Someone tell me how to return better....

[Uchiha Muss]

So I'm having trouble returning as you might have guessed already. We all know how raonic and wawrinka, gulbis, tsonga can serve really good. But when I see someone use them against top 20 it's still useless. So I realize there is something out there which I haven't found out (yet).

It's just when I play one of those above players I always win in tie-break or 7-5 or 6-4 (excluding losses). It's really hard to break them. On top of their awesome 1st serve, everyone has been spamming top spin to the backhand lately which is more troublesome for me to return.
If I step back too much then it's really hard to come forward to the baseline or even to the net if opponent executed drop shot. So that's one problem. And then there is a spin. Usually the ball changes trajectory after it has bounced so I really have no choice but to return safeshot (if I could do that) or ace to my hole.

I know that there is a little autopos trick where you hit the button sometimes before the ball hits the racket or something. Needless to say, I don't actually get it (how it works). Can someone explain it to me like I'm 5 years old . Just how does it work against normal servers. How do you deal with Dolgopolov, Almagro serves which are really quick?

P.S. "Every little helps"

[Uchiha Muss]

It's okay I got it. No worries.

I was simply pressing button and trying to move at the same which gave my player "a shock" if you may call it so. Result is I always had a less than seconds freeze on my spot instead of autopos assisting me. Now I'm pressing strike button first
and immediately left/right arrow after that.

P.S. returned some crazy 225km/h serves with great depth slices. Amazing! I feel like a hot chick.

[J. Grilo]

How can i imagine that exactly?

While the serve, you already press a button and while holding this, you move? Or do you move without pressing the button and when you wanna strike you push the button again?

Because i don't get the advantage of AutoPos. until now. Surely it depends of the opponent how good he serves. But when he serves well + has a "high speed serve player", i have nearly no change. It's pure random then; i'm happy, when i reach the ball, at least...

[butcher]

too bad i just saw this now. thats what i used, this autopos trick long time ago and my returns were terrible. i felt like hot chick also when i stopped. i think that elias shoud edit his post cause that trick is maybe useful for beginners but its pretty bad at mid and high level in my opinion. or could be i just didnt know how to use it well

[VMoe86]

too bad i just saw this now. thats what i used, this autopos trick long time ago and my returns were terrible. i felt like hot chick also when i stopped. i think that elias shoud edit his post cause that trick is maybe useful for beginners but its pretty bad at mid and high level in my opinion. or could be i just didnt know how to use it well

I started this way of returning after Wimbledon 2012 and almost every top player is using it (Top 10 in Race Ranking 2013). So, most likely you just cannot use it well (unlike AutoPosition at the net).

What I find funny: Before that I returned without it and did quite well, but a high delay match convinced me that my return game sucked and it is too risky to change at this point (but after RG or Wimbledon I will try it again).

[C4iLL]

You're serious VMoe, you use that ?! I really have the same advice as Butcher, it's a newcomer thing that is not a good to play at a high level.
I don't use it personally, and some people here may say how well I can return when I'm concentrated.

When you begin TE, this aspect of the game is by far the hardest to master and understand, and it's really a question of comprehension and repetition.

Afterwards, it becomes a question of anticipation, thinking AND reflexe (mostly). Without the auto-stuff, the Raonic guys give me something like 4 or 5 aces max in two sets vs on clay. Even the good Wawrinka !

[VMoe86]

I am serious. I don't think I need it: Just played an offline set and once you step a bit back (both you and butcher do this) it works fine, but I really hate taking a step back, but I guess that is the only way to return some monster serves this way.

I think no one except butcher is returning without that trick (in the Race Rank Top 10) and also on the lower ranks I think only you do without, C4iLL. One can return both ways, even on high level, both have their advantages.

[Richie1308]

I also use it and it's really great, during the moment you try to understand where the ball goes and until you react, your player is already going a bit in the good direction which sure is a good help. Now once you master your return's moves it doesn't make so much difference, but still it is for sure not a weakness and can only help you on returns, so I think it's a good thing to use it.

[Uchiha Muss]

How can i imagine that exactly?

While the serve, you already press a button and while holding this, you move? Or do you move without pressing the button and when you wanna strike you push the button again?

Because i don't get the advantage of AutoPos. until now. Surely it depends of the opponent how good he serves. But when he serves well + has a "high speed serve player", i have nearly no change. It's pure random then; i'm happy, when i reach the ball, at least...

1. Your opponent's serve.
2. He tossed the ball up high.
3. He raises his hands....
4. His racket is about to smash the ball.
5. This is where you hit any strike button.
6. The ball shoots off the racket (by this time you should've released the strike button you pressed)
7. Now you start pressing your left/right arrow.

If you serve to CPU and watch replay in 1/2 slow motion. You will always see that CPU starts his run when the ball crosses the net. So CPU definitely makes use of that autopos assist. Just do that 20 minutes and you'll get used to it.

P.S. This autopos only helps when your opponent is serving normal. If they add top spin and do some unreal things to the ball you still can'd do anything.