Re Alexander - a grubber kick bounces away from you.

Roy I take it you would be kicking in open play to take advantage of space behind the defence or as a counter attack from a catch (basically your not looking to kick to touch).

There is no sure fire way to make sure it bounces back toward you (mainly because of the dynamics of the ball due to its shape). However to increase the likelihood of it happening try the following.

The ball should be held with one pointy end facing the ground and the other toward the sky. Two hands on either side of the "fat" part of the ball. You want to kick the bottom point of the ball but on your side so that your foot goes through the ball, spinning it toward you.

 The black circle on the diagram = contact point.

This will give you a high ball with back spin. But if the ball lands at the wrong time it can shoot forward, side on etc.

With you body, lean over the ball.