Attacking Return

With the advent of the power game has come the "first-strike" point -- a point won with either a serve, return or first volley.

With the opening of the stance on the forehand side and the evolution of the left-hand dominant (for right-handed players), two-handed backhand, the return of serve is now a weapon, rather than simply a defensive response to the serve.

In addition to mechanics, more aggressive positioning has led to the return becoming a potent weapon. Attacking players no longer stand behind the baseline and wait for the serve to come to them. Today's returners stay on the balls of their feet, moving forward and leaving their feet with a split step as the server makes contact. The returner can then move in either direction with forward momentum, taking the ball in front of the service line and continuing forward.

Follow the simple progression below to learn the new positioning used by today's aggressive returners, and how to make the changes in your backswing that go with this new return, and you will win more points by taking the offensive much earlier in return games.

Learn how to make aggressive returns by moving closer to the service line...

Step #1 -- Player A serves 4-6 second serves from his own service line to Player B's forehand, who practices returning from the traditional position behind the baseline.

Step #2 -- Player A serves another 6-8 second serves from the service line, while Player B returns from two steps behind the service line. Player B must work on shortening his or her backswing in order to compensate for decreased time available to make the shot. This will require a return that is hit by using an quick shoulder turn in and out of the shot, rather than an arm swing.

Step #3 -- Player A serves another 6-8 second serves from the service line, while Player B returns by setting up behind the baseline, but timing a split-step and forward move to make contact in front of the baseline. Player B leaves feet and makes split just as Player A makes contact, moving forward to hit return.

Step #4 -- Player A moves halfway between service line and baseline, serving 6-8 more balls, with Player B following same routine as in Step #3. Player A serves 3/4 pace.

Step #5 -- Player A serves 8-10 balls to Player B, who continues to work on split and movement forward, with Player A's serving at 3/4 to full speed.

Step #6 -- Player A & B switch sides and repeat drill.

Step #7 -- Player A & B switch sides and repeat drill to backhand side.

Step #8 -- Player A & B switch sides and repeat drill mixing serves to forehand and backhand sides.