Drop shot in doubles ?!

[Relinquis]

Is the drop shot common in doubles?

I used a couple in a match today (no one wanted to play singles). Surprisingly, it worked!

First one was a return of a second serve from the ad court. i hit the drop shot cross court. neither the net guy nor the server got to it in time. i think there was some confusion between the two that helped this.

the other time was a drop shot mid rally off of a sitter (mishit volley from them) as it was easier to hit into the open court on the side. it was more of a reaction shot, but it worked.

Made me wonder what the proper use of the drop shot is in doubles... any thoughts?

 

[LeeD]

The correct choice of shot when neither player is inclined to move forwards quickly enough to make a play on the ball.
It could be ANY time, as long as the opponent's allow it to work against them.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Quite often, I'll hit the dropper against a weak 2nd serve. Players who hit weak serves do not typically serve and volley, anyway. I'll also sometimes hit drop shots when both opponents are back. Against one-up/one-back, it depends on the speed/mobility and positions of the opponents.

 

[Bobby Jr]

In short: hell yes. Especially when one player is at the net and one back. A drop-shot into the empty service box is a great strategy. They usually don't have to be as good as in singles either since, if the either player gets to it, they're not either out of position or rushed.

 

[user92626]

It really depends on your doubles level, man. If players are a little advanced, they only simply follow this rule and get all your dropshot: if the ball's in front of the net man, no matter how wide, it's the netman's or if it's parallel or past the net man, it's the baseliner's (netman don't run backward). So, only dropshot that works is from another dropshot hit with extreme angle / along the net.

 

[LeeD]

Lots of good doubles, 4.5-5.0, a drop shot into the short alley forces the netperson to commit one step over the middle, then the backcourt player covers it running forwards.
You now have a deep CC lob wide open for a clean winner, or hit to the open court, where the netperson WAS.

 

[LeeD]

The biggest stumbling block of a drop shot in doubles is the netperson. If he flinch's at hard shots hit into his right hip pocket, don't drop shot.
Smart net players cover the middle, ready to lunge to the alley, and plan to LOB VOLLEY the return.

 

[user92626]

The biggest stumbling block of a drop shot in doubles is the netperson. If he flinch's at hard shots hit into his right hip pocket, don't drop shot.
Smart net players cover the middle, ready to lunge to the alley, and plan to LOB VOLLEY the return.

You don't say! At a more advanced doubles, the net guy likely stand well inside his side's service box or even 1/3 from his singles side line. Where are you gonna drop? The netman's position and the other alley is only a short distance. You would need to slice a skidding ball along the net to make it work.

 

[Cindysphinx]

I am hitting a lot of drop shots these days in ladies 4.0.

Works great against any server who stays back. Even if they reach it, they must get it past two at net and will often pop it up.

Hit a few just today. I stood tight to the service line and sliced it over. Winner.

What doesn't work is trying droppers from the baseline. Too easy for net player to reach it. And it is never a good idea with aggressive poachers.

 

[user92626]

I am hitting a lot of drop shots these days in ladies 4.0.

Works great against any server who stays back. Even if they reach it, they must get it past two at net and will often pop it up.

Hit a few just today. I stood tight to the service line and sliced it over. Winner.

What doesn't work is trying droppers from the baseline. Too easy for net player to reach it. And it is never a good idea with aggressive poachers.

Good job, Cindy How did you stand tight to the service line and able to get a shot from your opponent? Were they trying to dropshot you first or their groundstroke shot was actually that short?

 

[Cindysphinx]

I'm hitting them off of weak second serves, mostly.

 

[LeeD]

User9, much better, not perfect, but good enough English.
OK, if netperson is standing dead center, at the center tape, it's easy to hit a drop shot against him, which forces both players to read each other's minds. Remember, it's DOUBLES, you get the extra 3'. Just dropshot into an alley, either one, and if it's deeper than center of service court, the netplayer will have trouble hitting a clean reply.....certainly up to 5.0 level.
The backcourt player will come charging in, while the netperson slides over to cover the drop shot. Result? Both players together, leaving the rest of the court wide open.

 

[fuzz nation]

I'm not much of a fan of the drop shot that's hit from back at the baseline - even among the pros, that shot has a not-so-great rate of success. The dropper that's hit from up near the net is another story though, because it helps with stretching the other guys in more directions.

With an second player on the court to help cover only nine feet of extra width compared to a singles match, it takes some extra creativity to make open space in a doubles setting. That means drawing at least one opponent out of position. Up at the net, we can volley into typically bigger angles than we can make back at the baseline, so that helps with opening up the court in the "east-west" dimension.

Lob the other team off the net, chip and charge behind a return of serve, or just serve and volley well and that can push the other team back on a more defensive footing. That's where a drop shot can force opponents out of position in more of a "north-south" attack. Even when one of them is drawn forward to scramble after the drop shot, it forces that player to hit up from a low, weak position. Enjoy your free lunch...

 

[mightyrick]

For 6.0 doubles, it might be effective because nobody moves. But at 7.0+ doubles, I don't see this being effective at all. The only exception might be the netman hitting a dink dropper at a severe angle... if both opponents are playing back.

 

[eidolonshinobi]

Droppers are great in setting up points, but can be used for winners.

 

[TennisCJC]

yes, I don't hit a ton but when situation is there is works very well.

1. if server does not play serve and volley, a dropshot off a 2nd serve can work a treat.
2. if in a rally with opponents in 1-up-1-back or both back; it can work very effectively to the back person(s).
3. drop-volley works well too toward the opponent side that is playing back.

Obviously, don't try it if they are both up. But, I have found that hitting a soft volley at the feet of opponents even when they are up works well. I will hit a soft volley or even a soft chip off a low bouncing ball so it lands near their feet and close the net behind it as this cuts off their angles.

 

[spinorama]

I'm a big guy, 6'2 around 200lb. When I'm at the net it's usually hard volleys and overheads, causing people to really expect the ball to get smashed. When I mix in super short, drop volleys it really throws them off. You can even hit these when the person hits you a hard shot, just let the racquet absorb the energy and the angle adds the English.

 

[LeeD]

If you regularly volley deep, a drop volley works wonders, even if the second bounce is just past the service line.
I used to play a 4.5 who can drop overheads from behind his own service line, the ball bouncing twice before reaching the service line.

 

[Relinquis]

drop overheads?

forget how, why would anyone want to do that? Just smash it.

 

[LeeD]

Said 4.5 player is 5'3" tall, and about 110 lbs. His serve is no weapon at all, and he plays tough by caressing the ball to corners, mixing spins, mixing pace and ball heights over the net. He doesn't win with power, but frustrates lots of players with finesse and incredibly slow balls. He has great low passing shots and racket skimming lobs.
Most of his overheads, he can keep the THIRD bounce from reaching the service line, but he has a normal 75 mph overhead also, which keeps everyone honest.
Curiously, both his sons hit really hard, heavy topspin, and one plays singles for UCRiverside, or did 2 years ago. And both are 5'8" x 160lbs.