The second serve is sitting there, the server is recovering, and you’re already moving forward. One compact slice return skims over the net, stays low, and lands at the server’s feet. Suddenly they’re hitting up while you’re closing in for the volley. That’s the chip-and-charge—and when you time it well, it can turn a cautious second serve into your chance to take control of the point.
But charging blindly is a great way to get passed. The return, the first step, and the position you reach near the net all have to work together. Here’s how to build the play, make smart choices about when to use it, and avoid the mistakes that leave you stranded halfway between the baseline and the service line.
What Makes the Chip-and-Charge Work?
A chip-and-charge is a sliced return followed immediately by a forward move toward the net. The slice helps you keep the ball low and gives you time to advance. Your approach does not need to be a winner; it needs to make the server hit a difficult next shot while you arrive in a useful position.
The tactic works especially well against a second serve because second serves are often slower, less forceful, or more predictable than first serves. That gives you a better chance to read the ball and move forward. But “second serve” does not automatically mean “attack.” A heavy kick serve can jump up around your shoulders, and a well-placed slice serve can pull you off the court. Choose the return based on the ball you actually receive, not the scorecard.
The basic sequence is simple to remember:
- Read the serve and make a compact, balanced return swing.
- Meet the ball with a slightly open racket face and a firm, relaxed wrist.
- Send a low, controlled slice into a target that makes the server hit up or move.
- Use the return’s direction and depth to choose your first forward steps.
- Split-step as the server prepares to hit again, then react to the next shot.
Set Up to Attack Before the Serve Is Hit
Start balanced, not lunging forward
It’s tempting to creep toward the baseline as soon as you see a second serve coming. A small adjustment forward can help you take time away, but don’t lean so far that you can’t change direction. Begin with your feet comfortable and active, knees softly bent, and weight balanced over the front part of your feet. Keep your racket in front of you so you can prepare on either side without a big loop.
Watch the server’s toss, contact point, and body position, but don’t lock onto one clue. A server can disguise direction, and the ball itself is the final evidence. Your goal is to recognize the serve early enough to make a compact move—not to guess so aggressively that you’re already falling the wrong way.
Time the split step to the serve
Make your split step as the server strikes the ball, or just before contact if that timing suits your rhythm. Land lightly and let the ball’s direction guide your first move. If you split too early, you may be flat-footed when the serve arrives. Too late, and you’ll feel stuck as the ball passes your ideal contact point.
For the chip-and-charge, that first move matters twice: it gets you to the return and sets up your forward momentum. Think “balanced through contact, moving forward afterward,” rather than sprinting at the net before you’ve controlled the ball.
How to Make a Low, Skidding Slice Return
Use a compact swing and a stable racket face
A return happens under time pressure, so keep the backswing short. Turn your shoulders, set the racket, and let your front side guide the contact. Use a continental grip or a grip close to it; that makes it easier to present a slightly open face for the slice and transition quickly to a volley grip.
Brush across the back of the ball with a controlled cutting action. You want enough underspin to keep the ball low, not a dramatic chop that floats short. Keep your wrist firm enough to stabilize the racket face while your arm and shoulder guide the motion. A loose, flicking wrist makes both direction and depth harder to control.
“Low contact” does not mean you should force yourself to reach down for every ball. Meet a low-bouncing serve at a comfortable point in front of your body, bending your knees rather than folding at the waist. Against a higher kick, you may need to take the ball on the rise or play a safer block-style return. If the bounce is above your ideal slice window, a chip-and-charge may simply be the wrong play.
Choose a useful target, not just a short ball
Your return should make the server’s next contact awkward. A deep slice through the middle can take away sharp angles and force the server to hit up from behind the baseline. A return toward the server’s weaker side can invite a less comfortable reply. A low ball at the feet may be effective when you’re close enough to control its depth—but a weak, floating chip can give the server an easy passing shot.
Think about where the server is recovering. If they serve wide and are still moving toward the sideline, a controlled return toward the open middle can make them change direction. If they serve down the T, a low ball toward the center can reduce their angle. The best target is the one that disrupts their balance and gives you a predictable next step.
Watch how the ball behaves after it bounces. A skidding slice stays low and can force a half-volley or a lifting reply. On a slower or grippier court, the same shot may sit up more. Adjust your target and forward speed to the actual conditions rather than expecting the ball to skid like it does on every court.
Forward Footwork: Attack in Stages
Once the racket has sent the return, your feet can do their job. Push off the back leg and take quick, controlled steps forward. Don’t admire the shot, and don’t try to sprint at full speed before you know what the server will do. Your first steps should help you gain ground while preserving the ability to stop, split-step, and react.
A useful rhythm is: return, move, split. You hit the slice, advance, then split-step as the opponent gets ready to strike. That split step is crucial. Without it, you may be caught running when the server sends a pass down the line or crosscourt. With it, you can respond to the ball instead of guessing.
