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Service Returns 101: Spin
By Carl Danner
Many newcomers to the sport are frustrated by heavy spin serves they can't return. Here's a review of the basics for them, along with a key tip for more advanced players.Watch your opponent's paddle as it contacts the ball. Whichever way his paddle goes, your return will go also unless you adjust. For example, if he swings down, your return will go down; if he swings to your left, the ball will go that way, etc. There are two ways to adjust and return these serves safely. The first is to aim the opposite direction in which the ball would otherwise go, e.g. aim right to counteract left-aiming spin, or lift to counteract chop (down spin). The second way to adjust is to get a sense of the extent of the spin so you can also aim the ball in the direction the spin would take it, e.g. let the ball go left in response to left-aiming spin.
Once they learn it, many players automatically use the first technique almost without thinking. For advanced players, however, this can be a mistake, since it makes your return predictable, giving an edge to a high-level opponent who can effectively control the location of your return by his service spin. Therefore, the second technique is often more effective since everyone is used to seeing the first one. The best approach is to learn to use them both, so you can choose between these alternatives and make your returns less predictable.