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Here is a video of my serve return on Sunday at a tournament.
All 3 players are higher ranked than me, a fair bit higher, In theory they should always beat me. I have beaten the last opponent once, sometimes i get a set often not.
I feel like serve return is the biggest difference between us.
Anyway be interested in why some returns are good and some are bad?
Hey there, I think I see your problem. But first you should mention that the first opponent in your video, you didn't show missed serves, which is why Lula above me is confused.
1. It looks like your opponents are deliberately taking advantage of the weakness of your pips. Pips do not return long serves well compared to inverted rubber.
2. When you decide to use topspin to receive with your backhand, you like to take the ball early, which is fine when you decide to go slow. Like at 4:06 https://youtu.be/kQ0-EILxuzE?t=246 . But it's not really ok when you decide to go fast like at 3:58 https://youtu.be/kQ0-EILxuzE?t=238 .
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Please understand that when your opponent is serving, that is when you are at a complete disadvantage. Don't go thinking that you'll be able to blast away serves. Don't disrespect serves, and remember that serve receive problems happen at the highest levels as well.
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I'll recommend some options for receive for long sereves, since your short serve receive isn't bad.
1. Use your forehand when they serve long
2. For topspinning with pips, go slower and maximize placement and minimize height. Please understand that you aren't going to be blasting topspins like an inverted rubber. I just randomly googled a video of Mima Ito and looked what I found in the first minute:
https://youtu.be/DaBEsQxbjFg?t=55 . Also throughout the video, her topspin returns aren't fast. The only fast returns from her backhand are punches to the corner.
3. Learn other returns, like no spins, chops, etc. With the power of short pips, you can do more non-mainstream returns, so get creative. The same Mima Ito video shows many different kinds of receives. Make sure to maximize placement on those.
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By the way, another problem I see is that you tend to go slow with the pips in the rally when you don't need to. You only really need to go slow on backspin. Feel free to punch topspins during the rally. You'll win lots of points that way.
Don't forget to dropshot short sereves and stuff.
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