Doubles question about being the Receiver's partner.

[twocents]

I happend to be involved in a Doubles drill with the teaching pro last week.
He had a second serve so I crowded the center stripe as my partner was returning his serve. He didn't like it and said if we were in a real match he would drill me for standing there. I didn't have my face hanging over the line I was just positioned about 3 inches from the center stripe. I didn't move ($#@! him) and he double faulted.
I had seen in Tennis Magazine a while back that when you change where you stand as the Receiver's partner (making line calls) it gives the server a different view of the court and gives him one more thing to think about.
On second serve I let my partner make the call and I move up into volleying position half way between the net and service line.
Any comments would be appreciated. thanks

[eagle]

Hi twocents,

I don't think "crowding" the center line is ilegal. Yes, it bothers some players but that's the idea, right? To hopefully force an error. Besides, if he completely misses the box and sends it towards you and happen to hit you, then he just got lucky freebie point. :)

r,
eagle

[Geezer Guy]

You can stand wherever you want - even inside the service box. However, if you get hit by the ball you lose the point. When my opponents stand that close to the center line, I often serve up the T. I figure I may hit the receiver's partner and win the point, or I may hit the corner where I'm aiming and the returner will hit hit his partner for me.

[papa]

Well, standing "close" to the "T" as your partner returns serve is under most situations, the best place to be. I think it has little or no effect on the server if one "crowds" the "T" but being 3" from it, is too close -- I suggest you stand 12 - 18 inches away. I think if your too close to the "T" your just getting in the way of your partner or reducing his/her options on returns. Partner has his plate full when receiving and being concerned about you should not complicate things.

[TheGreatBernie]

He didn't like it and said if we were in a real match he would drill me for standing there.

Dem be fight'n werds...

[kevhen]

Yeah I am usually about 3 feet away and turned toward the opposing netman. That seems a little close but as long as you get out of the way of any serves should be legal though.

I would probably serve hard up the T myself since you may distract your partner being so close to the ball and he may hit you in the back with his return. If my serve up the T goes wide it has a decent chance of hitting you for a free point so the box has just become larger for me to serve into.

Also my slice serve might come close to hitting you before breaking and landing in the box.

Not a good spot to stand normally but if your opponents are bothered by it then it is a good place to stand and now your control the center of the court but be ware the sharp angle volley to your alley.

[papa]

Yeah I am usually about 3 feet away and turned toward the opposing netman. That seems a little close but as long as you get out of the way of any serves should be legal though.


Well, three feet away seems to me to be too far - you might consider closing the gap a little more. Facing the opposing netman is good but more than likely the ball is going back crosscourt to the server and you don't want the server to then drive the ball back right up the middle. Good doubles teams will close down the middle and constantly force/challenge you into "trying" the lines.

From a "legal" standpoint, you can stand anywhere you want either inside or outside the court, as long as your on your side. You can both stand inside the box if you want or anywhere else - doesn't matter.

[SageOfDeath]

I happend to be involved in a Doubles drill with the teaching pro last week.
He had a second serve so I crowded the center stripe as my partner was returning his serve. He didn't like it and said if we were in a real match he would drill me for standing there. I didn't have my face hanging over the line I was just positioned about 3 inches from the center stripe. I didn't move ($#@! him) and he double faulted.
I had seen in Tennis Magazine a while back that when you change where you stand as the Receiver's partner (making line calls) it gives the server a different view of the court and gives him one more thing to think about.
On second serve I let my partner make the call and I move up into volleying position half way between the net and service line.
Any comments would be appreciated. thanks

Well you should listen to your teaching pro. I mean he DOES have the power to make you do drills. Hahahaha your pro double faulted. hehehe. If I make fun of one of my tennis coaches then they get mad but they can't do anything to me because of company policy. They could make me do drills but I have to do them anyways for private lesson stuff. One time I lost a match and my private lesson coach said WHAT! I coached you! Do 30 push ups! I'm not sure if he was serious or not but in any case I did all my push ups that I owed from then and last week while working out. Anyways there is a point to this. Like the first line of this paragraph you SHOULD listen to your teaching pro. :)