Serve returning tips

[Elias]

There is a nifty trick to help you return better, but this needs probably to change your habits and some time to get used to and get enough benefit form it. It's called Autopos, still we are playing with low autopos settings, but this still can help you return more serves, especially when they are not very good placed ones.

The autopos feature in TE is a game mechanic wich moves your char a bit when you push your shot button, to help positionning your char better, it doesn't help during the rallies besides late positionning, but can be used for receiving. Still it will not move your char enough to reach the ball most of the time, but will give you this little + wich makes possible to reach more of them when you'll get used to.

Firstly, i standed very far from the baseline when i didn't knew how to use it, now i'm using more or less the default positionning where TE places your char for returning or just a bit further sometimes, but not that much (also depending the server strength you are facing).

- Don't start to move before the ball quits the racket of your opponent. It's important now avoiding moving left/right during the ball toss because of the left/right speed conversion (inertia) wich will prevent you to recover if you were just moving in the opposite direction before the serve starts.

- Push (any , accel, normal, top spin, doesn't matter wich one) a shot button/key a bit before the end of the ball toss, before your opponent racket hits the ball, and your char will start moving in the right direction. It's not a large move, more like a step, but it will give you that fast reaction time wich is lacking. And then you will continue the movement yourself with your arrow key to reach the ball.

With some experience you'll even be able to choose the right shot on the fly when the ball reaches your char (slice is usefull for more reach in very difficult situations).

So, to summarize : hold (briefly) a shot key before the end of the ball toss => your char starts moving when the opponent strikes the ball, then release this key and manually continue to move in the right direction, hit a shot key again then to execute your return.

[JasonBourne]

This also enables pre-charge, thus returning with more power. (pre-charge is one of those stupid features in this game..)

[Woowhat]

this auto pos thing is effective and legit but imo lame
wait for the ball to touch servers raquet and do a micro step to backhand and be ready to run on opposite side. thats how I do. it's also great for training your reflex. by micro step I mean just barely move/lean (if you do a full step and ball goes to other side you're toasted and thats also pretty much guessing) to backhand with preintention to defend your fh. quick eye-hand coordination it's all you need. taking a step back from default position helps too. I repeat it's not the best way

[o SenSei o]

I got it now, but mastering it needs practice and time. I mean you aint saying return serve is the hardest task to master in this game for nothing. thx elias and djarvik.