Am I handling this shot incorrectly?

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
From your description of it then you should already be hitting the ball before your partner has a chance to. If your not moving back and are already in position for the shot then unless she is standing on top of you she won't even reach the ball before you have already hit it.

I have never seen you play but I have never seen a 3.5 player that could hit a "good BH overhead"
I am not saying you can't do it. I have to say I am skeptical.

Most people are skeptical, until I angle one off for a winner or put it at their feet. :)

Maybe it wouldn't win points off of higher-rated players, but I do OK with it at my level (3.5/4.0).
 

spaceman_spiff

Hall of Fame
Who said anything about retreating?

It seems obvious if I am retreating, then the ball is deep enough for my partner to overhead, or I will hit a relatively weak shot.

The situation that is causing us some distress is when I am set up to hit a good BH volley/smash. Believe me, if I am retreating for a high OHBH smash and I hear "Mine," I would be relieved to let my partner take it.

In that case, I'd say it just depends on how far over you have to stretch to hit your shot.

If I were your partner, coming to the net behind you, I'd only call you off the shot if I really thought you were stretched and I was in a better position. Otherwise, if I thought you could reach it comfortably, I'd let you have at it.
 

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
I was thinking about this some more, and one thing occurred to me: No other partners have raised this issue with me. Not even my 3.5 to 4.5 mixed partners have objected to my taking this BH shot, and I almost always play deuce in mixed.

Still, I think what I will do in the future is let those balls go through with this particular partner. Either she's right that she can hit a better shot, or she isn't and balls will go unplayed or get bounced. Either way, we will have learned something and will be a stronger team, perhaps.
 

equinox

Hall of Fame
I was thinking about this some more, and one thing occurred to me: No other partners have raised this issue with me. Not even my 3.5 to 4.5 mixed partners have objected to my taking this BH shot, and I almost always play deuce in mixed.

Still, I think what I will do in the future is let those balls go through with this particular partner. Either she's right that she can hit a better shot, or she isn't and balls will go unplayed or get bounced. Either way, we will have learned something and will be a stronger team, perhaps.

pretty simple if the balls up there, kill it. there can be no hesitation, just kill it.

balls in the air are supposed to be put away not bounced...

ridiculous suggestion by your partner.

are you ladies playing doubles?? or run back and moonball rally for 30+ shots?
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Rui, do we know where Cindy is going to hit her backhand 2hbh overhead?
Most players hit up the middle, and since Cindy is now at the middle, and her partner to her left, that leaves HALF the court uncovered!
If Cindy hits her backhandoverhead into the opposing netman's alley, then everything is covered.
If Cindy hits her backhandoverhead back towards her right or ad alley, they are in big trouble.
 

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
Rui, do we know where Cindy is going to hit her backhand 2hbh overhead?
Most players hit up the middle, and since Cindy is now at the middle, and her partner to her left, that leaves HALF the court uncovered!
If Cindy hits her backhandoverhead into the opposing netman's alley, then everything is covered.
If Cindy hits her backhandoverhead back towards her right or ad alley, they are in big trouble.

If opponent is at baseline, I would hit the BH overhead with angle toward my alley, hoping opponent cannot reach it. If opponent tries to run it down, I would shift toward my alley, and hopefully my partner would shift to cover the middle, as with any other shot.

I will usually not attempt to go toward opposite alley because that is really a difficult shot!

If opponent has come to net, I would try to drive it up the middle.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Maybe I'm just slow and old, but if I hit a backhand overhead back to my side of the court, my partner is directly behind me and I can't cover my own side, as I was moving to the middle, and momentum tells me to keep moving.
Such a bad shot, I'd not expect my partner to cover my now vacant alley.
Instead, if I were on ad court, poach a overhead up the middle, I'd hit right at the foot of the opponsing net player, or into his alley on the deuce court almost every time. That covers the angles of possible returns.
 

Rui

Semi-Pro
Rui, do we know where Cindy is going to hit her backhand 2hbh overhead?
Most players hit up the middle, and since Cindy is now at the middle, and her partner to her left, that leaves HALF the court uncovered!
If Cindy hits her backhandoverhead into the opposing netman's alley, then everything is covered.
If Cindy hits her backhandoverhead back towards her right or ad alley, they are in big trouble.

If there is a netperson, the ball goes in that direction...always.

If there is no netperson, why bother hitting up the middle? Let the big forehand make something happen. The hitting behind you toward the returner scenario must be a putaway or your inviting trouble. So it depends on how set you are.

The best shot is toward partner's alley, hopefully through a netperson.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Good answer until I hit against that one guy who's got superior hands, eagle eyes, and just loves to love volley my strongest putaway volleys.
Talking about guys at my own level, not some turkey out of place on the courts.
 

skiracer55

Hall of Fame
See what I said in post #35...

I was thinking about this some more, and one thing occurred to me: No other partners have raised this issue with me. Not even my 3.5 to 4.5 mixed partners have objected to my taking this BH shot, and I almost always play deuce in mixed.

Still, I think what I will do in the future is let those balls go through with this particular partner. Either she's right that she can hit a better shot, or she isn't and balls will go unplayed or get bounced. Either way, we will have learned something and will be a stronger team, perhaps.

...we're all talking about what the right tactics are, in this situation, and I'd still say that it depends...however, leaving that aside, see above, what I think this is really all about is "this particular partner", see above, who is the only one who has "objected to my taking this BH shot." So, to me, it's much more a simple partnership issue. From the original post, it's pretty clear to me that this particular partner knows all/sees all, and it's her way or the highway. So, to me, it's pretty simple, do it her way, or find another partner, which choice B would be my option...
 

Rui

Semi-Pro
Good answer until I hit against that one guy who's got superior hands, eagle eyes, and just loves to love volley my strongest putaway volleys.
Talking about guys at my own level, not some turkey out of place on the courts.

In my scenario, the volley lands at the netpersons feet (in front of or on either side). I'm on top of the net. My partner sees I'm hitting down and closes. If the netperson can half volley that shot or even volley it up and by us, he's either very lucky or warming up to go on tour. It's a situation I'll make happen every time.
 
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