Tentanive net play.

[tpe11etier]

I play lots of doubles and can't seem to get more aggressive at the net. Balls I should be cutting off I just watch go right by me. I guess I'm afraid my partner will yell at me for blowing a volley or something. Sometimes it's so bad the ball is clearly mine and it just goes right by both of us.

Question is to you doubles players. If you were playing with me, would you rather I be over aggressive? How do I stop being such a wimp? :)

Edit - Excuse the spelling error in the subject please...:)

[golden chicken]

i'd rather you miss while trying than miss while just standing there.

stay on the balls of your feet. shift your weight forwards slightly just before your opponents hit the ball so you're already kind of moving forwards to intercept the volley, but not so much that you can't get back for a lob.

[wyutani]

change to baselining...

[str33t]

I'm just the same as you. Today when I went and played some doubles, I tried to be as aggressive as possible. I felt a lot better and wasn't self-conscioues of myself. and i got some nice volleys too ;-)

[Rickson]

I play lots of doubles and can't seem to get more aggressive at the net. Balls I should be cutting off I just watch go right by me. I guess I'm afraid my partner will yell at me for blowing a volley or something. Sometimes it's so bad the ball is clearly mine and it just goes right by both of us.

Question is to you doubles players. If you were playing with me, would you rather I be over aggressive? How do I stop being such a wimp? :)

Edit - Excuse the spelling error in the subject please...:)
It depends how bad a volleyer you are. If your volleys are horrific, then stay at the baseline until you can fix your volleys because a competitive match is not the place to start practicing what you don't do well. If your volleys are good, but you just lack confidence during a match, swallow your pride and go for the volleys even if some balls blow by you. I once had a partner who used swinging volleys when I hit well placed serves that caused weak replies. His swinging volleys all went out and if his dumb ass weren't at the net, I'd have serve and volleyed myself some nice points. It's nice of you to not mess up your partner, but you can't help him if you stay at the net and do nothing. Either improve your volleys or stay at the baseline, but never stay at the net and do nothing. As for the swinging volleyer, he'd have been better off staying at the baseline, but his foolish pride and bad form cost us so don't be like him and always do the right thing.

[Captain America]

Question is to you doubles players. If you were playing with me, would you rather I be over aggressive? How do I stop being such a wimp? :)

Before your next match, ask your partner how he/she feels about it.

In the meantime, get some perspective on your game from a local pro if you can. You obviously need to practice your volleys, but if you have technical flaws that you don't know about you'll simply be reinforcing poor mechanics....

[just out]

One thing to consider also, during times when you are at the net and your partner is returning or serving you should also consider if your partner is coming in behind their shot. If your partner is coming in, it is often easier for them to make volleys on the more difficult shots down the middle of the court as they move in. I find it most difficult when my partner stays back all of the time and I do feel the pressure to cut off balls down the center. If your parter is staying back all of the time, the best solution is to encourage your partner to come in more and be more aggressive, then both of you will be looking to cover the center most of the time and from a more offensive position.

[tpe11etier]

Thanks for the replies.

That's the crazy part really. I actually have a pretty solid volley. I struggle a bit with a high backhand but that's pretty much it. If I'm focused, I hit a pretty darn crisp volley. I never swing at volleys. It's pretty much a turn, step and punch. Problem is all confidence with me. I'm always so worried about what my partners going to say.

I'll just let my partner know next time that I'm working on being more aggressive so expect me to move alot. If I miss, oh well, I made the effort right? :)

[kevhen]

Keep a low center of balance so you can quickly move to jump on those balls you should poach and go for them and go right at the opposing net man or between the two opponents. If my partner messes up his poaches too much I would rather have him stay put and just be a wall on his side. Is your partner stronger than you? If he is, then stay home, otherwise get in there and do some poaching. Have fun and play the game the way you think you should.

[slewisoh]

If your technique is good, perhaps you are nervous because you don't have a plan at the net? Knowing where to volley has given me much more confidence at the net. It's not enough to be in the right spot and intercept the ball - you have to know what to do with it.

[joe sch]

There is an easy fix to tentative net play:

Start out using simple signals to your partner, fist=stay, open hand=go(poach)
Ask your parter to always confirm signal, ie "OK"
Try to go atleast 1/3 times but dont be consistent

This will force you to be aggressive and let your partner have a better chance of covering passes down the line when you go

Doubles can be very fun, just need to expand your tactics ...

[Livefreediefree1]

You can if your not good at the net, the "Australian" wich is both partners retreat to the serve line and slowly move up on the ball have forhands tak all backhands. this is great in doubles specially if you are good partners.

Id rather you try, than stare heres a quote for ya to remember "If its low let it go, If its high let it fly!" meaning if its high let ur partner take it, otherwise you get it. also be rad always and know where your parnter mite serve.

[Rep. Timothy Calhoun]

It depends how bad a volleyer you are. If your volleys are horrific, then stay at the baseline until you can fix your volleys because a competitive match is not the place to start practicing what you don't do well. If your volleys are good, but you just lack confidence during a match, swallow your pride and go for the volleys even if some balls blow by you. I once had a partner who used swinging volleys when I hit well placed serves that caused weak replies. His swinging volleys all went out and if his dumb ass weren't at the net, I'd have serve and volleyed myself some nice points. It's nice of you to not mess up your partner, but you can't help him if you stay at the net and do nothing. Either improve your volleys or stay at the baseline, but never stay at the net and do nothing. As for the swinging volleyer, he'd have been better off staying at the baseline, but his foolish pride and bad form cost us so don't be like him and always do the right thing.I like your posts. You tell like it is and seem to say what you really think. :)

[Freedom]

I used to be the exact same way. But now my high school coach has stuck me into mixed doubles (which I hate with a passion) but I figured that if I was going to do it, I might as well win. So I improved my volleys. Now I'm very confident at the net. The biggest thing for me was just to get over the fear of getting hit. Play a lot of A$$ and you won't be afraid anymore. ;)

[Rickson]

I like your posts. You tell like it is and seem to say what you really think. :)
Thanks, Tim. Telling it like it is separates the men from the boys...unless you're Michael Jackson.

[Duzza]

just jump up and down the whole time, lots of practice with someone groundstroking non stop to the body so ur jumping then moving to side, back, repeat. Also i found if you get a friend to serve first serves at u whilst ur on the service line or further forward volleying improves well

[Livefreediefree1]

I used to be the exact same way. But now my high school coach has stuck me into mixed doubles (which I hate with a passion) but I figured that if I was going to do it, I might as well win. So I improved my volleys. Now I'm very confident at the net. The biggest thing for me was just to get over the fear of getting hit. Play a lot of A$$ and you won't be afraid anymore. ;)

I played a tournament last weekend and this kid it a storong over head and it hit me in the wrist(left). i was playing crappy but once i was hit i began to win like hell and never lost game after that... so i play better when i get hurt lol.