Topspin serve receive effectively

Nathan Wu Asked 5 days ago

I struggled against one guy who served short topspin to my forehand or backhand and I flick it passively and he smashes it. My flick is low but he is able to smash it. He is able to smash the low balls easily somehow. Is there anyway to return the serve without

a. you push it goes high, he smashes

b. flick and then he smashes it

I didn't struggle in the rallies just against the third ball because I felt helpless in returning this.

Alois Rosario Answered 2 days ago

Hi Nathan,

Sounds like you have come up against a smart player with a good strategy.

You have a few options:

1. You can still push the ball low and short even though it has topspin.  Take the ball early off the bounce, have your racket come down quite vertically behind the ball and keep your hand soft and relaxed to absorb the spin and speed.
2. Push the ball long and deep with more backspin.  That gives them one option to try to lift the ball with topspin which you can be more ready for.
3. Continue to use your flick but focus on taking a fw more risks with it by hitting the ball at the top of the bounce and adding more forward momentum with a flatter harder contact.

Each of these can work, but it will take some time practising this in training before you can execute it well in a match.