Return and Run: Move Through Contact, Don’t Hit-Then-Sprint

Summary

Troy Akin says most players hit the return, stop, then run — and get burned on the third. Flip it: start the run while you’re returning so contact and forward momentum are the same motion.

Stand a step behind the baseline so you can move forward as they serve. Sequence: run, return, claim the kitchen — not return, pause, then chase.

Key takeaways

• Hit-then-run leaves you late to the kitchen
• Run through the return so momentum already points forward
• Start deeper so step one is forward, not a scramble

Action items

• Shadow returns with a continuous step-through — no pause after contact
• One game: if you stop your feet at contact, the return doesn’t count