Is it wrong to hit directly at the Net person? (Etiquette Question)

[Jennifer]

Sorry if this has been asked before.

I've been playing mixed doubles.

My partner has a weaker second serve, and unfortunately as a result, the returner will ocassionally send a forehand screaming directly at me. I can block some of them, but others are simply to fast. Luckily, I have Cat Woman reflexes at the net and haven't been hit yet.

I know the returner(s) is not aiming malaciously and just taking advantage of the opportunity (so I think).

My question: Is it wrong to hit directly at the net person?

-Jennifer

[beernutz]

IMO, no it isn't, that is just part of the game. If your partner is a weak server you probably need to back up or else get a new partner.

No, it is simply part of the game...
My coaches have always taught me to try and aim for the net person because they have less time to react and it is a smart play, especially if you get a weak shot you feel you can do something with...

[Falloutjr]

Originally Posted by NadalFan1990

No, it is simply part of the game...
My coaches have always taught me to try and aim for the net person because they have less time to react and it is a smart play, especially if you get a weak shot you feel you can do something with...

Same here, my coach taught me to hit the ball at net players. Don't aim for their head or anything, but hit the ball at their body. It's an easy point and it'll shake them up mentally. They'll get intimidated and won't focus as well on the next volleys. Net players are instinctive in that they they receive the fight or flight thought process, they fight. If you make them lean more towards flight, you will have it easy at the net all day.

[Raphael]

Its a smart play to blast a shot at the net player. Its tougher to get away from the ball than it is to run down a ball thats out of reach!

Originally Posted by Raphael

Its a smart play to blast a shot at the net player. Its tougher to get away from the ball than it is to run down a ball thats out of reach!

its true
I was playing an NJCAA match, in singles and my opponent gave me an easy shot that sat up nicely right in my wheelhouse and I lasered it in his direction, nearly hitting him in the body...
I didn't mean to hit him with my shot (granted, I got irritated with his pusher playing style that I released all the anger I had up to that moment in that shot), but it was the shot I knew was the right shot to play tactically.

[jmverdugo]

The net person is there to be hit , seriously, where you making this thread if your oponents shot were not coming so fast?

[AR15]

This week I played a mixed doubles match where my female opponent played very closely to the net (within a foot). I didn't want to hurt her, and would not deliberately try to hit her body. After I hit several hard forehands past her that were within inches of hitting her, I thought she would at least move back a reasonable distance from the net, but she didn't. I later did hit her hands that were holding her racquet, and I felt badly for doing so - buttt, shouldn't she have played a little smarter to avoid putting herself in harm's way?

[goober]

In social doubles I will not hit a screamer at the person at the net, especially if that person is a weak player.

League or tournament play- it is fine.

[gameboy]

I have no problems with hitting the net person on a easy serve, when playing against men. Mixed doubles, however, is a different story.

What level are you? If you are lower rated than me I would never do it. If the women was higher or significantly better than me, I would have no qualms.

[SirSweetSpot]

......................

[blakesq]

A hard shot at the net person is a very good shot, and should be practiced all the time, including during social matches, so that when the match is important, you will have had practice to drill the net person, and won't 2nd guess yourself.

[mixertefera]

it is complety fine to hit at the net person and if they dont have the hands to defend themsleves (actully if you have decent hands you can uselly get the ball back) then they desever to get hit for trying to play a game that is not theirs. That might be phrased a bit harshly.

[NLBwell]

Tournaments OK. Social tennis - No. League - depends on the competitiveness of the league. Lower level mixed league 7.5 or below - No, you don't want to hurt someone. Higher level - woman good 4.0 or better, she should be able to take care of herself.

[sphinx780]

In general, I think the net shot is fine. You do have the choice to move back to avoid those situations. On the other hand, in mixed there can be mismatches where it can become cruel to rip it at the net person (I have advised an opponent that they can stand back being my best shot being dtl off the serve I was getting).

In tournament play, I think it's always cool. In league and social tennis, it's more of a scenario by scenario situation imo.

If there's another way to win the point, that's the route I'm going to take in those situations most of the time. The very first mixed dubs match I played (8.0), the opposing guy gunned it at my partner at all times (we're a 4.5/3.5 combo). They were winning handily and to me that is just being *****ish...so I capped him (overhead to chest), he stopped and we moved on. I guess what I'm saying is that there is a difference between using the shot as good strategy and bullying the opponent just because you can.

[mrw]

In mixed doubles, there is NO WAY I am going to hit a screamer at a girl playing net. I expect the same from the guy on the opposing team.

[TenS_Ace]

If it is so obvious that your partner's second serve is so weak, you might as well just back up and stand at the baseline with the server to recieve the return. It really does affect the returners when you do this.

[ProgressoR]

this is ridiculous, in a match its all fair game, if your opponent is too weak or slow or poor to deal with what you dish out, then they need to find out a way to deal with it or keep on losing points.

Why treat a woman (in a match) any different than a guy? its not a date, its a match.

Social dubs is different of course.

[harleywilson]

I don't think it's wrong but I totally disagree with people who say it's a smart play. Try to hit screamers at me on a service return (even a weak one) when I have a net position and you will lose. Every once in a while ok. That being said I don't like to hit at women during mixed.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by harleywilson

I don't think it's wrong but I totally disagree with people who say it's a smart play.

I agree with this. I think if someone is totally inept at the net this will work. I think that 50% or more of the time the baseliner will lose the point, either by hitting into the net or by a reflex volley winner.

If I do go at the net player, I won't do it off of the serve (when they are draped on the net and on guard) but will instead do it during the rally. I can sometimes catch them napping or better yet drifting so deep in the court that I can get the ball below net level or at their feet.

In general, I think the best play against a weak serve is to hit a solid return deep and follow it to net. After all, you know the owner of a weak serve won't S&V. I'd prefer to wear them down by pinning them back there and making them try to hit passing shots against two players at net.