Even if done under the table it is not difficult to read if the final motion of the tip of the racket can be identified. But this is much harder because someone like Adam Borrow is very good at creating drama in his snake returns by masking the direction of racket travel direction at contact by using exaggerated motions after the fact.
Personally these snake side spins do not bother me much since return the ball very late anyway as a defensive player. But if someone is not very mobile & want to take the ball very early right after the bounce before the spin fully develops. this involves angling your racket in the same direction the ball is breaking (most players, even pros I have seen, make the mistake of angling the racket in opposite direction). This is of course easier said than done because, the lower your skill level the lower are your reflexes & feel for the ball usually,
But if you are able to get to the ball after it breaks, a safe return is to always go down the line & not cross-court. For example if you are a righty and a righty opponent's hook loop is breaking towards your wide right (forehand), you want to return the ball to your righty opponent's backhand & not go against the spin and go to his / her forehand.
Again, this is easier said than done for an amateur though the pros can do this instinctively. Pros usually slide and roll the ball on opponent’s backhand side or they can reverse the spin and go cross court. But going cross court is not safe for an amateur though as it will usually end up in the bottom of the net towards your left (backhand). But if you get lucky, the ball will go to the extreme right and very short of your opponents & totally unreturnable even for a 2600 opponent & you will look like a genius though you are really clueless.
So a safe return (for non-pros) against any ball breaking away from your body is to always go down the line with your return & not go cross-court. Best return is just to go around the net & roll it with a counter hook loop & try to minimize the bounce (ideally roll the ball LOL)
More on snakes at webpage below (towards the bottom)
Side Spin Basics
There is a bit more to handling & attacking side spin loops, chops & serves. I have a webpage from 20 years ago on this. I am in the process of updating it. Will post later
