👉 Go Deeper with Coaches and Pros Who Actually Know Senior Tennis https://www.skool.com/senior-tennis-unpacked-8081
Does your doubles return of serve keep getting picked off by the net player? Simply getting the ball back crosscourt may leave your opponents with an easy put away. In this episode of Insider’s Playbook, Mike Rogers talks with Ian Westermann, founder of Essential Tennis, about why this happens and how to build a more confident, effective return.
Ian uses before-and-after student footage to demonstrate a common technical problem: turning to prepare for the return but never fully bringing the body through the shot. He explains how relying on the arm can limit pace and directional control, then demonstrates a practice progression that helps the body lead and the arm follow.
For competitive tennis players over 50, especially at the 3.0–3.5 level, this conversation offers a practical way to improve return-of-serve technique and stop feeding the opposing net player. Ian also explains how to adjust swing intensity against faster serves, when a lob return can be useful, and how filming your groundstrokes can reveal weaknesses that carry over into your returns.
Key takeaways
- Why a floating crosscourt return can become an easy put away for the opposing net player
- How limited body rotation forces the arm to do too much work and reduces directional control
- A step-by-step drill to help the body lead and the arm follow through contact
- Why a fuller turn does not mean swinging harder, especially against faster serves
- How recording your groundstrokes can help you identify technical problems in your return of serve
Contact Ian Westermann:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/EssentialTennis
Ian’s Book: https://www.essentialtennis.com/book
⏱️ Chapters:
00:00 Show Introduction
00:46 Why your doubles return becomes an easy put away
04:03 The body rotation missing from your return
12:05 A step-by-step drill for a stronger return
17:45 More rotation without swinging harder
19:17 Use video to spot your return mistakes
20:57 Show Wrap Up
#TennisServe #TennisOver50 #SeniorTennis #EssentialTennis
