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If your opponent is serving, you may focus on just returning the serve to avoid losing the rally. However, if you strategically return the ball, you can put pressure on your opponent. Based upon several scenarios I have described where to aim and effectively play the ball while returning the serve.
As a general rule, hit the ball towards the nearest front wall corner to effectively return the serve. Based upon the type of serve, the returning player needs to adjust their tactic to make it difficult for the opponent and pressure them in making mistakes.
Different types of services require a different return of serve. Therefore I will cover for each scenario how you can effectively return the serve. Before going through each scenario in detail, I will give you an overview from which you can navigate directly.
Overview of scenarios and where to aim
The overview of scenarios is constructed based upon the type of serve (including the part of the court) and the type of return. This determines where to aim your return of the serve. These scenarios (based on the type of service) are also used in another article where I discussed the specific movement patterns to answer where to stand in order to return a serve.
To build onto that insight, we’ll go even further and discuss where to aim in order to effectively return a serve. Note that as a consequence I did end up with 14 scenarios to extensively cover the topic of where to aim, while 12 scenarios did suffice to discuss where to position yourself.
| Navigate to | Part of court | Type of serve (right-handed player) | Where to aim |
| Scenario 1 | Right side | Forehand hard serve | Side wall near the left front wall corner |
| Scenario 2 | Right side | Forehand lob serve | Left bottom corner of the front wall |
| Scenario 3 | Right side | Forehand lob serve | Left bottom corner of the front wall |
| Scenario 4 | Right side | Backhand hard serve | Side wall near the left front wall corner |
| Scenario 5 | Right side | Backhand hard serve (alternative) | Left bottom corner of the front wall |
| Scenario 6 | Right side | Backhand lob serve | Left bottom corner of the front wall |
| Scenario 7 | Left side | Forehand hard serve | Side wall near the right front wall corner |
| Scenario 8 | Left side | Forehand hard serve (alternative) | Right bottom corner of the front wall |
| Scenario 9 | Left side | Forehand lob serve | Right bottom corner of the front wall |
| Scenario 10 | Left side | Forehand lob serve | The right corner of the front wall |
| Scenario 11 | Left side | Backhand hard serve | Side wall near the right front wall corner |
| Scenario 12 | Left side | Backhand hard serve | Side wall near the right front wall corner |
| Scenario 13 | Left side | Backhand lob serve | Right bottom corner of the front wall |
| Scenario 14 | Left side | Backhand lob serve | The right corner of the front wall |
Note that the blue dotted lines represent the trajectory of the ball based on the type of serve. The green circles and arrows represent the movement pattern of the player that is returning the serve. The black dot reflects when the ball is hit by a player or where the rally will probably end (in case the player can’t hit the ball in time).
Scenario 1
When returning a hard forehand serve (assuming a right-handed player) from the right side of the court, aim towards the side wall near the left front wall corner. For right-handed players, this would mean a controlled backhand, while left-handed players need to hit a forehand. As a consequence, the ball bounces off the side wall towards the front wall and subsequently ends up close to the front wall. Since the serving player stands in the opposing part of the court, they need to react quickly to be able to move across the court and play the ball. After returning the serve, move towards the T in order to strategically position yourself. From there you can easily maneuver to any part of the court.
Scenario 2
In order to return a forehand lob serve by a right-handed player from the right side of the court, you hit the ball directly towards the front wall near the left corner with a backhand lob (if you are a right-handed player). The lob should land just above the tin and when it comes off the front wall it will land just near the front wall. This makes it hard for your opponent to move towards the front wall and return the ball. Again, moving towards the T is key to keeping your options open if your opponent is able to return the ball.
Scenario 3
Another option is to return a forehand lob serve from a right-handed player played from the right side of the court. Take the ball early and volley directly towards the front wall near the bottom left corner (above the tin) with a backhand (if you are a right-handed player). The ball is following a downward trajectory and after hitting the front wall it will land just near the front wall. This makes it hard for your opponent to move towards the front wall and return the ball. Again, moving towards the T is key to keeping your options open if your opponent is able to return the ball.
