Return consistency: positioning and footwork

What this lesson covers

The primary objective of the return is to force the opponents to play the ball. Keeping the ball in play increases the likelihood of opponent errors regardless of the quality of the return. To improve consistency, players should avoid standing too close to the service line, as moving back provides more time to react to slice serves and better visibility of the ball trajectory off the glass.

Technique adjustments include keeping the racket head lower at the point of contact to facilitate a low-to-high swing path, which helps clear the net. Players often overestimate their proximity to the ball, so keeping the racket closer to the bounce height is vital. When moving to reach a serve, avoid taking large, unbalanced strides. Instead, utilize small, quick steps, described as diaper steps, to maintain balance and control through the contact point. Finally, aiming the return toward the server is preferred, as the server is still in transition and less likely to hit a punishing volley than the player already established at the net.