The following post is an excerpt from Championship Tennis. Thanks for visiting, Frank Giampaolo
Return of Serve: Reading Serving Positions and Tendencies
As mentioned in the previous chapter, taking different positions along the baseline can offer the server better angles into the service box. A right-handed server may stand a few feet over to the left while preparing to deliver an extreme kick serve out wide on the ad side. A perceptive returner will spot the shift along the baseline and then slide over toward the doubles alley to intercept the wide serve.
Realizing that an opponent is repeatedly hitting the same bland slice serve down the T to the forehand on the advantage side should tip off an aware returner and instigate an offensive attack. The returner should hold a neutral position until the ball toss leaves the server’s hand; then, with a fast first step, the returner should quickly slide to the right to deliver an offensive forehand blow.
Reading the server often includes making educated guesses based on previous experience. Advanced opponents will choose to run the same “winning” service patterns on important points. By anticipating the serve and disrupting the pattern from the first ball, the returner will put himself in the advantage to start the point. When players practice
the art of paying attention, it pays off match after match.
Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
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