One of the biggest opportunities presented to you when you’re playing doubles is when you’re the returner’s partner.
There are so many great chances to do something (poach, fake poach) when your partner plays a low crosscourt return that will help your team win points.
Plus, you’ll also create lots of doubt in the serving team for future upcoming points.
But unfortunately, most players stand there and just watch the day pass on by …
The point we’re going to look at in this “Question” video is just stuffed with so many little things to pick apart.
For now, I simply want to see what you think is the right shot when the video is stopped.
But, in this Thursday’s upcoming ”Answer” video, I’ve got several things to show you that are not only common mistakes we all make that we can quickly correct, but also a couple of things that only the better players do.
And when I say only the better players do, I mean these are things that ANYBODY can do if they know what they are and how to practice them.
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Right down the middle, aiming the bounce for no man’s land.
Hey Skip.
Good choice.
Right, so if Brian or Phil anticipate the middle, then they’ll have to deal with a low ball.
Brent
I think it would be right down the middle.
Hi George.
Me too. Height is also an important factor.
Leave it up too high and it could trouble.
Brent
The server and his partner will move to the center and I would go back behind the server in the alley.
Hi Gordon.
Risky …
I’ll explain why in the upcoming “Answer” video.
Brent
Center court to servers backhand, down low at feet
Hi Chris.
To Phil, the server’s backhand?
Which is over towards his alley?
If so, risky because Paul would be leaving his entire court wide open IF he doesn’t hit a winner.
Brent
Paul can hit a sharp volley wide and take Phil off the court or since Phil is already leaning outside, a volley behind him should be a winner. Obviously, this is where your recent high volley tips come in.
Roscoe.
You’re right about the high backhand volley tips we worked on recently.
BUT, if you play this shot back behind Phil and into his alley, it must be a winner or you and Bill are hung out to dry.
There will be a wide open court for Phil to hit his next shot into.
A lot of your shot selection must take in to consideration what will happen IF your opponent either gets to your shot where’s it’s not an outright winner OR anticipates your shot placement.
Meaning, could you cover up your side of the court if your opponent has a play on your shot?
Brent
At Brian Cheney’s feet…
Hey Peter.
OK, so right down low at the server’s parter, Brian’s, feet.
That’s OK in my book …
Brent
this would be my choice if i was off balance a bit—gives me two chances to win the point—-if im on balance I would smack it deep down the middle
I would go right at the net guys feet or up the middle. For a slightly more “fun” shot, go for the lob volley over the net guys head to the back corner if you really want to toy with them.
Morning David.
Good choices at Brian’s feet or down the middle.
Now, as for your more fun shot, if I’m your partner and you somehow don’t execute the “toy” factor, and especially if you hit it a hair short, uh, I’m probably gonna get my lunch handed to me in a way that’s going to not feel so great …
I’ve just played a solid low crosscourt return of serve that’s setting you up to look really good.
I’m probably not too interested in you taking liberties with looking good
Brent
absolutely! I don’t think that I would ever play that in a match. But for a fun friendly game, it might be good. I would be risking the wrath of my partner though! I always like playing with partners who like having a good time out there…even when things don’t go as planned!
I’m not opposed to a high percentage lob volley at the right time.
I’m just saying I’d prefer to practice the ‘right’ shot.
B-
After further review, the net guy has creeped into the middle a bit so if Paul has good touch he could lay one up the alley without too much trouble. The nice thing about it is that he doesnt even have to hit it hard. Placement is key, but there is more than enough room to play it out of the net guys reach.
Good feedback David.
There ARE choices for sure, and all of them don’t require power.
We shall see this Thursday …
Brent
Down the middle all day, baby. Strong chance of ending point and very little chance of opponent inflicting damage.
Always going with the high percentage smarty pants stuff – aren’t you Drucker?
Hey, you’re right, even if Brian or Phil anticipate down the middle and can get their racket on a low ball, there’s not much they can do.
How does Paul’s balance look to you as he’s making contact?
Brent
As others have already suggested, low volley down the middle or at server’s partners feet. Either shot will be difficult for serving team to keep low if they can return it.
Good choices Don.
But what if you’re Paul hitting this shot & you’re slightly off balance?
Can you cover up your side of the court IF Phil or Brian can at least get your low middle shot back over the net?
Brent
Does Bill, recognizing that Paul is stretched out off balance to hit the volley, cross behind Paul to cover the potential open court ?
Good question Don.
We’ll see on Thursday.
I don’t think Bill can realize that (if that’s the case) and actually do something about it.
Brent
This is the most intriguing aspect of the point (so far) to me. If I’m Bill, I think I *would* anticipate that Paul is off balance enough and his momentum is enough that he’s going to end up much better off regaining his balance on the opposite side of the court. I’m always so happy to have a partner (a rarity) that would be trying such a move that I’m going to go out of my way to back him up and at least *try* to hustle enough to cover where he came across from.
If Paul’s not committed to going down the middle, then I can’t read a shot at this stage.
I’ve been wrong before. . .
I especially like this point because Paul has taken a calculated risk, likely anticipating a weaker shot than he actually got from Phil. Maybe Paul can still hit a winner from his (to me) somewhat awkward position, but I’m thinking that there could now be some serious scrambling about to occur, possibly by both teams. I’m pulling for the opponents to get this shot back so we can see what develops.
I would go directly at Phil’s partner feet. Best he could probably hit is a defensive volley that you could put away.
Hey Marty.
OK, and again, as I asked Don directly above, what if you play your shot to Brian’s feet?
