One of the biggest misconceptions we have when we transition up to net behind either our serve or return of serve is that we have to get all the way up to and even inside the service line so that we avoid at all costs having to play a shot in between our baseline and our service line.
For example, unless you have a very slow serve combined with a returner who stands well back behind their baseline to return your serve, there’s just not enough time for you to sprint from your baseline after you serve and get up inside your service line and do so on balance when you receive the returner’s shot.
You’re going to have to split step almost a step or two after your serve so that you can react to the direction of the return.
In fact, I prefer to play my transitional shot further back from the net IF I can be on balance rather than playing it closer to the net and have to be off balance.
Here’s what I mean …
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Video “double Split Step” was not available. Shot #22.
There now …
B-
Thanks got it. I was anxious to see it because that is what the club pro and I worked on yesterday.
Smart pro
Brent
No video………
Video didn”t show
ok..there it is. Brent on your first commet about the first shot I believe the server and his partner had that play on and the server’s mind was just made up to get to the spot that his partner vacated. Still no excuse for not doing the split and the point of the return’s contacting the ball.
Giving him my best excuse for doing the same thing….smile.
You’re a kind human JP
No question that Gil and Carlos had a pre-planned poach in the works.
But still, the timing of a split step is crucial for being able to maximize one’s coverage of the court in this situation.
Brent
Brent, are you able to add the video here, please?
this is valuable.. I often get caught just like the server in the ad court.. I will try to split step earlier, as early as this afternoon.
Morning Stefan.
This is almost subtle at times – the timing of the split step.
And there are times when we can read, anticipate, where the return might be going so we don’t always have to go into a full deep knee bend split step.
But I know Gil’s game fairly well, and he’ll be the first one to tell you that this is something he needs to improve upon, because when he does, he’ll be able to handle both of these situations.
Brent
Geez …
Sorry about the no video this morning.
Not sure why, but just like tennis, it’s not always an exact science.
Apologies.
Brent
I’m not sure we can allow mistakes from our tennis gods.
Actually, I’m not sure we really need a video on this topic. Maybe this lesson could be called “What is the worst mistake?” One possible answer: failing to spit step.
Note: was just joking in my earlier comment on not allowing for mistakes from Coach.
Hey man, it took me a long time to embrace the value of making mistakes, lots of em, as the ONLY way to truly improve upon something.
Especially when I hung out with Mr. Stow for those 18 months back in the early 80s, I had the wide spray nozzle completely open as I was spraying shots all over Alameda county for at least a year as I tried to figure out what in the hell I was trying to do.
But, I believed in Tom Stow, and I trusted the learning process and curve.
And maybe I was just too dumb to know when to quit, but I didn’t, and eventually the wide spray nozzle settled down into a much more predictable result
Brent
I hear THAT …
Obviously, just a mere mortal like the rest of us here trying to figure sh*t out …
Brent
It took quite awhile for me to make the split step work for me and I’m still working on it; I think it is easy to underestimate its value and easy to get caught up in the moment as one is moving forward. And we, as students, are not often well sold on the benefits. Such a little key that opens the big door.
Improving my leg strength using lunges was a critical transition issue to enable me to use the split step, as well as slowly over time experiencing and learning of its varied benefits. Playing mostly soc/rec doubles, it is easy to get into really bad habits of hitting ones shots standing up, not actively moving around at the net, and lagging back on the baseline, avoiding half volleys. A lot of my fellow players have trouble with the lower paced shots, and hate drop shots and lobs; a key foundation of the problem is lack of movement and the split step is the starting point towards solving the problem IMHO.
For me, the split step does many things: 1) balance, 2) staying mentally in the point, 3) expands my court coverage by allowing me to settle down and then move to the ball off the balls of my feet (moving off the heels is slower), 4) helps me make my turn so I can move into and through my shots sideways, 5) encourages me to stay down in an athletic position, 6) encourages me to stay on the balls of my feet, rather than the heels of my feet 7) allows me to be more artful with my shotmaking because I’m confident I can do anything anywhere on the court and use all of the court on the other side for my shots, and 8) improves my consistency as I’m moving and setting up better.
Don’t tell yourself to move better, just learn to split step and it will open up that door. One of the best examples is blocking the return of serve. Split, read, turn, and move forward at an angle into the ball with a short stroke.
[The following information is not to be shared with your fellow "hitters." It will just pizza them off because they don't want consistency in their games...they want to be left alone to hit the big ones from the baseline when they are playing doubles.]
Love it RS.
Always bringing a dose of reality to our tennis lives.
