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How do you return a full kickserve that is out wide?

2K views 13 replies 5 participants last post by  Bernard Black 
#1 ·
I'm a lefty and I have quite a bit of trouble with taking them from the duece court. I try a 2 hand topspin backhand crosscourt but it usually sails into the net.
 
#3 ·
Sometimes it is way too difficult to do that though. I mean look at Nadal at the professional level, I rarely see him take wide kick serves early, especially on clay.

Honestly if you expect it, just take maybe precautionary steps to be in a good position so that you don't get handcuffed. Since it is only a kick serve, it isn't going to have the same sting regular flat serves and such have so when you make contact, you can load on the ball. Best thing to do is just hit it back deep.
 
#9 ·
I don't know, it is just so tough, especially on the backhand side because I have a relatively conservative one-handed backhand so if I slightly get out of position at the last second, it is really difficult to continue moving through the ball. Obviously it is a lot easier on the forehand side, but who really kicks it to that side unless you bait them by moving closer to your left acting as if you are anticipating a backhand return.
I used to be like that. I have a 2-handed backhand, but whenever I returned on that side, I would slice. Slice all the time. Now, my 2 hander return is improving and my slice return ain't bad either :lol:

I think it just has to do with confidence in your backhand return.
 
#10 ·
I used to be like that. I have a 2-handed backhand, but whenever I returned on that side, I would slice. Slice all the time. Now, my 2 hander return is improving and my slice return ain't bad either :lol:

I think it just has to do with confidence in your backhand return.
Well it could be confidence, but honestly I think it is just because of having a one-hander. Out of these past couple decades, there has almost NEVER been a one-hander who has been considered having a great return. Seriously, it has been Connors/Borg to Agassi to Hewitt to Nalbandian/Davydenko/Ferrer/Murray/Del Potro which are ALL two-handers. Players like Becker, Sampras, Federer, among others are terrible in returning off their backhand compared to their two-handed counterparts.

All these top players that use the one-handed hit mishits all the time whenever they are handcuffed from the spin or they just slice it back. I mean I used to have a two-hander back when I was like 14 or 15, and I never had problems returning high balls since you can muscle it which you really can't with a one-hander. It is almost a requirement that one-handers must have good forehands so that they can run around on those balls that are a tad too high to hit a winner off their backhand but can do so with their forehand.

I really don't know. It can't be a confidence thing because I actually do consider my backhand my best shot and I haven't played a real ranked match in quite a while, but oh well. I'll stick to sitting back and returning it deep or running around it.
 
#4 ·
Kick serve to the backhand, classic stuff and everyone has difficulties with it - even the pros.

Probably more difficult for you as lefty, as you don't see that serve very often? Pretty much 80-90% of second serves righty to righty are kicked out to the backhand so we get plenty of practice with it.

Agree with Groove Dude here though, I'd step in and try and take it on the rise if I were you. Or if you have a good slice try and knife it back cross court and occasionaly down the line (tougher option though).
 
#11 ·
:D

This is one of the best areas of my game, now that I have found a perfect returning grip for my forehand and one-handed backhand.

I would find a grip that is very comfortable and is easy to hit a big flat ball with, as well as turning it over to get some spin if the serve bounces wrong.

So what I do is stay on my toes, then when the toss goes up I take 1-2 steps into the court, regardless of where I am. This is where you get power and confidence in your returns. It also assures you that the serve won't bounce up on you too high, but instead you can take it right where you want it. I then take a firm but abbreviated swing and I find I get tons of power on it. It feels great and is high percentage.:wavey:
 
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