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Return of Serve

Serving & ReturningLevel 2 — Intermediate

Unlocks

Return-Side Point Plan

What It Is

The skill of hitting a deep, penetrating return while advancing to the kitchen line. The return is the receiving team's single biggest advantage moment — executing it well puts the serving team under immediate pressure.

Correct Execution

Make the return deep — landing in the back third of the opponent's court. Use enough speed to be effective but not so much that you can't get to the kitchen line. The chip and charge return is ideal: slice the ball deep while using the forward momentum to advance. Slice returns are particularly effective because they neutralize the opponent's third shot by creating a difficult contact with backspin. Get all the way to the kitchen line before the opponent contacts their third shot.

Progression Levels

Diagnostic Tree

Coaching Cues

  • "Make them deep and penetrating, but find the speed that allows you to always get up to the kitchen line." — return priorities, Morgan Evans (2021)
  • "The chip and charge return is a fantastic tool." — technique recommendation, Morgan Evans (2021)
  • "Work hard on your returns so you can afford to be aggressive on serve." — practice priority, Morgan Evans (2021)

Common Errors

  1. Staying back after returning: Not advancing to the kitchen → Return and advance are one connected motion
  2. Short returns: Landing mid-court gives serving team easy third shots → Prioritize depth over pace
  3. Flat returns only: Missing the chance to challenge with spin → Use slice to create backspin that complicates the third shot

Edges

🔑 Hidden Causal Lever

Don't Have to Be Fast If You're Early

servingreturn-of-serve →

Morgan Evans on the chip and charge: "You don't have to be fast if you're early." Slice returns stay in the air LONGER than flat or topspin returns, giving you MORE time to advance to the kitchen. Most players hit hard returns thinking pace creates pressure — but pace leaves less time for THEM to reach the kitchen. The slice return is slower but creates more time for the returner. Slower-and-earlier beats faster-and-later.

What most people do
Hit hard, flat returns for pace, then sprint to the kitchen — often arriving late.
What the best do
Hit slice returns that float longer, using the extra air time to walk to the kitchen. They arrive early and composed.
Why it's an edge: Reframes the return from "hit hard, run fast" to "hit smart, arrive early." Players with average foot speed can consistently reach the kitchen by using slice instead of pace.
How to exploit: Hit 10 flat returns and mark where you are when the opponent contacts their third shot. Then hit 10 slice returns with the same marking. Compare your average position — the slice returns will have you 2-3 feet further forward.
Morgan Evans, "Return of Serve Technique" (2022-05-24)
⚡ Conventional Wisdom Is Wrong

Never Start a Return Going Backward

servingreturn-of-serve →

Cincola: if you have to step BACKWARD for a return of serve, you started too close to the baseline. The fix isn't better footwork — it's better starting position. Start far enough back that you can move FORWARD into every return. Use body momentum (not arm swing) to generate depth. Forward momentum → natural depth without a big backswing. Stepping back → weight shifts backward → ball goes short or into the net.

What most people do
Stand close to the baseline, then scramble backward when a deep serve arrives.
What the best do
Start 2-3 feet behind the baseline. Move forward into every return. Body momentum creates depth naturally.
Why it's an edge: Eliminates backward movement on returns entirely. Every return becomes a forward-moving attack rather than a backward-scrambling defense.
How to exploit: In your next match, start your return position 2 feet further back than normal. Notice: do you still reach every serve? Is your weight moving forward at contact? Your return depth and quality should improve immediately.
John Cincola, "Return of Serve Mistakes" (2025-08-27)
⚡ Conventional Wisdom Is Wrong

Never Start a Return Going Backward

servingreturn-of-serve →

Cincola: if you have to step BACKWARD for a return of serve, you started too close to the baseline. The fix isn't better footwork — it's better starting position. Start far enough back that you can move FORWARD into every return. Use body momentum (not arm swing) to generate depth. Forward momentum → natural depth without a big backswing. Stepping back → weight shifts backward → ball goes short or into the net.

What most people do
Stand close to the baseline, then scramble backward when a deep serve arrives.
What the best do
Start 2-3 feet behind the baseline. Move forward into every return. Body momentum creates depth naturally.
Why it's an edge: Eliminates backward movement on returns entirely. Every return becomes a forward-moving attack rather than a backward-scrambling defense.
How to exploit: In your next match, start your return position 2 feet further back than normal. Notice: do you still reach every serve? Is your weight moving forward at contact? Your return depth and quality should improve immediately.
John Cincola, "Return of Serve Mistakes" (2025-08-27)

Sources

  • Morgan Evans, "Twice the Speed of Smell" ep027 mid-episode tip (2021-03-02) — chip and charge return, rolling volley fourth ball, return game importance
  • Morgan Evans, "How We Lost 5 Points" (2021-02-22) — 4 of 5 points lost on serve; invest in return game