crt if they can hit it for a winner. Remember that you are hitting to the serv’ers back hand (righty), they will have hit up with both of you at the net which is where dubbs is meant to be played.
So there!
Hi Brent,
I just left a comment on your blog about doubles return of serve before reading this post, I just want to let you know that I don’t always go for the second serve killer everytime, infact I only go for that shot if I am certain of a winner.
Interestingly I now serve with my right arm and immediately switch to my left arm, as I am now confident enough to play stronger opponents left armed.
Anyway thanks for all the help.
Hi Brent,
I am really weak on my backhand and I do practice a lot of underspin return of serve deep to the opponent’s court and it works!
Thanks once again for the tip..
I tried the way to do the serve and it works as well as the forehand groundstroke and backhand. thank you very much brent you are the man.