For many players, the first goal is to reach around the service line or a little inside it before the opponent makes contact. That is a guide, not a magic landmark. A deep return that pushes the server back may let you advance farther. A short return that invites a sharp angle may require you to stop earlier and protect the open court.
Keep your momentum under control
Run through the return’s direction rather than straight toward the middle of the net every time. If you send the ball crosscourt, your movement should help cover the likely reply while keeping the line in view. If you hit through the middle, you can generally close toward the center and make the passing angles smaller.
Don’t drift blindly into the service box. As your opponent prepares to hit, lower your center of gravity and split-step with your racket up. You are not charging toward the net for its own sake; you are moving into a position where you can volley the next ball.
Net-Closing Positioning: Make the Court Feel Smaller
Good net positioning is about angles, not just distance from the net. If you charge straight ahead without reading the opponent, you may leave a huge lane open. Your split-step gives you a moment to see the hitter’s preparation and adjust. A closed racket face and active feet help you respond to a firm pass; a steady, compact volley motion helps you handle a ball at your feet.
Once the server hits the next shot, move diagonally toward the ball where appropriate. If you can volley comfortably, direct the ball away from the opponent or into open space. If the reply comes low, stay patient: bend your knees, get the racket under control, and prioritize a deep or angled volley over a reckless attempt to finish the point.
There’s a useful lesson in the classic attacking styles of serve-and-volley players such as John McEnroe: getting to the net was only part of the work. They paired forward movement with balance, anticipation, and touch. You don’t have to copy anyone’s exact technique, but the principle still holds—arrival is not the same as good positioning.
When to Use It—and When to Hold Back
Look for a second serve that lands in a comfortable zone, gives you time to set the racket, and leaves the server moving or recovering. The chip-and-charge can also be a smart change-up against a baseline player who expects you to stand back and rally. Even a few well-chosen approaches can make the opponent think twice about hitting a safe, short second serve.
Be more selective when the serve kicks high, pulls you wide, or lands so deep that you’re stretched. In those situations, forcing a slice and a sprint can turn a neutral return into an easy point for the server. Block the ball deep, use a safer topspin return, or reset the rally instead. Attacking is powerful because it is a choice—not because you do it on every second serve.
Score matters, too. At a pressure point, use the tactic when you trust the pattern and have practiced it. Don’t suddenly charge just because you feel impatient. A deliberate change-up can unsettle a server; an improvised rush usually unsettles you first.
Common Mistakes and Quick Fixes
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Over-chopping the ball: The return floats or lands short. Shorten the swing, keep the racket face steady, and send the ball through a more decisive target.
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Running before contact: You lose balance and mishit the return. Stay grounded through the stroke, then accelerate forward.
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Charging without a split step: You’re still moving when the pass comes. Build a clear split-step into every approach, even in practice.
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Aiming too close to the sideline: You add risk without necessarily improving your position. Start with a safer lane through the middle or toward the server’s weaker side.
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Assuming every second serve is attackable: A high, wide kick serve can leave you exposed. Recognize the bounce and choose a more secure return when needed.
Practice Drills That Build the Pattern
Chip, move, split, play
Have a partner feed or serve second serves from the baseline. Chip the return, take several forward steps, and split-step as the partner hits a controlled pass or lob. Don’t worry about winning the drill at first. Focus on making a balanced return and stopping in time to react.
Return to a target, then cover two directions
Place targets in the middle and toward each side of the service box. Alternate between them while your partner replies down the line or crosscourt. This teaches you to connect return direction with net positioning instead of charging to the same spot every time.
Practice the awkward bounce
Ask your partner to mix in higher kicks, wide serves, and slower second serves. Decide before contact whether you’ll chip-and-charge or stay back. The decision itself is part of the skill. A smart no-go is a successful choice when the serve takes you out of position.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I chip-and-charge every second serve?
No. Use it when the serve is reachable and you can make a controlled return. A heavy, high, or wide serve may call for a safer return and a neutral rally position.
Where should I aim the slice return?
Start with a low, controlled ball through the middle or toward the server’s less comfortable side. Use the server’s position and recovery movement to choose. Avoid chasing a tiny target unless you have a clear reason.
How far forward should I run?
Advance far enough to pressure the next shot, then split-step as the server prepares to hit. The right stopping point depends on the return’s depth and your opponent’s position. Don’t keep running just because you started forward.
What grip should I use for the chip return?
A continental grip, or one close to it, makes it easier to slice the return and prepare for a volley. Choose a grip that lets you control the racket face comfortably, and practice the transition rather than changing grips in a panic.
Final Thoughts
The chip-and-charge return is a small shot followed by a big decision. Keep the slice compact and low, move forward only after you’ve made contact, and split-step before the server’s next strike. Then judge the serve honestly: attack the ball that gives you a real chance, and stay back when the bounce or placement puts you under pressure.
Practice the whole sequence—not just the slice. When return, footwork, and positioning start to flow together, you’ll make the second serve feel like an invitation to take the net, rather than a signal to rush and hope.
