A few days ago I got an email from one of our subscribers who is a passionate doubles player. He had a dilemma: how should he return against an aggressive server and a tall player at the net?
Immediately I thought: tough question! In my opinion this particular player has to face a perfect doubles team: a great server and a tall partner to pick up the weak return.
The thing is that most of the players would try their best to avoid the net player by hitting aggressive passive shots. That puts extra pressure and the percentage of missing the balls into the net or out are greater.
I would do the following:
– for doubles… I’d have my partner position just behind the service line and let him/her know that I’d return the serve right at the opposing net player (well, not all the time; just often enough to keep him/her from poaching and putting the pressure on).
– for singles… again, I’d try to hit the ball at my approaching opponent’s feet or hit the first ball right at him/her hoping and waiting for my chance for a passing shot.
(Find more Tactics and Strategies for Singles and Doubles… click here)
Cosmin Miholca
Certified Tennis Teaching Professional
WebTennis24.com
hi i play doubles with a 6 foot 2 person and i am only 5 foot 8 my partner struggles playing the net when the opponent hits it really hard and fast and sometimes i can’t cover him any tips ?
so I should understand that your 6 foot 2 is your partner, right? and he has a hard time at the net? then he should not be playing at the net for now. advise him to begin at the baseline and come up once the opportunity presents it: short ball, opponents playing defense etc. I see no reason staying at the net if the skills do not allow it. he should work on being comfortable at the net (improve movement, court positioning, volleys etc.) and then he can play there.
if he is not willing to work on his net skills and insists to play there, then stay closer to the center and try to cover for him as much as you can, which is tough on you and frustrating.