Doubles return of second serve

[kevhen]

I noticed alot of D1 guys are now playing two back against first serves but are playing well inside the service line when their partner is returning second serves. The netman is then very aggressive against the server's first volley or groundstroke.

Anyone else notice this or play this way? Most club returners play either all the way back or on the service line. But these university guys are moving way up and being aggressive on second serve returns.

 

[SilverBullet]

I noticed alot of D1 guys are now playing two back against first serves but are playing well inside the service line when their partner is returning second serves. The netman is then very aggressive against the server's first volley or groundstroke.

Anyone else notice this or play this way? Most club returners play either all the way back or on the service line. But these university guys are moving way up and being aggressive on second serve returns.

This is because to control points in doubles you should be at net. If you didn't know, when your team has total control of a point, most of the time your formation will be both up. This is why people tend to attack the second serve by going to the net. The reason for playing both back on the first serve is because, at a high level such as a Division one school, most players will have a bigger first serve that would force a weaker reply from the reciever causing the front player to become a target. I also read somewhere that a serving team wins 80% of points when the first serve goes in in the pro world. This is why people try to raise their chances of breaking serve by playing both back when recieving first serves.

 

[LuckyR]

By playing in the middle of the service box (instead of at the service line) the returner's partner is essentially treating his partner's return like a serve, ie unlikely to be poached and likely to produce a weak reply that can be poached.

Obviously this is showing a complete lack of respect for the server's second serve and/or the poaching ability of the serve's partner. This would be a bad idea at the club level, but at the D1 level the returner can back it up with his play.

 

[jimmycoop]

Good point, LuckyR. But I also think that even at the club level moving to the middle of the service box can be a good, aggressive play for the receiver's partner IF you know your opponents have a weak second serve and/or poaching ability.

 

[travlerajm]

In mixed doubles, I always have my partner crowd the net whenever I am returning the opposing gal's serve or opposing guy's 2nd serve, assuming it is weak enough that I can hit an aggressive return with little worry of my return being poached. It puts a lot of pressure on the server, because he or she no longer has the option of hitting the first volley to my partner's side of the court.

 

[LuckyR]

Just beware of the lob volley...

 

[kevhen]

At the club, I will move a step inside the service court line if my partner is a good returner against a weak server, but these guys are like 3 steps inside the service court line, very aggressive positioning.

 

[GS Dubs]

I tell my HS boys that they HAVE TO return 2nd serves crosscourt and get their butts up to the net. They will run if they do not do that in practice? Why? Because they are in love with trying to blast it at the net man and either hit the back fence or the net man is unfazed and volleys back a winner. I do want my players to recognize if there is an opportunity to hit it down the alley, but getting to the net on a 2nd serve is a must.

 

[LuckyR]

^^^^ good advice...

 

[travlerajm]

Just beware of the lob volley...

Why? If the server tries to lob my partner then I get an easy smash! (I play the adcourt, and it's easy to roll right to hit overheads from my partner's alley).

 

[soyizgood]

I tell my HS boys that they HAVE TO return 2nd serves crosscourt and get their butts up to the net. They will run if they do not do that in practice? Why? Because they are in love with trying to blast it at the net man and either hit the back fence or the net man is unfazed and volleys back a winner. I do want my players to recognize if there is an opportunity to hit it down the alley, but getting to the net on a 2nd serve is a must.

Totally agree.

 

[LuckyR]

Why? If the server tries to lob my partner then I get an easy smash! (I play the adcourt, and it's easy to roll right to hit overheads from my partner's alley).

If you are playing high calibre touch players (the kinds who have confidence in a lob volley in the face of an onrushing S&V), you will be doing well to get a racquet on the ball. Forget the overhead...

 

[GS Dubs]

On those crosscourt returns they either have to be hit hard enough to get an uncomfortable shot out of your opponent, or far enough cross court so they are off-balance on their shots. One of my doubles teams got DOMINATED on Saturday because they played the Kings of Lobs and kept charging the net, but were hitting it right to the back guy, not hitting any tough shots.

 

[oldhacker]

Speaking as a club doubles player it sounds a low percentage tactic for the netman on the receiving side to stand in the middle of the service box on the second serve. To my mind this strategy basically concedes the point if the returner hits a floating return or gets poached as his netman is out of position to intercept the volley and the 'hole' is wide open. My better to start on or just inside the service line towards the T and looking to move forward quickly if the return clears the server's netman.

As an aside I play social doubles with a couple of guys who stand in the middle of the box to start any point when they are at the net (whether their partner is serving or receiving and whether first or second serve). They do this because they know no better and cannot be bothered to learn or listen to advice. And it kills me to see how many points we lose just because they are out of position to pick up a volley into the hole.

Good point, LuckyR. But I also think that even at the club level moving to the middle of the service box can be a good, aggressive play for the receiver's partner IF you know your opponents have a weak second serve and/or poaching ability.

 

[LuckyR]

While true, it is also true that returns of poaches from the correct position is still a low percentage shot (depending on the calibre of play) so they are not giving up 100% of the sots up the "hole" since even if they were standing in the "hole" they wouldn't get many of them back.