Returning a low, skidding ball is always a challenging proposition, but it becomes even more demanding when you favor hitting your strokes with heavy topspin. Since more players are adopting Western grips, this means that their strike zones are higher and farther out in front of their bodies than they would with an Eastern or Continental grip. The Western grip is good for brushing up and putting lots of topspin on the ball, but not ideal when the shot is around your shins. Still, you can get the job done, and rather effectively, if you keep in mind a few simple things.
Bend your knees: On a topspin swing, the racquet head has to drop below the level of the incoming ball. That’s not easy to do when it isn’t far off the court. So you need to get to the ball quickly and bend your knees during the setup. Many players bend at their waist, instead of with the legs, which makes their swing more of a scoop than a drive.
Think height, not power: When you’re returning a low ball, don’t try any heroics. This isn’t a great opportunity to be aggressive or attempt a high-risk shot. Your primary objective should be to get the ball over the net and deep into the court to neutralize your opponent. Since you’re putting topspin on the ball, which naturally causes it to drop into the court, you’re going to need to give your shot plenty of air underneath it to take the net out of the equation. If you try to get very aggressive, you’re going to find the net a difficult obstacle to overcome.