How to return tomahawk serve
Receiving
Kailash Gowtham Asked 11 years ago
Hey coach
How do we return kenta matsudaria serve or for that matter any tomahawk serve. I recently lost my tournament because i couldn’t return it when my oppponent did it to the forehand.
Alois Rosario Answered 11 years ago
Hi Kailash,
The principles for returning the tomahawk serve is the same as all serves.
You need to focus on which direction the spin is going to take the ball. It will take it to your left if they are right handed. So you need to angle your bat to your right. Then it is a matter of working out if it has any backspin or topspin on the ball as well and then adjust the angle of your bat accordingly.
It can be a tricky serve to return if you are not watching the contact and the flight of the ball carefully.
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Recommended Video
Returning Short Topspin Serves: Two Options
Returning a short topspin serve can be tricky because the spin wants to lift the ball up. In this video, we look at two effective options: developing an attacking flick and learning how to push the ball safely.
For the flick, the key is to be positive. Take a few risks, hit through the ball a little harder, and aim for a fast, flat contact. In practice, don’t worry too much about making mistakes as this is how you learn to control the shot under pressure.
The second option is the push. You can push a short topspin serve, but you need to adjust your contact. Instead of getting under the ball, come down the back of it more, almost feeling like your bat is moving slightly backwards. This helps counter the topspin and keeps the return lower and more controlled.
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