Are you in a position to handle a ball played back to where you started?
Brent
I think he should short angle the shot off the court to his right
Hi Anne Marie.
That’s a possibility but super risky if he doesn’t hit an outright winner.
Brent
put the volley right on the T. To the opponents, its a low ball, bouncing at the depth they are standing, between them which can create confusion of who should play it and it takes away angles off any half volley reply that might come back, giving an easy cleanup on the next shot.
For an easier ball OR a full stretch ball, the opposite cross-court angle to the opponents’ deuce court side would be an option.
Two good choices MD.
Thanks.
Brent
low down the middle deep volley
Hey Den.
Smart …
Brent
Best option: volley down into the space between Brian (server’s partner) and the alley – reasonably high percentage shot, and leaves the pair at this end in best configuration if ball comes back.
Next best: low volley down the middle
Worst option: any ball hit back to server’s BH, which leaves half the court open for server
Hey Muir.
That alley shot to Brian’s right can work even if it comes back.
We shall see …
Brent
Pual should play his shot at / to Phil”s partners left foot
Wow Rod.
Pinpoint placement.
Good spot for it.
Brent
right at the feet of the player on your right
Hey Cath.
So, the server?
Brent
DOWN THE MIDDLE SOLVES THE RIDDLE!
Yes it does Brian!
Brent
Right down the middle; however, with the angle his racquet seems to be making, it might be easier to hit back at the server’s feet
I’ll go with your 1st suggestion, right down the middle.
Brent
I think the safest volley is down the middle even though the shot could fail if the volley is too high.
But a high volley to your opponent is always a problem because it is more likely to be returned,
particularly if the volley is firmly struck.
Correct-a-mundo with your feedback about the volley being left too high.
Check out tomorrow’s “Answer” segment video.
Brent
My second sentence should read”…..particularly if the volleyis not firmly struck”.
Hey Tom.
But there are lots of times when the volley is firmly struck and the recipient simply has to absorb and red-direct.
Again, look at tomorrow’s answer video.
Brent
Brent… I like down the middle just past the T. I think it would be tough for either player to set up for a return there, whereas, a shot to either angle would be shorter and give more opportunity for either player to get a racquet on the ball.
Hey Fred.
You’re right about the middle being the best choice, but also consider that the height of that shot going through the middle is really important.
It’s gotta stay low …
Brent
Down the middle going for the T…the other option is at Brian’s feet but you have to be on balance and hitting it solid…
Absolutely Ken with your warning about the need to be on balance …
Brent
both the server and his partner appear to me to have taken a defensive position. i’m going for the right hip of the net man with that relatively high volley from the server(and continue to close).
Ah, the right hip you say Scott …
Check out tomorrow’s video for the answer.
Brent
Methinks I smell a lob volley coming. Guess that volley wasn’t low enough. . .
At first I thought mid court at their feet like every one else. But watching again I noticed the net guy move to cover the mid court creating space in the deuce court alley. So I’d aim there mid way up foot level.
The net guy has already moved toward midcourt so you’re going behind him. If he gets it you’ve split the pair and created a big hole down the middle for any return. The return will likely be hit up to your partner who is already in perfect position to return but now has a wide open hole to aim at.
That’s a good choice from time to time Colin, that deuce alley, but I wouldn’t make a habit of it …
Brent
I would play the ball low towards Brian’s feet or knees. Phil is farther back and had hit the previous ball so he would be more alert to a ball coming his way. The play to Brian would also keep the team in good position if it comes back.
Hey Mike.
Right, get it down below the knees and good things might happen.
Brent
Hey Brent,
Its so much of a coincidence that just played out an event 2 days back & had to play an almost identical shot- where i poached after my partners return. My shot on 3 occasions was right at the servers partner or just away from him on his right. And guess what? I got all the 3 points- straight winners!
So that’s what I’ll do- straight or to the right of the server’s partner. Please let me know if it actually was the right choice. (And just for the info– my opponents were the top seeds, whom we beat in 3 sets, so they were no fuddy duddy’s to give free points)
Bhushan
Well done Bhushan. Nice win. Gotta feel great!
Look for tomorrow’s “Answer” video to see what happens in this point.
Brent
One thing that people haven’t mentioned is the psychology behind your shot selection.
I like the volley right at the feet of the servers partner for this reason. I want my opponents to know that any shot across the middle has a high chance of getting stuffed. This creates a lot of pressure on the returner which can lead to unforced errors. I also try to get in the opposition’s heads a bit by adding that pressure early in the match. I think it carries forward and can put people a bit off balance and more tentative.
Good stuff David with the mind games that can be played.
I think you’ll enjoy tomorrow’s ‘Answer” video which is laced with the mental aspects …
Brent
I would put the ball at the net guys feet, it looks like he’s moving cross court while he’s sticking the ball and his momentum will carry him to the left. I would keep the ball in front of me.
In the last two whats the right shot, I like that most of the responses they were thinking ahead. What if the balls comes back what shots keep the team in position along with high % shots. I had answered low to Brian I might add that if I was a little off balance moving to my left and wasn’t going to be able to get set well my shot low to Brian might be placed, if i could, a little to his right so the shot behind me was less likely.
Great Job Brent
Safe shot – stiff volley down the middle – hit the T with it if possible. Seems to be a majority opinion.
More sporting shot – an angle to the alley on the at the deuce side service line. Sure winner if you don’t miss.
Cheers
Warren
the right shot is hit the volley in the middle