Ask most club players what they work on: serves, forehands, backhands, maybe the occasional volley. But here’s the truth — you’re losing more points on the return than anywhere else.

At the pro level, players like Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Simona Halep built their careers not around massive serves, but around elite returning. They turned opponents’ biggest weapon into a neutral ball — or even a chance to take control.

Here’s how to start thinking and training like a world-class returner:

Build a Return That Wins You Free Points

1. Start with your base.
Your return stance should be wide enough to explode in either direction — about a racket’s length between your feet. Stay low, knees bent, and elbows slightly off your body so your shoulders can rotate freely.

2. Get centred.
Keep your racket perfectly in the middle. Most players unknowingly favor one side, which makes reacting to a wide serve nearly impossible.

3. Time your split-step.
Land just before the ball leaves your opponent’s strings. That moment decides whether you move like a statue or attack the ball on time.

4. Think compact, not powerful.
A return isn’t a normal groundstroke — it’s closer to a volley. Keep your backswing short and guide the ball with your body weight moving forward. The goal isn’t to crush it, but to control it.

5. Aim smarter.
Forget the corners. The best return targets are deep and through the middle. You neutralize the serve, force awkward contact, and start the point on equal footing.

Learn to Read the Server

Every server has habits — and they show them.

Watch their toss: most players shift slightly to their right for slice and to their left for kick. In pressure moments (break points, 30–40), they almost always go to their favorite serve. Start tracking those patterns and you’ll begin returning like a chess player, not a gambler.

Attack Second Serves

Second serves are invitations.

Step up, take it early, and hit a normal, aggressive shot — just like you would from the baseline.

You can go deep middle, down the line, or short cross to pull them off the court.

And against kick serves? Don’t back up too far. Take the ball between hip and shoulder height and meet it before it climbs above you.

Why This Matters

If you’re serious about becoming a complete player, your serve alone won’t win matches.

Every point begins with two opportunities to take control — one on your serve, one on theirs.

When you can consistently return deep, neutralize first serves, and attack second serves, you flip the balance of every rally before it even begins.

That’s what separates great club players from the rest.

Because at every level — from local clubs to the pros — one truth remains:

No serve is impossible to return when you know how to prepare for it.

See you on court,
Cade & Chris

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