How do you return heavy topspin serve?

Question

recently i found a friend who hits his serve with heavy topspins. at deuce court it really moves further out of reach to my backhand. if i move earlier to anticipate, he will quickly change to a slice to the sideline. any idea is appreciated.

Answer 1

You're usually suppposed to step inside the baseline and return the serve before it can bounce too high..it's hard to do, but that's how you're supposed to do it

Answer 2

don't let it even bounce.Go ahead and smack it when the ball is by your waist...don't let it go to your shoulder!

Well,do you actually play tennis or are you faking it?Are you serious?

Look at his ball toss for god's sake!I'm 100% sure that when he serves slice and the heavy topspin..his toss will be different..so see that very carefully...you'll get the hang of it....

Only federer does not change his ball toss...that's why he's so great!

Answer 3

I'm afraid the best strategy is still to anticipate, but perhaps with a few improvements.  First, you should try to read his serve.  Unless this person is a touring pro, chances are his toss or swing is different for topspin and slice serves--perhaps even the way he prepares (foot placement, orientation of body in relation to the net...etc).  

Rather than analysing all of his service motions, I would focus only on the unique things he does when hitting a topspin serve.  Once you have picked up the unique sign of the topspin serve, move in whenever you see the sign.  Doing this should also prevent you from anticipating too early (and allowing him to change his serve).  If you don't see 'the sign' [that indicates a topspin serve], stay back...perhaps anticipate that he will slice the serve wide--unless there are other types of serve he is throwing at you.

[Edit: I'm also assuming that you are able to handle his slice serve.  If his slice is also pulling wide beyond your reach, use the same approach]

Moving in will cut the ball off before it has a chance to kick up high and out of your reach.  The good thing about a topspin serve is that the ball doesn't travel as quickly to the target as flat or slice serves, so you have some extra time to move in.  

I realize that moving in to return a serve is harder than it sounds.  If you are like most of us with normal hand/eye coordination, I advise that you cut down on your backswing or simply do a compact slice.  You can practice this type of return by having someone hit a short lob into the service box while you move in--focusing on making contact with the ball on the rise.

Best of luck.

Answer 4

The main thing on topspin serves is to attack it early and anticipate. As you're watching the ball go over the net, get to where you think the ball will go ASAP and attack it early because you know it's going to jump on you. I usually lean into it and do a slice return. I usually don't recommend slice reutrns but on TS serves, it's much more effective.

Answer 5

To return a serve with heavy topspin, run up on the ball and take it early. This will only allow the spin to take minimal effect on the balls bounce path. The farther away from the ball you are, the larger the area that the ball can bounce towards.