Return of Serve Technique & Footwork | Jack Draper’s Coach

Key Points

• Kneel a meter in front of the service line and bounce feed the ball so the player hits returns in different spots
• Mix up speeds and heights to simulate a high kick second serve etc.
• Feeding from this position allows you to watch your player very closely and look for areas of improvement
• Generally, your return position should be a meter to a meter and half behind the baseline so you can use the pace of the server
• Split step forward, step out to the side and take a short backswing
• “Catch the pace,” keeping the racket out in and try to “turn on contact”
• Aim for a deep return down the centre of the court so your opponent can’t hurt you on ball 3
• Start the split and step closer to contact
• Turn your left shoulder through contact, so you finish at a slight angle into the court
• The rotation of your shoulders should do the work, rather than your arms
• Making contact closer to the ball and letting it come into you, helps with keeping the return compact and facilitates the rotation of the shoulders