Are you having trouble getting ready for your opponent's return after serving? If you do get ready, are you having trouble deciding what shot to hit? Should it be a slice, topspin, or flat stroke? In this lesson I will answer both of these questions in two parts.
 
PART ONE - GETTING READY
 
The first plan of action would be to practice hitting your serve without standing there watching to see if it has gone in! Instead, you should prepare for the return. This sounds simple but there are two inherent problems that plague most players when recovering after the serve.
 
One, they wait to see if their serve is in before getting ready for the return. It does not matter whether your serve is in or out, you should prepare for a return either way. And two, most players do not practice the balance to recover properly after a serve.
 
1. WATCHING YOUR SERVE
 
This problem is the downfall of many players in their match points. They are so busy watching their last shot, they do not get ready and prepare for the return. As a result they are slow to react to the opponent's ball coming back at them. It does not take a genius to figure out that if you prepare quickly after your shot, you will have more time to hit your opponent's return. I think the phrase, "he who hesitates is lost," sums it up quite well! You must practice hitting your serve and not waiting to see if it lands in or not. Instead, begin your preparation for a possible return. Notice I said "possible return," whether there is a return or not is irrelevant... you prepare anyway! Doing this will keep you alert and ready to move faster in whichever direction the return comes.
 
* Many, many points are lost because players are NOT PREPARED to make quick adjustments (mentally or physically) to retrieve shots after they have served. They have fallen into the trap of watching the magnificence of their own glorious shot and not thinking about the possible return.
 
2. PRACTICING A BALANCED RECOVERY
 
Next you must practice your balance over and over and over again by serving and bouncing back to ready position about a foot behind the baseline (unless of course you are serving and volleying).
 
A word of caution! Just because you can execute this move does not mean you're totally balanced yet. There is a smooth rhythmic feel to the movement that takes practice. In addition, this move has to be subconscious enough so that you can concentrate on your opponent's return while you are recovering.
 
Tying both techniques together you would serve and IMMEDIATELY (not waiting to see if your serve is in or not) BOUNCE BACK on balance to prepare for the return. This is all done automatically and instinctively without hesitation! A little practice in these two areas and you will be surprised how focused you become on your opponent's return of serve and how quickly you begin reacting to that return.
 
As I have said before, learning tennis is doing simple things over and over and over again until it is committed to the subconscious. Then the magic begins!
 
PART TWO - WHAT SHOT SHOULD YOU HIT?
 
You own a slice, a flat, or a topspin shot off both the forehand and backhand groundstokes. Now, which shot should you select after your opponent returns your serve? The answer to this question is not black or white, but depends on many factors:

1. Are you in trouble?
2. Are you tired?
3. Does your opponent have difficulty with topspin or slice shots?
4. Are you trying to pass your opponent at the net?
5. Do you want to rush your opponent by hitting the ball with speed?
6. Do you want to dip the ball at their feet?