Serve Down the T to Collapse the Middle
The Situation
Opponents return comfortably from wide and your body serve has become predictable.
What To Do
Serve down the T, into the inside corner of the box near the centre line, and mix it with your body serve so neither becomes readable.
Why It Works
A serve down the T pulls the returner toward the middle and shrinks the angle they can create, so the return tends to come straight back through the centre to your waiting net partner. It also opens the outside of the court for your follow-up, and the constant threat of the T stops returners from cheating across to cover your body serve. Placement variety, not pace, is what keeps a returner guessing.
Court Positioning
Server (deuce box) → serve angled into the T near the centre line. Returner pulled toward the middle; return funnels back through the centre. Net partner steps in to intercept while the outside court is left open.
Court View
Bird's-eye view: attacking net position
Skill Level
Serve to the Body to Jam the Returner
You are serving and want a reliable, high-percentage target that makes the return difficult.
Return Low at the Net Player's Feet
You are returning serve and the server's partner stands at the net ready to intercept.
Both Returners Advance After the Return
You have returned serve and your partner is already at the net. You are standing on the baseline.