Great comments here from you that should be read a couple of times, printed out, and stuffed somewhere in our tennis bag for a constant reminder …
Brent
great lesson like always–so vital to show what no to do
very late split steps for sure—
what a difference a second can make!
EC – what’s going on my man
Get out there today Coach on another gorgeous northern California late winter day and teach those folks the beauty of loving to play a non rushed and totally on balance transitional shot from right between the baseline and the service line.
Ah, “No Man’s Land”, a great place to move into, hang out for as long as needed, and then quietly exit …
Brent
Brent..I played against a guy who chipped and charged on EVERY return of my serve. Where is the proper place to volley or hit a slice with that guy coming at me to the net??
thanks
Hey Rich.
Make your shots land directly at his feet after his ROS.
Also, stop serving out wide or down the T – serve directly at his body and force him to have really good footwork to get out of the way of your incoming serve.
That mighty slow him down enough to make it a bit easier for you …
Brent
Great video lesson. I learned a lot – and need to learn a bit more.
First, that “geometry” thing you mentioned. At least *one* aspect of same that is different/better from the earlier split-step position would seem to be that the angle of hitting “up” wouldn’t have to be as steep from back yonder in order to clear the net, making it easier to keep the ball low to the opponents (if that be the goal).
Also, even if the volley or half volley now must be made from back there, there’s more time for getting the body positioned/balanced to make whatever kind of shot you need to make – *and* more time to make the decision. Getting in too close is probably where I handcuff myself about whether to make it a volley or a half volley and then can’t make either. If you stop soon enough, there’s even time to back up and make a little “groundie” out of it before moving on up.
And – kind of interesting that I’ve never pondered it from this perspective – maybe more of an opportunity to tell what server’s partner is up to. Hmmm. He’d also have more time to cross *after* my half volley, though, too. Hmmm. It certainly helps that I spend a lot of time practicing from that “land”.
Which reminds me, I can’t wait for the video lesson about that lob to server’s partner’s corner when serving to the ad side. Volley? Half volley? Either? Suicide? Is there time to decide on that choice after seeing him go?? I’m liable to try that on the other side when playing righties, but. . .
One last question about the server’s starting position. Any general rules about where the server should stand in doubles when he has an active net partner and maybe some plays on? I’m much more inclined to stand near the center stripe in case I need to cover behind my net guy – even when he’s not crossing. It also helps me to get it to the “T” in the deuce court.
Hey Kevin, here are a few layman thoughts…buyer beware.
Hold this thought: Last Sunday, when Ed and I talked over coffee, we agreed that we can separate out those players who anticipate from those who don’t.
There are general rules to start off with. If you have an active net partner you are in Heaven as a server as your partner can substantially increase the probability you will hold your serve. If you are not holding your serve, you gotta break out of your habits/inclinations and general rules and use the information you have gathered to gain control/stay in the point IMHO…assuming you have been paying attention so you can “anticipate” what the likely result will be based on what you do.
In other words,
I am constantly varying my serve, my serve placement, and my serving position to gather information. Last weekend, I only lost my service game once in three sets and I did not have an active netman. The guy returning serve from the add court was very consistent, but I was able to figure out that certain serves and placements gave him a bit of trouble, so I used that information on key points to keep us in the game long enough to hold my serve most of the time.
So, my general rule is vary everything and gain information, then use that against them for key points by being able to “anticipate” what to expect from them based on what I do.
Example, last weekend “Doc” was in the add court. We were at set point and up 5-3. I had noticed that “Doc” didn’t like moving forward, was standing on the baseline for my 1st serve, and he hits with very little spin. Players who hit with very little spin often get confused if you give them a ball with some side spin at the soc/rec level.
I served up a right handed, underspin sidespin serve, that just cleared the net and landed a bit to his left i.e. a bit wide but in the service box. Doc came up prepared to hit a forehand. He stood there red faced and flat footed, watching my ball spin off to his left with heavy side spin for an ace. He said OK, you got me. End of set.
And no, I don’t think he split step = big mistake for him as it prevented him from relaxing and reacting to the side spin.
Yeah, one would say, that is not a normal time to split step, but it works for those low paced, heavy spinners.
Hey, Rodger. I find nothing with which to disagree and like the way you think.
BTW, does Doc still talk to you?
Yes, he has to, he is my doctor. I will admit that those of us who hit touch shots get a lot of pizza responses. Two weekends back, one of the “hits with the guys” gals got really pizza offed at me. Guys say “hit like a man,” and she said stuff like I was “hitting like one of the old ladies,” to quit hitting that “shit,” etc.
Now this is really a funny story because almost every time I’m hitting drop shots and low slices to her she is standing on her behind giving me winners, totally pizza offed at me, not wanting to move. She can move but she really likes the higher paced shots that don’t challenge her skills and movement.
