Returning a Drop Shot
Players often give away information on drop shots by not disguising their strokes or by their body language. Observe how your opponent prepares and hits this shot compared to the way he normally hits groundstrokes. You might be able to outguess your opponent and get to the net sooner to hit a winner off his drop shot.
If your opponent is in the forecourt and in a position to hit a variety of shots, you must at least be aware that the drop shot is a possibility. This is especially true if you are well behind the baseline or out wide to either side. Make the other player prove that he can hit this shot before you start looking for it. A successful drop shot by your opponent should not be worrisome unless it becomes a pattern.
As soon as you realize that the drop shot is coming, move toward the ball as fast as you can. If you get there quickly, hit it down the line for a winner. If you have to stretch at the last second, consider returning it over your opponent’s head with a lob. Returning a drop shot with a lob is difficult, but the lob may be your best shot because the face of your racket is already open and your forward movement can carry the ball deep. If you attempt the lob and it goes short, turn away and protect yourself.
There are two situations
The third option is a tricky one—returning the drop shot with a drop shot. There are two situations in which a drop-shot return might work, and might is the operative word. The first is when your opponent hits a drop shot, anticipates a lob, and starts moving back to cover the court. If your touch is delicate enough to execute the shot, the other player will not be able to recover quickly enough to change direction back toward the net. In the second situation, you can experiment with hitting a sharply-angled drop shot away from an opponent who is close to the net but moving in the wrong direction. If you can pull off this last return option, congratulations. You’re well beyond the beginner and intermediate levels—at least on drop shots.
As the practice partner, you can use drop-shot drills 2, 4, and 5 to practice returning drop shots.
Tennis: Steps to Success Jim Brown,Camille Soulier