The Question...
You are the server’s partner. Your partner doesn’t hit a particularly powerful serve, but they consistently place it deep, four feet from the baseline or less.
Before the serve is hit, you look across the net at the return team, and this is what you see.
Based on what you see, anticipate what will likely happen on the return
A. The returner will likely hit a short return, but their partner is well positioned to cover for them.
B. The returner will likely hit a deep return, but their partner will likely leave the middle exposed
C. The returner will likely hit a short return, and their partner is too far from the center line and non-volley zone line and will likely struggle to cover for them
D. The returner will likely hit a deep return but their partner is too far off the non-volley zone line for a good foreshot
E. Their starting positions look great
Correct Answer - C
The returner will likely hit a short return, and their partner is too far from the centerline and non-volley zone line and will likely struggle to cover for them.
Why? Start with the returner
The returner is standing close to the baseline. When your partner’s serve lands deep, the returner will have to back up to adjust to the ball. That negative energy makes a short or weak return more likely.
Now look at the returner’s partner
The returner’s partner is positioned too far from the centerline and the non-volley zone to easily cover the center.
One position affects the next shot and the next
If the return lands short, your team is more likely to receive an attackable third shot. The returner may still be moving forward, while their partner may be too far away to help cover for them.
Here’s what their positioning makes more likely:
Returner too close to the baseline
→ Short or weak return
→ Attackable third shot
→ Partner unable to provide enough coverage
→ Returning team compromised on the fourth shot
None of this is guaranteed. But good court positioning gives us clues about what is more likely to happen next.
And it’s the same principle you used when you first learned the game: recognize the cues and respond. As you improve, the cues simply become more nuanced.
Take this to the court
During your next game, look at the returning team before the serve:
- Does the returner have enough room behind the baseline?
- How deep does your partner typically serve?
- Is the returner’s partner close enough to the centerline to provide coverage?
- What do those clues tell you is likely to happen next?
What did you see? Tell me in the comments below
Not only is the receiver too close to the baseline for my partner’s deep serve, he is standing too upright and doesn’t appear ready to move. The same is true of the guy at the net. Both have paddles up but one is too high and the other maybe not high enough. He doesn’t look ready to move either, which he would need to do to cover a middle shot (where I would drive it)
Great observations!
lol, judging how far from the baseline the returner is, was challenging. Plus being a dude usually means greater wingspan, etc. This from a 5’3” female player with experience. 🙂 Thanks!
The serve can dictate the return. When I hit a serve with a low bounce that hits in the back half of the court I seldom get a deep return. A serve with a lot of top spin into the back half of the court can achieve the same the results as well as a return into the net.
You’re right that the serve can influence the return. In this situation, though, the important clue isn’t the amount of spin. It’s the combination of a consistently deep serve and a returner standing too close to the baseline. Because the returner will likely have to move backward to hit the ball, the odds of a short return increase. The serving team should anticipate that possibility and be ready to move forward and take advantage of it.
So if the court is setup like this, where to serve? I would suggest serving to the back hand so that the return is more likey to come back to the left hand court and give a wide-open space for the 3rd shot.
Hi, Malcolm. You’ve identified one possible serving strategy, but it looks like you may have missed the original question which is asking you to look beyond where the serve should go. Based on where the returner and nonreturner are positioned—and knowing your partner consistently serves deep what is most likely to happen on the return. That answer puts you in position to anticipate the next shot.
Sure the receiver should stand further back from the baseline, but do we know if the server is capable of serving deep. Many times, because of the server’s ability, wind, or other factors it is better to be positioned close to or even inside the baseline. There is almost always exception to the tactic’s rules. So, to make blanket statements like the receiver shouldn’t stand close to the baseline is saying the same as one size fits all or universal fit. I would rather have custom fit. Every situation is different because of all the different factors involved making a blanket statement makes players react the same way regardless of the differing factors.
Please explain what is the purpose of the returner’s partner being square to the net. Is it to watch the serve? Is there a need for receiver’s partner to watch the server hit the ball? I feel the partner should off the line several feet with their whole-body including feet facing the partners side of the court. This enables a better view to make line calls. Also, by being off the line and facing the receiving partners court, the person can watch what the receiver does with the return without twisting around to observe the return. Being off the line also lets the player move in any direction in accordance with the return and be in a good position for the third shot. Plus being off the line and facing the service court will help the player to keep moving their feet without having to consciously thinking about moving their feet and not be anchored and less mobile. Too many times, when the net player is close to the line and square with the net, they tend to be anchored there and do not respond accordingly based on the return of serve.
Hey Alan you may have missed this part of the question, but the premise tells us that the server consistently serves deep—about four feet from the baseline. You’re right, there are always exceptions, but the majority of players stand too close to the baseline out of habit, not because they have adjusted intentionally for the server, wind, or other conditions. Making that adjustment based on the situation is a next-level skill. As for the position of the non-returner I recommend they stand closer to the centerline parallel to the net. They can still watch the ball by simply turning their head and don’t have to worry about moving into position for most returns. As you point out movement is already a weakness for many players, so beginning in the best position gives them a better chance of covering for their partner if the return is short.
They’ll be fine if the players don’t remain static and the ball is not returned down the line, especially to a lefty! This lefty loves driving the ball deep crosscourt through the gap 🙂
You’re right to an extent but unfortunately most players are pretty static. In this instance the returner is going to have to back up to hit the return of serve, which means that the return is likely going to be short. Normally most players who are that far off both the non-volley zone line and the center line won’t move into the correct position. Yes a lefty, a good backhand, anyone who can hit the ball cross-court could take advantage of that position
I chose C for the reasons you mentioned. We have to make some assumptions given starting positions, and adjust if we see that it was a fake or attempt at deception (which I will do at times). However, most of the time this is not the case. Be ready to hit behind big poachers who come over onto their partner’s side, especially when covering big middle for your third shot.
You’re right Bart. Anticipation comes from assumptions and in this case it is safe to assume that there will likely be a short return. That player won’t get to the non-volley zone by the time the fourth shot is hit. They are vulnerable to an attack from the serve team.