So, at the end of the set (sit?) she says to one of the guys she wants to rally for a while, so I go over to a bench to relax. Along comes Randy and after we hit awhile, I said to the gal, let’s play doubles and you be my partner so you don’t have to suffer. We win 6-3, she is happy, and she say “Rog, you are right about hitting a variety of shots.”
You see, it is all gooody when you are on the winning side of those “shit” shots. In Moran’s “Beyond Big Shots,” he characterizes lobs and drop shots as the most devastating shots in tennis…as I recall.
Tennis is a gaasss.
In the reverse, last Saturday, “J” says to me at the beginning of a set where he is my partner. “Rodger, don’t hit those drop shots…let’s win using PROPER shots.” I’m laughing at this and so is Ed who is on the other side – my partner is setting restrictions on my shots.
This usually happens at my local court where some of the guys won’t rally opposite me unless I limit my shot selection.
Well, I hit them anyway and we took quite a few points off them…but, he never said to our opponents that it was their point because my drop shot was improper…all good of course.
Again, and this is funny, he gets some great opportunities close to the net to just bump the shot over for a winner…nope, he ain’t gonna do that, he would rather slam the shot into the net or have it go careening off the court, rather than hit a touch shot.
This stuff gets so funny.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/01/23/170079803/a-tennis-tale-once-famous-gorgeous-gussie-dies-in-obscurity
Although it appears that I found the wrong “Moran”, I’m glad you caused me to Google Moran+tennis.
KB – glad this video brought up a lot of specific match play situations for you.
You’re spot on with your feedback about all of the other benefits of not forcing yourself to get in so tight behind your serve.
And the lob from No Man’s Land after your return of serve over the server’s partner is really pretty darn easy.
That server’s partner is normally starting the point in the middle of the service box and usually moves up a step closer to the net after the serve is played.
Just ‘show’ that lob a couple of times and you’ll begin to open up that cross court lane back to the server so that your partner can now really get involved …
Brent
Hi Brent:
Once again, a good and timely video. Just yesterday I ran through the back court and got caught with a wide and short shot on the return of serve. If I had split, I would have been there for the half volley. Lots of things are working better these days, but I don’t have the split as 100% automatic. Every so often I skip it entirely.
I’ll call you today about Life Shotz
Hey Mary. Good to hear from you.
BTW, my youngest just got accepted into Boulder, so who knows, it could be “Go Buffs” real soon with plenty of visits to your hometown
Right, making the split step automatic takes a lot of specific match play situational drills.
You can also do some rehearsing off the court where you go through your service motion, move forward 2 steps and then split.
You’ve got my cell – call me when you’ve got a moment …
Brent
Disappointed in the video. Showing the same shot half a dozen times or more isn’t useful…
the viewer can always replay it if he wants to see it again. And I think the ‘what not to do’ examples should have been followed by a couple ‘doing it right’ examples.
Fascinating. I was thinking just the opposite. . .
Hey Robert.
That’s cool. Good feedback. I aim to please …
B-
Your Split idea is excellent. What I don’t understand is this suppose 4.0 or 4.5 players, turning their heads to see where their partners are sending their return, instead of looking forward and follow the Action and with out loosing time, move in an oblique manner, towards the ball bounce and this is shown, by the reaction of the player, getting ready to hit the ball, and that’s is where your attention should be, at all times. I will say is OK to turn a bit side ways, to assist in the serving call or in a high Lobe. But this players that always keep looking back and forth, ‘I think they are far from what a good doubles players should be. In the other video the returner is sending a LONG TO SHORT shot, that should be done, only, once in while, so that is where the problem starts. The guy in red is looking back( another mistake) and then he reacts late , instead of having moved STAT towards the Action. If he had been looking forward. Thanks Brent
Hola Jorge …
Thanks for your detailed feedback – good stuff.
However, I disagree with your comment that “looking back” is a mistake.
Here’s what I wrote in response to a similar comment in last week’s post.
“I’m going to go against the common teaching theory of don’t look back at your partner as they return of serve.
Unless I’m playing with a partner who loves to crush their return of serve (which leaves me out of any possible movement opportunity as either a fake poach or a poach), and / or we’re playing against the mad poacher is going just about all of the time, I watch to see what my partner does with their return of serve.
If I’ve got the big power returner or up against the crazy poacher, then I have to key on that opposite net player to see if I’ll be defending, but …
Other than that, I get more information from taking a quick peek at my partner in terms of the type of return they’re playing and the direction of that return.
