Morning…
By the end of this post you’re going to become a better doubles player because you’re going to learn when NOT to close the net.
That’s right, you’re going to make another move to becoming that doubles partner that your tennis friends want on their side of the net.
So, here’s how it goes…
You play a nice spin 2nd serve into the deuce court, move forward and split step just as your opponent makes contact, identify that their return is coming back directly at you, use your split step to quickly get out of the way of the incoming ball to create space for your forehand volley, execute a non spectacular but solid transitional forehand volley from behind your service line, and continue to move forward inside the service line.
You can see that your opponent has also been working their way up to the net behind their return of serve and now your forehand volley is landing perfectly down low at their feet.
So your brain says CLOSE THE NET NOW because this is your chance to climb all over the net and completely mash whatever comes back from your opponent.
And you know that feeling of mashing, for a moment in time, you are now the man.
Unfortunately, you’ve moved so close to the net (your opponents can literally see the sunscreen that you didn’t completely rub in) that your opponent realizes a golden opportunity, and then with complete confidence, your opponent lobs their shot over your head.
Best geometry possible for them with their lob – cross court – longest part of the court from where they are.
You’ve got zero chance and your partner knows this and desperately tries to run back and retrieve the lob.
Your partner barely gets to it, throws up a short weak lob, and one of your opponents shouts MINE.
You’re instantly bailing out of harm’s way (screaming “mommy…” to yourself), running off the court, and hoping like hell that your opponent doesn’t drill you in the back.
Luckily, your opponent takes mercy on you and bounces their overhead over the fence.
(When was the last time you actually drilled a-bounce-over-the-fence overhead? Right, it’s been awhile for me too.)
Point for them. Guess who is now feeling like “the man”?
One little court positioning error on your part has completely turned the tables on the confidence meter.
So you’re feeling like an idiot for being way too aggressive with closing the net, your partner’s not exactly a happy camper, and your opponents have turned their backs to the net so you won’t see them smiling at each other.
We need to change that picture and here’s how to get it done. With good court positioning in that situation, you’ll never ever have to look at your partner after the point and say you’re sorry.
Look, here’s the deal, court positioning in doubles is the most important element of good doubles play.
It’s not big time shot making, it’s court positioning – where you and your partner are on the court at any given moment during the point.
I have played against much younger players who can beat me 0 and 0 in singles because of their big time shot making skills, but when they try to play doubles with those monster shots and don’t understand court positioning, if I’ve got another old fart partner like me who understands how to play doubles, we’re winning that match 9 out of 10 times.
And you can do the same…
So, here’s what I want you to take away from today’s post because you’re popularity as a doubles partner depends on it.
There are 3 Main Problems You Create For You & Your Partner
When You’re Cross Court From The Ball AND You’re Too Close To The Net
If you are cross court from the ball and you do get to close too the net – you give your opponents the best geometry possible for a lob over you, you open up the middle of the court because your partner instinctively backs up to cover the lob, and now your partner cannot take advantage of any balls played to the opponent directly in front of him/her.
When you are cross court from the ball, you do NOT close the net to where it’s easy for an opponent to lob over you.
When You Are Cross Court From The Ball,
You Have Three Primary Responsibilities
1 – Play shots back cross court that set up your partner,
2 – Cover the ball in the middle,
3 – And cover the lob over your partner.
How close is too close?
Let’s say for discussion purposes that you won’t being moving any closer than about the back 1/3 of your service box.
I know, I know, aren’t you now vulnerable to low balls at your feet?
On a very rare occasion you might be, but with good grips and a 1/2 volley, on that rare occasion you’ll be able to handle that shot back to your opponent without setting them up.
So, there you have it. When Rob Olson and I won the 1984 national 35s hardcourt doubles title, when Hugh Tompson and I placed 3rd in the Worlds in 2009, and when Brian Cheney and I were the finalists at the 2010 national 60s hardcourts, it wasn’t because of great shot making skills, it was because of really good consistent court positioning.
You can learn how good court positioning skills in doubles can take you and your doubles game to whatever level you want to go.
Pick up my doubles lesson titled “Doubles – Why & When To Be Where On The Court” because your doubles skill level, overall enjoyment of the game, and frankly, more wins, will very soon become a reality.
And that’s when you’ll become “the man”!
Let me know if this happens to you – do you ever close too much on the net in doubles?
Let me / us know below in the Comments area. Thanks in advance.
Brent
“Doubles – Why & When To Be Where On The Court”
- How understanding exactly where you should be on the court
can take your doubles game to a new level -
- Brent’s Detailed Doubles Court Positioning Lesson – Click Here For Details
