Help with doubles strategy!

[LuckyR]

Yet another reason I prefer spontaneous poaches.

[Tennissiz]

So, as I expected, we met the #2 seeds in the finals. We had a very definite game plan incorporating a lot of the advice on this thread.

We changed up the pace with some hard shots hit right at the net person mixed in with lob returns and drop shot returns so we effectively neutralized the net person and the server couldn't groove on the first volley.

We were able to consistently get into position to control the net, and once at the net, we seemed to have the opportunity to finish the point easily on high volleys.

We were able to get a lot of return errors with lots of movement from the net player looking to cut off the easy crosscourt. High first serve percentages were key as we were broken several times on the service games that didn't happen.

So my final post-game analysis:
1. Get the first serve in with good placement.
2. Server's partner helps out as much as possible with poaches.
3. Be patient to set up the point so both partners can be at the net.
4. Look for opportunities to close the net and finish the point.
5. Be effective with variety on the returns of serve.

We pretty much dictated play so we did not have to resort to other formations than playing both at the net. But thank-you to everyone who contributed their ideas!

[Kaptain Karl]

You left out a "detail" in your report. Did you win?

- KK

[Tennissiz]

Yup! Final score: 6-2, 6-3. Oh yeah, one service game went to four deuces because the ad court player was loving her crosscourt return. So we switched to the Australian formation and she dumped the DTL return into the bottom of the net and I thought "Thanks KK!".

[dmastous]

Originally Posted by papa

Assuming your the net guy receiving team, just prior to the serve but after signals have been acknowledged, turn and say something to your partner, the server in a voice that can be heard (at least by the netman), something like "its on", "watch the alley", "switch" (kinda my favorite), "watch the line" and so forth. Of course your partner has to know that these mean nothing and your going to carry on as usual. If the serving team is rather new to signals or not quite sure of things, it really throws them off. Of course there are times when you really do want to convey certain things so make sure, as a team, you know the difference.

How about having a couple meaning less hand signals after the signal is acknowleged. If you say things like "switch" or "it's on" you may let your opponents know you really don't have a line on their signals.
Congrats to Tennissiz!

[Kaptain Karl]

Originally Posted by Tennissiz

... I thought "Thanks KK!".

On behalf of ALL the folks who gave good tips ... "You're welcome."

Wa-hoo! Congratulations.

(papa & dmastous seems like some sneaky opponents, with their fake signals and distractors.) I believe Dubs is even more psychological than Singles. This is part of the evidence.

- KK

[BigbangerNYC]

Originally Posted by Tennissiz

What should you do when your opponent is hitting great shots low over the net and penetrating through our net person with pace?

This was happening even when we were hitting good deep serves, effective deep approaches, and low reaction volleys at her body. Basically, she was very good at moving forward with her momentum and using a short compact swing to hit a flat drive and closing into the net.

When we tried to take off the pace to give her less to hit, she closed and put away the angle.

When we tried to lob over her head, she was able to place her overheads for winners.

When we tried to stay both back on the baseline, she hit short angles for winners.

Two solutions which were effective against her were:
1. Dial up the pace to challenge her timing
2. Hit sharp crosscourt angle to challenge her lateral mobility.

Any other suggestions?

I have read all advice here regarding your problems, and the one that is most sound is from FIVE-0. One thing I would like to ask is how much spin do you put in your serve? If you put some or lots of sidespin on the serve, I highly doubt your opponents can rip returns low and with lots of pace (as you have mentioned) as frequent as he/she would like to. Assuming you have spin in your serve and still have the problem, then you and your partner need to learn how to catch low and fast volley, especially catching low and fast approach shots for the server. Most people are not efficient at low-and-heavy-ball volleys b/c their volley strokes aren't to firm and compact (like a short punch) but either too swingy or wristy.

[ZPTennis]

When she was coming into net did you try the lob then or after she was at net? Lobbing a person whos moving into the net can be a good tactic since it is almost always a more difficult overhead because they have to change their direction from moving forward to backward instantly.