how to defend against the chip and charge in doubles

[tennispal]

ok my backhand is my best shot and my forehand (especially wide and low ones) are my weakness. Now when i play doubles and im serving on the deuce side, a certain opponent would always chip my second serve, low and wide, to my forehand and come in. i feel like whenever he makes that shot, i am pretty much screwed except where i get lucky. help please!

thanks a lot in advance

 

[dave333]

Lobbing is an excellant option in doubles, especially when you feel pressured when two people are at the net.

Since he is doing it to your 2nd serve, try to improve your first serve percentage so that he can't be as aggressive on the return.

 

[robby c]

Get your 1st serve in at 90%.
Go into the body. Its harder to chip and charge the return when they have to get out of way.
Robby C

 

[Vision84]

Improve the quality of your second serve so you are comfortable serve and volleying with it.

 

[mel56]

Why not come in yourself?

 

[heycal]

Why is the definition of a "chip" shot anyway? How would one describe it? (I have a pretty good idea, btw, and believe I "chip and charge" myself on occasion, but I don't know a precise definition.)

 

[Solat]

Why is the definition of a "chip" shot anyway? How would one describe it? (I have a pretty good idea, btw, and believe I "chip and charge" myself on occasion, but I don't know a precise definition.)

to deliberately take pace off the shot to keep the ball low for your opponent, useful to come in off as the slice allows you to move through the shot and the result gives plenty of time to make a good position plus if the ball stays low the pass is going to be tougher

 

[heycal]

to deliberately take pace off the shot to keep the ball low for your opponent, useful to come in off as the slice allows you to move through the shot and the result gives plenty of time to make a good position plus if the ball stays low the pass is going to be tougher

But doesn't a "chip" often sort of float in blooping and high? I always thought of the chip shot as a sort of slow and highish -- or at least not low and biting -- sort of slice that floats well over the net.

 

[Solat]

a not so well executed chip would be slow and high

 

[heycal]

a not so well executed chip would be slow and high

Doesn't Federer just sort of chip back many of his returns? Those ain't low shots he's hitting, but just look like relatively easy floaters well over the net and deep. (Not that he then "charges" after them all that much, but it's still a chip isn't it?)

 

[heycal]

And would you say the chip is always a slice? Or can you 'chip' with shots?

 

[FedererISBetter]

You know where hes gonna chip it to you, be ready for it and take it up on the rise, and give all you got : )

 

[5263]

serve down the T and he can't chip too wide.

are you S & V? I love to get a chip rtn!

 

[LuckyR]

ok my backhand is my best shot and my forehand (especially wide and low ones) are my weakness. Now when i play doubles and im serving on the deuce side, a certain opponent would always chip my second serve, low and wide, to my forehand and come in. i feel like whenever he makes that shot, i am pretty much screwed except where i get lucky. help please!

thanks a lot in advance

Was that me (actually I usually play the ad side...)? But seriously, the advice to go up the T is good to cut down on the angle. However, you don't describe what about the return is bothering you. Is it because it is short and you stayed back? Or are you S&V and it is a wide half volley for you? Is it too low for your Western FH?

 

[tennispal]

i have a semi-western forehand. i normally stay back so its bothering me because i have to take it with my forehand.
i guess SV is an option.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

Doesn't Federer just sort of chip back many of his returns? Those ain't low shots he's hitting, but just look like relatively easy floaters well over the net and deep. (Not that he then "charges" after them all that much, but it's still a chip isn't it?)

He hits those because he has to, not because he wants to hit that shot. He usually hits those kinds of returns off of 135+ MPH serves.

 

[LuckyR]

i have a semi-western forehand. i normally stay back so its bothering me because i have to take it with my forehand.
i guess SV is an option.

Now we can really give you some advice. Since you know the guy is going to chip, either S&V, if you have trouble making it to the shot (poor wheels) or serve and step into the court (in anticipationof the chip) but don't charge the net (to avoid him hitting it a bit longer than average and catching you at your shoetops. Since you are looking for the chip, which should be slow moving and not very wide, since you served up the T, you should be able to rip a topspinning FH, if you catch it at the top of it's trajectory, with your SW FH. If it is still too low for you to get much on the ball without hitting it long, then I would consider popping it over the netman's head, since the returner is charging the net.

 

[tennispal]

guys i tried practicing with the chip and charge guy today in singles.nothing serious. i tried SVing twice. once on first serve and another on the second serve. both times resulted in me winning the point. contrary to what i though, his low biting slice was pretty easy to volley. ill try in doubles some.

 

[spaceman_spiff]

guys i tried practicing with the chip and charge guy today in singles.nothing serious. i tried SVing twice. once on first serve and another on the second serve. both times resulted in me winning the point. contrary to what i though, his low biting slice was pretty easy to volley. ill try in doubles some.

Another strategy, if he starts to give you trouble as you come into net, is to have your partner cross over on every second serve to that side (he has to leave early in order to fully cover the wide return).

That way, your opponent either hits it to your partner, or he has to go down the line to your backhand, which you seem to prefer.

 

[Nellie]

^^^ the court positiong is actually very good advise. You can also you Australian positioning from the duece side (serve with your partner starting in the same side of the court) so that you immeadiately go to your backhand side to force a down the line rally

 

[In D Zone]

ok my backhand is my best shot and my forehand (especially wide and low ones) are my weakness. Now when i play doubles and im serving on the deuce side, a certain opponent would always chip my second serve, low and wide, to my forehand and come in. i feel like whenever he makes that shot, i am pretty much screwed except where i get lucky. help please!

thanks a lot in advance

I am assuming you are right handed based on the notes above.

First - RELAX and keep you feet active at all times.

There are three option you can do to counter the wide return:
1. Aggressive moving towards the ball. This tactic involves more you footwork; this is where you to generate the power; there is no back swing to you racquet but rather you are pushing or punching the ball back. (you'll be surprise how fast and heavy the ball it delivers).
I have been using this tactic when I am returning serve to my forehand (singles or double) and have found it to be very effective as well when I need to hit the ball back coming in wide. Here's a video to show you what I mean:

http://tennis.com/yourgame/instructionvideos/returnserve/returnserve.aspx?id=119654

2. Chip the ball back with a the forehand slice. Great option to use if you are not confident with your forehand or you are late moving to the ball - forehand slice allows you to reach over to get to the ball quicker. Now - always slice it back cross court and try to aim it low to avoid the geting picked off by the net player.

3. The Lob - you must plan ahead where to place the ball.
If the returner is chipping and charging - you lob the ball back to their side. This will either force them to move back or jammed the opponent.

Or, you can lob it behind the Net person. This will force the opponent to change direction to retrieve the ball.

Next advise is to always plan ahead in you mind what to do when you are faced with the ball to your forehand.... again - RELAX and continuially working on these three options (practice makes perfect).

Trust me - I used to suck playing doubles so I started thinking ahead in my mind what to do and it helped! And now it's automatic and I can apply any of these strategy to overcome my weaknesses.

Good Luck and Hope this help!