Singles and Doubles / Serve and Return

Serve Strategy Singles

Deuce First Serves:

First Serves-Slice very wide middle of the box. This moves your opponent completely off the court. You now have many options with your next shot. They include hitting behind your opponent, hitting wide to the other side, angles, approaches, etc.

Now that you've set them up with this pitch then go flat down the "T" the next time you serve, or to the body. Slice can also be used on any of the above pitches.

Deuce Second Serves:

"Kick T" to the backhand, "topspin to the backhand," and "slice wide deep." Those would be my selections and in order of percentage but you may have to modify based upon opponent and your serving ability.

* If you plan to serve and volley going to the body or down the T reduces the angle of return.

Ad First Serves:

"Flat Wide, Flat Body, Flat T, Slice Body, Slice T." I would say flat wherever but this order would be percentage.

Ad Second Serves: "Kick Wide" is the best to get to the player out of court, followed by topspin wide, then slice to the body, and perhaps topspin or slice down the T.

Return of Serve

Deuce Court First:  return wide balls cross court, extra wide down the line because that is actually cross court by your outside the court positioning.

Return middle balls down the line for a "natural change of direction" which in effect is like a cross court for the body.

Ad Court First: 

Use the same format as above for wide, extra-wide, and middle balls.

Deuce and Ad Court Second Serves:

Use the same formula as for the first serve if your opponent has a challenging serve. If it is not as challenging then you may now hit the ball wherever you want based on your opponents best shots, your best shot, and how you want to set up the point.

Doubles Serves

Deuce First: Go extra wide and put the first volley down the middle or go down the T and volley wide or middle depending how your serve was returned. Use slice or flat for these serves

Ad First: Same as Deuce.

Deuce Second: "Kick T is best, then slice or topspin to the body." Avoid wide easy serves. They are the toughest to volley.

Ad Second: "Go Kick into the body or kick wide, then topspin body or slice to the body." Try to avoid hitting to your opponent's best return on the second serve.

Doubles Returns

First Serves

Deuce: wide goes cross court, middle goes through the middle but avoiding the net man.

Ad: wide goes cross court, middle goes through the middle but avoiding the net man.

*Adjust your back-swing shorter (hit through the ball, avoid putting too much work (spin) on the power line). Use your outside leg, drag the inside toe, and push off the outside leg as you move as you hit (dynamic movement) the ball and then finally the inside leg crosses over. This keeps your balance and uses your body to leverage the ball. There is no stepping into the ball here! This is a dynamic open legged shot that takes as much practice as serving.

Second Serves

Use the same strategy as above but it the serve is easier for you then you may 1) Increase your swing 2) Move closer 3) Go to the net after the return 4) run around your backhand and attack with your forehand 5) Chip and charge.

Returns in General ***********

Make sure you jump up in the air when your opponent hits the ball. It you don't you won't have a chance to get to the balls. Use the outside leg for power. Cross overs if needed. Adjust your swing and still follow-through all the way.