Work as a formidable team at net!

Work as a fearsome twosome at net 

Everyone knows that the game of doubles is all about rushing and crushing the net. Rushing and crushing the net is the only way to finish points quickly.  In a game of doubles, when you are either the returner or the server you want to move in as soon as possible.  In a previous post, I discussed how to move into the net. In this post, I will cover how you and your partner can work as a team to be as ferocious and effective as possible.  When you are moving into net, it is essential that your partner know you are  coming up to the net. It is important for your partner to know you are on the move  as a shot could be hit to your side of the court that you can't reach if you are too far back. If that's the case your partner may want to cross over to cover it for you.  While at the net, you need to assess and utilize each other's strengths when determining who will cover which shots. When both of you are at net and a shot goes down the middle between you, this is often referred to as the husband and wife zone. No one is sure who is going to take balls hit in that area and more often than not those shots end up as winners for your opponents. Always make a plan for who will take it. In general, whosever forehand it is should be the one who poaches and pounds that volley. In addition, once both of you are at the net, you are vulnerable and suspect to lobs. As a team, you need to determine  who is going to cover the lobs. As a rule of thumb, it should be the person who is in the best position to hit either a forehand overhead or a forehand, defensive, on the run  shot. Alternatively, the person who is further back may want to be the one who covers lobs as they don't have as far to run.  A fourth concern when both of you are at the net is what to do when your partner is pulled out wide.  I usually say that you should cover the middle but cheat towards the opposite end of the court that your partner was pulled towards. Essentially, you need to be prepared to cover three quarters of the court ( sorry about that but it is a workout, right) 

Try it these suggestions and let me know how it works out for you. Did you feel you were more effective in winning points at the net when accounting for coverage? Email me at info@elftennis.com with your thoughts.