How To Return A Tennis Serve Like A Pro

The return of serve can be one of the most daunting aspects of the game. A well-placed serve can be difficult to return, and if you don't know what you're doing, it can be easy to find yourself quickly behind in the point. But never fear! With some practice and the right instructions here you'll be returning serves like a pro in no time.

Quick Reflexes

The first thing you need to be a good returner of tennis serves is quick reflexes. This means being able to react quickly to the serve and get your racket on the ball in a split second. The best way to improve your reflexes is through practice and repetition. The more you do it, the better you'll get at it. You can also try doing some drills that specifically focus on improving your reflexes. 

Hand-Eye Coordination

The second thing you need for returning serves is good hand-eye coordination. This means being able to track the ball with your eyes and hit it with your racket at the same time. Like with reflexes, the best way to improve your hand-eye coordination is through practice and repetition. You can also try doing some drills that specifically focus on improving your hand-eye coordination. 

Shorten Your Backswing

One of the best ways to increase your chances of returning a serve is to shorten your backswing. By taking a shorter backswing, you'll be able to get your racket on the ball more quickly. When returning fast serves especially, you don't have time for a big, sweeping backswing. Instead, you need to keep your swing short and concise. So next time you're on the court, don't be afraid to take a little bit off your backswing. It just might help you return that serve.

Reading Your Opponent's Serve

You should learn to read your opponent's serve. This means being able to pick up on visual cues that will give you an idea of where they're going to place the ball and what type of spin they are going to put on it. For example, if your opponent tosses the ball slightly behind them, then you can anticipate that there will be more topspin on their serve and you should expect a higher bounce. 

One way to improve your ability to read the serve is by watching videos of matches and trying to guess where the server is going to place the ball by observing their stances and ball toss. Another way is to practice with a friend or coach who can feed you different types of serves.

Use Your Opponent's Momentum Against Them 

If your opponent tends to serve hard and fast, use that momentum to your advantage by redirecting the ball into an unexpected direction. This can throw off your opponent's timing and give you an edge in the point. Just be careful not to hit the ball too hard or it might just fly out.

Keep Your Cool

It can be tempting to get frazzled when returning serves, especially if you're facing someone with a big serve. But it's important to stay calm and focused if you want to have any chance of winning the point. Take deep breaths, relax your shoulders, and trust in your ability to return the ball. The more composed you are, the better your chances of winning will be.

Returning a tennis serve can be difficult, but with the right practice and techniques you can return like a pro. We've outlined some of the most important things to keep in mind when returning serves, such as having quick reflexes, good hand-eye coordination, and shortening your backswing. You also need to be able to read your opponent's serve and use their momentum against them. Lastly, it is important to stay calm and focused under pressure.

---

Play Tennis Better

---