Home › Puzzle › The server stays at the back after serving. What return punishes it?
The server stays at the back after serving. What return punishes it?
Server stays back? Return deep and firm, then take the net. A split pair is a gift.
The server hits and stays on the baseline instead of coming in. Their partner is at the net. What is the best return?
Server stays back? Return deep and firm, then take the net. A split pair is a gift.
Why
When the server does not follow the serve in, the serving pair is split, one at the net, one at the back, and the returning pair should take the net immediately. The return is a firm, deep ball, usually through the middle or toward the server's side, hit with enough control that both returners can advance behind it. The lob is wrong here, because the server is already deep and plays lobs comfortably off the glass; the drive at the net player is wrong because they are the one in position. The split shape is the weakness, and taking the net attacks it.
What this means at your level
Beginner
If the server does not come forward after serving, hit the return deep and walk to the net with your partner.
Intermediate
Aim the return through the middle. It splits the two of them and neither is sure whose ball it is.
Advanced
Once you have the net against a split pair, the ball at the feet of the back player through the diagonal gap ends most points. Do not rush it; the shape is broken and it stays broken.
Common questions
The server hits and stays on the baseline instead of coming in. Their partner is at the net. What is the best return?
Deep through the middle, and take the net. Server stays back? Return deep and firm, then take the net. A split pair is a gift. When the server does not follow the serve in, the serving pair is split, one at the net, one at the back, and the returning pair should take the net immediately. The return is a firm, deep ball, usually through the middle or toward the server's side, hit with enough control that both returners can advance behind it. The lob is wrong here, because the server is already deep and plays lobs comfortably off the glass; the drive at the net player is wrong because they are the one in position. The split shape is the weakness, and taking the net attacks it.
Why not a lob over the server, as always?
The server is already at the back. A lob over them is a ball they play comfortably off the glass.
What should a beginner do here?
If the server does not come forward after serving, hit the return deep and walk to the net with your partner.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Once you have the net against a split pair, the ball at the feet of the back player through the diagonal gap ends most points. Do not rush it; the shape is broken and it stays broken.
Puzzles like this one
Both of them are at the net. What is the highest-percentage ball?
Only the lob moves a net pair backwards. Everything else invites them forward.
intermediateWhat do you do with the return of serve?
The return lob is how the receiving pair steals the net. Aim over the player who is still moving.
advancedThey are camped at the net and you cannot lob. What now?
If you cannot lift it over them, make them lift it for you. The chiquita is a slow ball at their feet.