Scenario 4
When your (right-handed) opponent is playing a hard backhand serve from the right side of the court you need to return the ball with more power since you are farther in the back of the court. Aim towards the side wall near the left front wall corner. For right-handed players, this would mean a controlled backhand and a forehand for left-handed players. As a consequence, the ball bounces off the side wall towards the front wall and subsequently ends up close to the front wall. Since the serving player stands in the opposing part of the court, they need to react quickly to be able to play the ball. After returning the serve, move towards the T in order to strategically position yourself. From there you can easily maneuver to any part of the court.
Scenario 5
In order to return this alternative and possibly surprising hard backhand serve from the right side of the court, hit the ball with a controlled forehand towards the left front wall corner. After the ball hits the front wall, it quickly bounces towards the side wall and remains ‘death’ near the left corner. Your opponent, standing in the opposing part of the court, needs to react quickly to be able to play the ball in time. Move back to the T after returning the serve.
Scenario 6
If your right-handed opponent plays a backhand lob from the right side of the court, you need to move far back into the left corner. From there, hit the ball directly towards the front wall near the left corner with a backhand lob (if you are a right-handed player). The lob should land just above the tin and when it comes off the front wall it will land just near the front wall. Your opponent needs to move fast to be able to hit the ball in time and you can position yourself at the T line.
Scenario 7
Return a forehand serve (by a right-handed player) from the left side of the court with a controlled forehand aimed towards the side wall near the right front wall corner. The ball bounces off the side wall towards the front wall and subsequently ends up close to the front wall. Since the serving player stands in the opposing part of the court, they need to react quickly to be able to play the ball. After returning the serve, move towards the T in order to strategically position yourself. From there you can easily maneuver to any part of the court.
Scenario 8
In order to return this alternative and possibly surprising hard forehand serve from the left side of the court, hit the ball with a controlled backhand towards the right front wall corner. After the ball hits the front wall, it quickly bounces towards the side wall and remains dead near the right corner. Your opponent, standing in the left part of the court, needs to react quickly to be able to play the ball in time. Move back to the T after returning the serve.
Scenario 9
While returning a forehand lob serve by a right-handed player from the left side of the court, hit the ball directly towards the front wall near the right corner with a forehand lob (if you are a right-handed player). The lob should land just above the tin and when it comes off the front wall it will land just near the front wall. This makes it hard for your opponent to move towards the front wall and return the ball. Again, moving towards the T is key to keeping your options open if your opponent is able to return the ball.
Scenario 10
If your (right-handed) opponent plays a forehand lob serve from the left side of the court, the ball hits the side wall near the right back wall. Return the serve with a forehand straight drive aimed directly towards the front wall near the right corner (if you are a right-handed player). Your opponent may expect to move towards the front wall, whereas the ball will come back again near the right back wall. Putting your opponent under pressure will allow you to take the T position.
Scenario 11
Return a backhand serve (by a right-handed player) from the left side of the court with a controlled forehand aimed towards the side wall near the right front wall corner. The ball bounces off the side wall towards the front wall and subsequently ends up close to the front wall. Since the serving player stands in the opposing part of the court, they need to react quickly to be able to play the ball. After returning the serve, move towards the T in order to strategically position yourself. From there you can easily maneuver to any part of the court.
Scenario 12
Another option to return a hard backhand serve (by a right-handed player) from the left side of the court is to take the ball early rather than waiting until it has come off the side wall. Aim your forehand volley towards the side wall near the right front wall corner. The ball bounces off the side wall towards the front wall and subsequently ends up close to the front wall. Since the serving player stands in the opposing part of the court, they need to react quickly to be able to play the ball. After returning the serve, move towards the T in order to strategically position yourself. From there you can easily maneuver to any part of the court.
Scenario 13
In order to return a backhand lob serve by a right-handed player from the left side of the court, you hit the ball directly towards the front wall (above the tin) near the bottom right corner with a forehand lob (if you are a right-handed player). After it hits the front wall, the ball lands near the same wall which makes it hard for your opponent. Subsequently, take the T position and put pressure on your opponent.
Scenario 14
Rather than returning the backhand lob serve with a lob, hit the ball hard with a straight forehand drive aimed at the front wall (above the tin) near the bottom right corner. This assumes that both players are right-handed players and the ball is served from the left side of the court. After you have returned the ball, move towards the T and put pressure on your opponent.
First of all, if you have come this far, I acknowledge you for your perseverance. Nevertheless, if these visuals (still) feel overwhelming, go ahead and start with the article on where to stand in order to return a serve.