STRONG RETURNS LEAD TO TENNIS SUCCESS

Southland Times, Issue 23682, 3 December 1938, Page 15

STRONG RETURNS LEAD TO TENNIS SUCCESS

(SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR THE SOUTHLAND TIMES)

By

DONALD BUDGE

NO. 9 I have often heard our top class players state that they would rather receive the service of Vines, Perry and Tilden than serve to them. These three men return the services so well that they enjoy a fine psychological advantage over their opponents. This ability is a wonderful asset and its importance cannot be over emphasized. A good portion of the success of Fred Perry came from his well-developed service returns. It should be the purpose of the service return to offset the offensive advantage which belongs to the server. This may be accomplished either by a direct attempt to take the offensive or by a defensive move to keep the server from gaining the full benefit of his advantage. As the forehand is usually the stronger attacking stroke I believe that it should be slightly favoured by the receiver. In other words he should stand a little bit to the left of the centre of the service court. This means that the server has a smaller portion of court in which to find his opponent’s weakest, shot off the ground. It also allows the receiver to run around any slow serves to his backhand, take them on his forehand and often make a good forcing return. The distance at which the player stands from the service line to receive depends on several factors. The speed of the service, the amount of spin on the ball, the intention of the receiver, and the quickness of his reflexes, all have an important bearing on the return. If the service is of average speed and the ability of the receiver about average, the best position is either on, or slightly to either 'side of, the base line.

VARYING SERVICES

Against a powerful straight service it is often well to back up slightly. This gives the receiver a little extra time to judge and handle the ball. A service that is sharply angled and carries lots of spin presents a different problem. The ball breaks away from the court and the player. The farther back the receiver stands the greater amount of court he has to cover. Against this tyne it is best to stand m closer. If the receiver is keen to take the ball on the rise and make offensive thrusts off each serve he must also be in closer. some players prefer to set up a defensive shot against powerful services by standing in close and blocking the ball back. The body should be slightly forward and crouched a little. The player should also be up on his toes all the time. These fundamentals enable him to get a quick start and deal with the ball with the greatest efficiency. Most players use a safer method of delivery on their second serve. This may take the form either of less pace or a greater amount of spin. The receiver, therefore, has a better chance to take over the offensive on the easier second serve. I usually move in closer. This is to worry the server a little and if possible to enable me to get to the net, should I succeed in making a forcing return. When the serve is placed well out of reach of the receiver he is often forced to scramble the ball back. Some players are in favour of a jump or lunge to cover the distance. I prefer to keep both feet on the ground and run or slide and stretch to get the shot. I advocate this practice because a lunge or jump is apt to destroy the sense of balance and cause the retriever to miss the shot even if he does get to the ball. A net-rushing server is always a problem to the receiver, who is forced to make an attempt to pass him a shot that will bring an error. The receiver has several alternatives in coping with this attack. Shots made straight down either line are always effective. The server must put his volley away or be prepared to cover the next shot from a position near the side line. I have found the backhand down the line bothersome to the net rusher.

ANGLED RETURNS

The receiver may use sharply angled returns to good advantage. Many net rushers have difficulty volleying angled returns. Most volleyers, however, make good shots straight down the receiver’s line from an angled return. For this reason I only use the shot to introduce variety. Against the net rusher one must also keep the returns as low as possible, sometimes even at the expense of pace. Returns carrying top spin usually force the server to volley the ball up, as it drops rapidly after clearing the net. Flat shots of low trajectory achieve the same purpose to some extent. The return should never be high. Shots above the waist of the volleyer are usually dealt with severely. The main object in making the return to the net rusher is to keep him guessing as to what is coming next. The best programme is to mix shots down the line with angled returns, and to avoid any fixed programme or rotation of plays. Look for weakness in the net game of your opponent and try to pave the way for effective stabs at those points. A well-tuned lob can cause the net attacker a great amount of discomfort. George Lott was one of the leading disciples of this form of strategy. His low, fast-bouncing lobs were very difficult to handle. The lob should not be overdone, however, as most net players are well able to cope with them. They are most useful when bringing into the play the element of surprise. Against

an average opponent a steady lobbing attack is more often than not disastrous to the lobber.

The server who remains on the baseline presents a different problem. The receiver has an opportunity to put the ball back in play and bide his time to go to the net. I believe that the return should be a deep well-placed shot, usually to the weaker side of the server. In this way he may be forced into making a shot which offers a better chance for a sally to the net than his service does. Against a baseliner, as well, the returns must be varied; no set programme is practical. The best way to cope with a baseliner is either - to attack from the net or draw him into it. I usually attempt the former practice. It pays to refrain from becoming over anxious to attack. It is best to rally with your opponent until he makes a shot well inside the baseline. The tactics must depend on the soundness of the server in the different departments. Sometimes in the case of a player whose serve is less severe it is better to try the forcing shot from the service return, as that is more apt to be an easier shot than would result from a base line exchange. Whatever method the receiver uses he should remember to mix his shots, and confuse and surprise his opponent whenever possible. Make the server run and by all means take the offensive away from him at every opportunity.