How To Dominate Your Opponent’s Second Serve

Ah, the second serve in tennis. It can be a tricky business; the ball isn't coming at you as fast, but it's still fast enough that it requires some quick footwork and smart decision-making. If you know what to do when your opponent serves their second serve, then you could have a real edge over them. So, let's dive into how to attack your opponent’s second serve!

Return the second serve deep into the cross court.

Know What You're Dealing With

First things first, you need to know what kind of second serve your opponent has. Does it have a lot of spin? Is it flat? Is it a hard shot? Knowing these details will give you get an idea of how best to return the second serve. For example, if their second serve has much more topspin, then you should be prepared for a high-bouncing ball. On the other hand, if their second serve tends to be flat and hard, then you may want to return by blocking the ball, using its pace and directing it back to a corner in the court.

Think Ahead

Do not wait till the ball has landed on your side of the court before making decisions about how to return. Instead, once your opponent has hit the ball and it is in flight, try to anticipate where it might be headed so that you can move your feet and get into a good position to return well.

Take Quick Action

Once you know what kind of second serve your opponent has thrown at you, take quick action in returning the ball. There are two main strategies here: either hit an aggressive shot (if their second serve is slow or weak) or play a controlled shot (if their second serve has power and spin). The key is to make sure that no matter which strategy you decide on, that your return is well-placed and accurate while still having power behind it.

Get Low On The Ball 

When returning a second serve, bend your knees so that you can stay low on the ball and generate more power on each shot. This lower center of gravity will also provide more stability when you are returning a powerful serve. Avoid leaning back as you return as this will cause you to be off balance.

Return Cross Court

Cross court returns are usually the safest because they give you more margin for error. It is also easier to return a shot in the same direction that it is coming from; in the case of returning a serve, it is simply hitting back diagonally. If your opponent does not hit a very powerful second serve, you can use this opportunity to hit a wide cross court return that will force them out of position. This type of return requires accuracy and an aggressive mindset but it could be just what you need to get an easy point off their weak second serve. 

Move In For A Volley

When returning a weak second serve, it may be beneficial for you to move in for a volley as soon as possible after making contact with the ball. This will put you in a better position to put away any short balls they send over and will throw them off balance since they may not expect you to come in so quickly after hitting your return shot. 

Utilise Lob Returns When Appropriate

While trying to hit an aggressive return off your opponent's second serve is usually the primary strategy, you should try lobbing too, especially if your opponent tends to move up to the net. Lob returns should only be used sparingly though - if used too often then it becomes predictable so do mix things up with the slice return, for example.

Use The Slice Return

When facing a powerful second serve, using a slice return can be effective in neutralising its power. Using the slice also allows you to keep the ball low, making it harder for your opponent get their racket under the ball to generate topspin and power.

Be Prepared For Anything

No matter how much research and preparation you do ahead of time about learning how to attack your opponents' second serves, there are certain things that can happen during a match which are completely out of anyone's control. This means that even if everything looks good in practice beforehand, there might still be something unexpected happening during an actual match - so always be prepared for anything! This could range from dealing with gusts of wind that change the trajectory of the ball mid-flight or having to adjust quickly due to slippery court conditions. But no matter what happens stay focused.

To be successful in returning your opponent's second serve, it is important to anticipate where the ball might land and take quick action. You should also get low on the ball, return cross court when possible, move in for a volley or use the slice return to keep the ball low. Lastly, you must always be prepared for anything that could happen during a match so that you can stay focused no matter what situation arises. With these tips and strategies in mind, try to dominate your opponent's second serve in your next match!

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