Doubles teamwork

toth

Hall of Fame
What is the rule if the netman -one up one back formation) make a movement to poach?
The netman schould always finish with the poaching and make the volley or he can decide sometimes to set back and his partner schould take care of it?
In this second case schould the netman call his partner (,,yours"), how do this for example the pros?

Thank you for your answer
Toth
 

OnTheLine

Hall of Fame
Once you have crossed the center line, never ever cross back over. If you are committed to poach, then poach and keep going.

If your goal is simply to fake out your partner then "make a movement" kinda poach and then go back. Your partner will begin to hate you.

Couple of schools of thought ...
1. Communicate prior to the point that you are going to poach ... then do so 100%. partner knows to cross ahead of time
2. Do so when the opportunity is there, and do so 100%, partner behind you sees you crossing and crosses to cover
3. Other formations, like Aussie and such are similar to a planned poach
I am certain there are others as well ... but none of them involve crossing and then going back except in the most extreme cases (e.g. opponents send back a drop shot to service box you just left and partner is too far back ...)

If a net player attempts an ill-timed poach on a ball that is too high, should instantly communicate with partner, "yours" or "over me" or some such, Typically baseline player will have time to re-adjust if called out early enough and partner is a good read of the incoming ball.
 
D

Deleted member 23235

Guest
Once you have crossed the center line, never ever cross back over. If you are committed to poach, then poach and keep going.

If your goal is simply to fake out your partner then "make a movement" kinda poach and then go back. Your partner will begin to hate you.

Couple of schools of thought ...
1. Communicate prior to the point that you are going to poach ... then do so 100%. partner knows to cross ahead of time
2. Do so when the opportunity is there, and do so 100%, partner behind you sees you crossing and crosses to cover
3. Other formations, like Aussie and such are similar to a planned poach
I am certain there are others as well ... but none of them involve crossing and then going back except in the most extreme cases (e.g. opponents send back a drop shot to service box you just left and partner is too far back ...)

If a net player attempts an ill-timed poach on a ball that is too high, should instantly communicate with partner, "yours" or "over me" or some such, Typically baseline player will have time to re-adjust if called out early enough and partner is a good read of the incoming ball.
for me it depends...
if we're calling poaches... then yeah, i have to go no matter what if i say i'm gonna go...
if it's dynamic poaching, our rule is "only cross behind me if i make contact, else expect me to bail at any point"
 

OnTheLine

Hall of Fame
if it's dynamic poaching, our rule is "only cross behind me if i make contact, else expect me to bail at any point"

Interesting. Perhaps I am reading too much into OP ... I was thinking he is talking about fully crossing center line and then going back ... a failed bail-out attempt is rarely across the center line at least in my experience ... do you consider those two scenarios differently?:
 
D

Deleted member 23235

Guest
Interesting. Perhaps I am reading too much into OP ... I was thinking he is talking about fully crossing center line and then going back ... a failed bail-out attempt is rarely across the center line at least in my experience ... do you consider those two scenarios differently?:
i found that the confusion when i'm faking (ie. partner would start crossing behind me) caused more issues.
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
Interesting. Perhaps I am reading too much into OP ... I was thinking he is talking about fully crossing center line and then going back ... a failed bail-out attempt is rarely across the center line at least in my experience ... do you consider those two scenarios differently?:

The way I read it, the emphasis was on dynamic vs called poaches, not so much about whether the centerline was crossed.
 

toth

Hall of Fame
But if the centerline is not crossed, but the poaching movement could disturb the baseliner player.
What is the solution in this case?
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
But if the centerline is not crossed, but the poaching movement could disturb the baseliner player.
What is the solution in this case?

As a team, you develop a feel for when you've "crossed the line" [pun intended].

Even if the poacher doesn't cross but his momentum is so large that it would be hard to stop and reverse, the poacher should continue and the BL player should switch.

The BL player needs to train himself to not be disturbed but rather to take in the information, process it, and act: sudden, dynamic movements happen a lot in doubles and the BLer must be ready.
 
D

Deleted member 23235

Guest
But if the centerline is not crossed, but the poaching movement could disturb the baseliner player.
What is the solution in this case?

just takes some getting used to... aka practice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
Unless the poach is a planned move, the baseline player must assume his partner will miss. He should hold his ground until contact is made and then move to the open court. The freelance poacher should a) strike the ball firmly at the opposing net player and b) stay on that side. If the freelance poacher does miss the ball, the baseline player should either lob the ball or hit it deep CC to allow himself time to get to the open court that is now vacated. The net player shouldn't scurry back and create a distraction but hold his new position and work back to the T once his partner hits the ball.

Usually as a baseline player you can see whether your poaching partner will be able to hit the ball and move based on that. But if its close the rules of point pessimism come into play:
1) Your partner will always miss
2) Your winners will always come back
3) The incoming ball will always land in
 

user92626

G.O.A.T.
Much depends on speeds of the ball and players' reactions and skill.

I'm perfectly fine with a net partner who tries to poach, and succeed or let go with a too difficult shot for him (better than him screwing it up). He has to be quick enough with his decision so I will know. Tennis is dynamic. Usually, I prefer an active partner with a higher winning poaching. See, he has to miss. You cannot require a partner to be 100% with poaching, but you want a 100% active partner.

I notice lots of players get messed up with a partner misses.

ABout switching in the back. Again, tennis is dynamic and there's certain rule. I don't mind a net partner who actively crosses back and forth for short balls. In this case I keep an eye out for the empty space that he leaves. A partner like that means he's actively looking to score; not being reactive and waiting for an easy ball which we know the chance of that in a good doubles.
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
I don't mind a net partner who actively crosses back and forth for short balls. In this case I keep an eye out for the empty space that he leaves. A partner like that means he's actively looking to score; not being reactive and waiting for an easy ball which we know the chance of that in a good doubles.

I agree!

I think the lowest-level philosophy is "you stay on your side and I'll stay on mine".

However, many times a team will think of poaching as a one-time event where the point is either won or lost. But, as you point out, the point could involve more than one volley by the poacher.

I will go so far as to say I want my partner planting himself in the middle of the court at the net if he anticipates a weak reply. This is as opposed to him poaching, deciding on a side to end up on, and staying there, thus missing an opportunity for another poach. Seeing what is happening, the BLer must be prepared to run down anything outside the range of the net man.

Will this work every time? Of course not. But I think it raises the chance of winning the point when the net man has the freedom to go after anything.
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
What is the rule if the netman -one up one back formation) make a movement to poach?
The netman schould always finish with the poaching and make the volley or he can decide sometimes to set back and his partner schould take care of it?
In this second case schould the netman call his partner (,,yours"), how do this for example the pros?

Thank you for your answer
Toth

Yes, if you see your partner actually make steps and make the poach(not just head fake), then you cross right away(no need to wait til netman saids yours) and cover the empty court. If you wait til the netman saids yours, you will be too late 100 % of the time covering the vacated area.

Also work on Signals 100 % of the time every time. Such as When server serves, you have to make sure Netman knows where you are serving. so netman can Pinch to that side. Bryan Bros perfected this technique and that is why they look like they are so successful poaching, not because they are fast.
 
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