If you play club doubles, you know that the serve return is where points are often won or lost. A great return puts your team on the offensive immediately, while a poor one lets your opponents take control. Certain return styles are particularly frustrating to face because they force you to react quickly or make difficult decisions while moving. Whether you are playing against aggressive bangers or crafty tacticians, understanding the most challenging return strategies is the first step toward neutralizing them. Let’s look at the six hardest serves to return and how you can prepare for them.
Quick Summary of Tough Returns
| Strategy | Primary Challenge | Best Counter Strategy |
| Deep Heavy Spin | Pushes you off the baseline | Step in early to take on the rise |
| The Dipper | Forces a low, weak volley | Get your racquet head below the ball |
| The Jam | Takes away your swing space | Step back or use a defensive block |
| The Wide Slice | Pulls you out of the court | Cut off the angle and look for a reset |
| The High Kick | Bounces above your shoulder | Take it early or let it drop behind you |
| The Pace Change | Disrupts your timing/rhythm | Focus on your split-step and footwork |
How We Ranked These
We determined these rankings based on common feedback from club-level players and tactical difficulty. The factors we considered include:
- Time Constraints: How much time the returner has to react and set their feet.
- Court Positioning: How much the returner is forced to move away from the optimal central position.
- Technical Difficulty: The level of racquet control required to handle the ball cleanly.
- Tactical Pressure: Whether the returner is forced to hit an offensive shot or simply a defensive reset.
1. The Deep Heavy Spin Return
This return lands right at your feet or pushes you deep behind the baseline, making it incredibly hard to generate your own pace. Because the ball has significant topspin, it tends to jump up and away from your body, often causing you to frame the ball or hit a weak, floating reply. The goal of your opponent here is to pin you in the back of the court so they can move in and finish the point at the net. To defend against this, try to step inside the baseline if you can read the depth early; taking the ball on the rise minimizes the effect of the spin and keeps you in an aggressive position.
2. The Dipper Return
The dipper is a low, dipping shot aimed specifically at the feet of the net player. It is arguably the most annoying shot in doubles because it forces you to hit up on the ball from below the level of the net tape. This puts you in a defensive position, giving your opponents the chance to crush the next ball. The key to handling this is to keep your knees bent and ensure your racquet head is positioned well below the ball before you make contact. Focus on just getting the ball back over the net with some control rather than trying to hit a winner.
3. The Jamming Return
A jam return is hit directly at your hip or body, giving you zero room to extend your arm and execute a full swing. This is designed to tie you up and force an error because you simply cannot get your racquet into the proper hitting zone. When you feel a ball coming into your body, the best thing to do is stay calm and use a short, compact blocking motion. Don’t try to power the ball back; instead, use the opponent’s pace to redirect the ball into the open court or back deep to reset the point.
4. The Wide Slice Return
When your opponent hits a wide slice, the ball curves sharply away from you, pulling you far outside the doubles alley. This leaves the entire middle of the court wide open for your opponents to attack on the very next shot. The danger isn’t just the movement; it is the fact that you have to cover a massive distance while still trying to hit an accurate shot. To counter this, try to read the ball early and move diagonally toward the ball’s trajectory. If you get there in time, prioritize hitting the ball down the line or deep into the center of the court to close the angle.
5. The High Kick Return
The high kick serve, or return, is designed to bounce high above your shoulder, which is the most uncomfortable height for most club players to strike a clean shot. It makes it nearly impossible to hit a flat, aggressive ball and usually forces you into a looping defensive swing. If you find yourself facing this, you have two choices: move forward and take the ball as it rises before it hits its peak, or wait and let the ball drop back down to a more comfortable waist-high level. Patience is the secret to nullifying the bounce.
6. The Pace Change Return
Some players are masters of rhythm, hitting one return deep and fast, followed immediately by a short, slow, or soft shot. This constant shift in speed ruins your timing and often causes you to swing too early or get caught flat-footed. The best way to deal with this is to stop focusing on the speed of the ball and focus entirely on your split-step. By ensuring you are balanced and ready at the moment of contact, you can adjust your swing speed to match whatever is coming your way.
Conclusion
Defending against tough returns is a huge part of being a successful doubles player. You don’t always need a flashy winner to win the point; sometimes, simply being the player who can consistently put the ball back in play is enough to force an error from your opponents. By practicing your footwork, keeping your head calm, and having a plan for these common strategies, you will find yourself much more comfortable in those high-pressure moments at the club. Keep working on your defensive resets, and you will see your winning percentage rise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I improve my reaction time for fast serves?
Improving your reaction time comes down to your anticipation and your split-step. By watching the opponent’s toss and racquet face early, you can often predict where the ball is going before they even make contact, which effectively gives you more time to react.
Is it better to always aim for the middle on my returns?
Aiming for the middle is a very safe and effective strategy in doubles because it reduces the angles your opponents have to work with. However, you should try to mix it up occasionally to keep your opponents from just camping out in the center of the court.
Should I prioritize power or placement when returning?
In club doubles, placement is almost always more important than power. A well-placed, medium-paced shot that keeps your opponents moving is much more likely to win you a point than a fast shot hit right at their racquet.
How do I handle a returner who keeps lobbing me?
If you are being lobbed, you need to tighten up your net positioning or be ready to back up quickly. Communicate with your partner so one of you can cover the overhead while the other watches for the drop shot, ensuring you aren’t both caught in no-man’s land.
What is the most common mistake when defending against spin?
The most common mistake is hitting the ball at the same height regardless of the spin. You must adjust your swing path to account for the heavy topspin, usually by ensuring you brush up on the back of the ball rather than trying to hit through it flat.