I feel I’m way more in tune with the timing of the play as opposed to just having to read the server’s partner’s reaction to the return of serve.
My job is first and foremost to take advantage of the return of serve which in reality is going to be played away from the net player and back to the server.
That’s the returner’s job – play the return of serve away from that opposing net player and try to set me up, the returner’s partner.
We’re working together as a team, and I get more info sooner by peeking at my partner’s return than seeing how the server’s partner reacts …
Yeah, all of that goes against what is more easily taught out there, but hey, I want to know if that return of serve is going cross court immediately so that I can move up and take charge of the server’s next shot.”
Brent
Thank you Brent, but I disagree. oF COURSE IS MORE DIFFICULT TO GET USE TO SEE AND MOVE TOWARDS THE ACTION, INSTEAD OF LOOKING BACK. I FILL IS A NEXT LEVEL OF PLAYING DOUBLES . OBSERVE THE DOUBLES PROFESSIONALS TEAMS, THEY DON`T LOOK BACK AND SAVE PRECIOUS TIME. BY PRACTICE, YOU LEARN TO SEE THE REACTION OF ONE OF THE TWO OPPONENTS, WHICH BECOMES VERY OVIOUS. THEIR BODY IMMAGE CHANGES, THE RACKET GETTING READY ETC. THANK YOU BRENT
Why are you shouting at us Jorge? That is what caps is used for.
And so what if you disagree. If you think you have the insider scoop on the absolutely right and proper way to play tennis under all conditions, for all people, all the time…please publish it.
And please, if you are gonna shout at us, at least get your grammar and spelling right.
Sorry about my english, but this is not my first language and if you like to see my publication go to Libros en Red “EL JUEGO DE DOBLES EN TENIS”, first book ever in Spanish on this subject. Published in Argentina. And I am not trying to shout at no one. Please forgive me if you feel that way. I was just trying to help. Thanks Jorge
Jorge …
No problem. Your English is just fine and I’m sure the all caps was not intentional.
Let’s simply agree to disagree on this one.
Most pros rarely look back in doubles because the pace of the ball is so much faster than ours.
But we’re not touring pros and we don’t have to copy everything they do just because they play pro tennis.
In fact, there are lots of techniques and strategies that the pros do that make no sense for us to copy because we can’t effectively model it anyway.
I can find lots of video footage on YouTube of the Bryan Bros ‘looking back’ in specific situations.
Here’s a video from the 2010 Australian Open finals – 8 minutes long. In the first 90 seconds I’ve found 5 instances where one of the Bryan Bros “looks back” …
0:16 – Bob looks back at Mike
0:20 – Mike looks back at Bob return serve
0:22 – Same point, Mike again
1:24 – Mike looks back
http://youtu.be/0C-pEt8d9ts
So Jorge, my man, the pros DO look back when it’s the right moment to do so …
Brent
I got burned on a play like that yesterday. Here you can see that the server’s feet make five full steps after the returner makes contact with the ball (the fifth is the pivot step off the back/inside foot). In my case I saw the returner prepare with his racket low, but I was so focused on getting to my chosen spot my feet kept moving forward until the lob actually went up — and it was a good one!
Hey Robert.
Right, this video clearly illustrates where we all need to improve.
Brent
Wanted to get back to you on this. Last time out I specifically focused on making my split while traveling between base line and the service line, and it made a big difference, not just in increasing the ratio of successful plays I could make, but it seemed to slow time down for me, and I could maybe see the ball better and be more relaxed in making the shot — which by the way is how you look in your video that demonstrates this.
Thanks Brent. Illustrates what can go wrong when your plan is to serve and volley. May I add that the local pro around here emphasizes that the split step should be based on not the WHERE but the WHEN. That, to me, simplifies things. If I can focus on split step when receiver makes contact I don’t need to think about having to get to a certain spot before I do split step. When I stopped the video at point of receiver contact, Viola! The server was in exactly the place you recommended him to be.
Hi Vern.
You got yourself a smart pro there – stick with him / her
Right, it’s not about where but about when.
If you’ve got a high looping topspin serve that takes time to get over there coupled with a returner who stays way back, you’ll be split stepping much later (and closer to the service line).
The opposite applies when you bomb a big flat serve combined with a returner who loves to receive your serve well inside their baseline. In this instance you’ll have to split almost as soon as you come out of your service motion.
But that’s OK, the return won’t eat you up and you’ll have something you can then work with …
Brent
Hi Brent,
You are absolutely right. This early split step is so important.
However, the returns, especially the last shown one, were actually fantastic.
So, even with an early split step it had been very difficult to handle it rightly, in my opinion.
Ciao, Casey