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Returning the Off Paced Cutter Drives
Besides changing service types and
angles, advance servers vary the velocity and put spins on their serve
to further flummox the returner. For example, the spin master Mike
Locker (MN) uses the cutter serve as his trademark.
The cutter serve is a low percentage
serve where the server puts backspins on the ball by undercutting it.
This causes the ball to float slowly towards the backwall and dribble
out near the dotted line, forcing a tough return.
Or it can be hit hard enough for it
to carom against the backwall and shoot out low because of the back spin
put on it. Even worst, it could catch a sidewall and be relatively
unpredictable in its flight path because of the massive back spin.
The cutter serve is low percentage
for two reasons: (1) It is extremely hard to control back spins on a
drive serve and (2) The returner can read this serve by the angle of the
racquet’s face at contact with the ball.
Rule 1: Do not be afraid of any type
of serve; play the percentage and adhere to fundamentals.
Anticipate the serve by reading the
ball’s variables and the racquet face angle approach upon contact with
the ball. Usually the ball is hit way back in the server’s stance.
Recognize three basic cutter service
flight patterns: (1) Will it bounce twice, dribble twice after the
dotted line, and come in short? (2) Will it carom off the backwall to
shoot out low and angled? (3) Will it catch a sidewall or crack and be
unpredictable?
Based on the serve’s variables,
adjust your footwork, body/court positioning, stay away from the
sidewall and return with the highest percentage shots possible. Be
confident with your return and relocate quickly to center court to cover
the opponent’s return.
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