By Stephen Huss, Program Director, Huss 75 76 Tennis at Crooked Creek
It is common at ALL levels of tennis that the shortest and weakest shot you will receive is the second serve. Don’t wait, take advantage of this short ball as often as possible!
My suggestion is to position yourself to find your stronger groundstroke when returning a second serve and take it straight at the net player who has less time and is often uncomfortable trying to volley when someone is attacking them. I am not trying to be mean and hurt anybody, but I am trying to win, and so by attacking the server’s vulnerable second serve and their partner’s defensive volleys I am intimidating the team and gaining a psychological edge.
A fringe benefit often occurs where the server tries to serve harder to protect their partner’s volleys and ends up serving more double faults.
This advice was something I implemented when coaching Jenny Brady and Caroline Dolehide who both have success with their huge forehands attacking the net player on second serve returns.
About Stephen: Stephen Huss is from Melbourne, Australia. He was an All American in singles and doubles at Auburn University and is a former National Women’s coach. He has coached Sofia Kenin, Jennifer Brady, and Caroline Dolehide. Huss is a former assistant coach at Virginia Tech (men’s tennis) where the team earned a #12 national ranking. He also is the 2005 Wimbledon Men’s Doubles Champion. Huss has competed in 37 grand slams, won 4 ATP titles, 17 Challenger Titles, and 8 Future Titles. Stephen runs his Elite Tennis Program, Stephen Huss 75 76 Tennis out of Crooked Creek. More info: sceneytennis.net/stephen-huss-75-76-tennis.
