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When is the drive return the right choice?
Drive the return when the serve is weak and the server is still moving. Aim at their feet in no man's land.
You usually lob the return. When does driving it instead make sense?
Drive the return when the serve is weak and the server is still moving. Aim at their feet in no man's land.
Why
The return drive is a change-up with a specific trigger: a serve that lands short or bounces up, combined with a server who is still running toward the net. A firm, low drive at that server's feet, or through the middle between the two of them, arrives while the server is mid-stride and produces a half-volley from no man's land. Against a good serve, or a server who has already arrived and split-stepped, the same drive is a comfortable volley, that is when the lob is the shot. Mixing the two makes the serving pair hesitate, and a hesitating server serves worse.
What this means at your level
Beginner
If the serve is short and sits up, hit it firmly at the server's feet as they run in. Otherwise, lob.
Intermediate
The drive return goes low over the net with a little slice so it does not sit up if they reach it. At the feet or through the middle, not at the body of the net player.
Advanced
Show the drive early in the match, even on a ball where the lob was better. The serving pair then has to respect it, and the lob gets more time all afternoon.
Common questions
You usually lob the return. When does driving it instead make sense?
Short serve, server still running: at the feet. Drive the return when the serve is weak and the server is still moving. Aim at their feet in no man's land. The return drive is a change-up with a specific trigger: a serve that lands short or bounces up, combined with a server who is still running toward the net. A firm, low drive at that server's feet, or through the middle between the two of them, arrives while the server is mid-stride and produces a half-volley from no man's land. Against a good serve, or a server who has already arrived and split-stepped, the same drive is a comfortable volley, that is when the lob is the shot. Mixing the two makes the serving pair hesitate, and a hesitating server serves worse.
Why not every time, to be the aggressive pair from the first ball?
A drive at a server who has reached the net is a volley for them. It is a situational shot.
What should a beginner do here?
If the serve is short and sits up, hit it firmly at the server's feet as they run in. Otherwise, lob.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Show the drive early in the match, even on a ball where the lob was better. The serving pair then has to respect it, and the lob gets more time all afternoon.
Puzzles like this one
Both of them are at the net. What is the highest-percentage ball?
Only the lob moves a net pair backwards. Everything else invites them forward.
intermediateWhat do you do with the return of serve?
The return lob is how the receiving pair steals the net. Aim over the player who is still moving.
intermediateShort, high and yours. Bandeja or smash?
Deep ball, bandeja. Short ball with your weight going forward, smash.