The Most Overlooked Tennis Skill That Can Change the Game

Hi Team Stony Tennis,

When people think about tennis training, they often focus on serves, forehands, and backhands but there’s one crucial skill that often gets overlooked…Return of Serve!

The return of serve is more than just returning the ball. It’s about reading your opponent, reacting quickly, and making smart decisions under pressure. For any player, it’s one of the most important skills to develop which is why we include it as much as possible in our sessions..

Tennis is a game of reaction. Players who can read the ball early, position themselves efficiently, and return with purpose are the ones who stay in control of the point. It builds confidence and helps them play smarter, not just harder.

When I’m working with players, here are a few ways I help them improve:

• Practicing split-step timing and court positioning
  
• Drills that focus on reacting to different spins and speeds
  
• Learning to anticipate based on opponent’s body language
  
• Shadowing returns to develop muscle memory
  
• Mental focus: staying present and ready between points

At Team Stony Tennis, we prioritize developing well-rounded players and that means giving just as much attention to return of serve as to serving. Whether your child is just starting out or already competing, mastering this skill gives them a powerful edge.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about how we can train the Return of Serve at different age / ability levels, just reply to this email and I’ll be happy to help.

Explore our active tennis programme and book a free trial now from here - Book a Free Trial


Happy tennising!
​
John Cavill
Director of Tennis