Serving in Mixed Doubles
- Thread starter Zefer
- Start date
Well if she's not as good as the typical guys you play against, then you shouldn't serve to her like she's another guy. One of my main rules in mixed is to never double fault to the woman unless she has proven that she is a threat on the return of serve, which is rarely the case. So I would serve such that you can still control the point without taking too much risk.
That also depends. If there is full level or two difference betweeen you and the lady, you want to go easy. I usually just hit slices towards ladies.
If I see that they are returning those shots well, I start increasing my velocity until they start having trouble returning, then I dial it down.
If I see that they are returning those shots well, I start increasing my velocity until they start having trouble returning, then I dial it down.
kylebarendrick
Professional
Plenty of women can handle pace on the ground strokes (and serves for that matter).
In a competitive mixed match, just go out there with the attitude that you are playing against two people that are trying to beat you.
In a competitive mixed match, just go out there with the attitude that you are playing against two people that are trying to beat you.
mambochino
New User
kick serve usually works best. they cant handle that at all
When I play USTA Mixed Dubs, it's all out, all the time. To me (and my female partner) it's two people on the other side trying to beat us. No distinction between the two sexes. My last match had smashes going in equal numbers to both their feet. This same match, the opposing guy had a really good serve, and he didn't back off at all when serving to my partner. Granted, she's got a huge forehand, but I would never expect him to tone it down.
I have played where I was just randomly filling in the fourth spot with 3 little old ladies playing 3.0 doubles. In that situation, I made sure I never won any points. I would topspin lob with them back and forth, nice slow volleys etc. No smashes. When you know you can win any point at will, why go for it?
I have played where I was just randomly filling in the fourth spot with 3 little old ladies playing 3.0 doubles. In that situation, I made sure I never won any points. I would topspin lob with them back and forth, nice slow volleys etc. No smashes. When you know you can win any point at will, why go for it?
Pro Staff Pete
Semi-Pro
Exactly. They usually find it harder to deal with any sorts of spin, slice or kick than just a regular flat serve. Simply because they aren't used to it (or maybe every now and then).
pmacino
Semi-Pro
Totally agree not to patronize. They are on the court under there own will and have equal competitive spirit.
I made a big mistake by "going easy" a couple of times during USTA Mixed Matches, and paid for it. 100% guarantee they won't be going easy on you...if anything (and if they are sold), they can and will gun for you at 120% just to prove a point.
I made a big mistake by "going easy" a couple of times during USTA Mixed Matches, and paid for it. 100% guarantee they won't be going easy on you...if anything (and if they are sold), they can and will gun for you at 120% just to prove a point.
I back it down a little bit in practice matches, but fire it full-blast come tournament time or in a league match. I agree a heavy spinner typically is a better serve to the woman though...they hardly ever experience that type of serve. A woman who's afraid of pace typically won't play mixed anyway, so you better take care of business. Plus, you owe it to your partner to play your best tennis. I learned my lesson early on playing hard. The closest I ever came to taking a shot to the family jewels was playing a mixed doubles match. My partner hit a return, the woman crossed and I'm pretty darn sure I was her target...I could see it in her eyes :twisted:.
tennis-4-life
New User
Why would you take it easy? I like playing mixed because I get to play against the guys and see things that I would not necessarily see against women. The kick serve is a great example. Mixed helps improve my game. If I didn't think I could handle your serve, etc, I wouldn't be playing the match.
Just my 2 cents.
Just my 2 cents.
chatt_town
Hall of Fame
That is funny as hell. Do you also let the cute one hit a winner by you when you are serving 40-0 and then gas her up by saying...."Wow that is some cross court forehand you got there"...man that cracked me up.
chatt_town
Hall of Fame
I gas her up. Women are basically going to win and lose the match. All men have to do is not screw it up by crossing in front of the woman and hitting overheads that end up coming back into the open court. Why should you slack off?
Richard Pur
Rookie
Ditto that. When I was playing 8.0 mixed a few years ago, I would do a 3/4 pace kicker so that the power wouldn't kill her, but the spin and kick would totally mess her up. Women love a hard flat ball much more than spin and something they have to generate power on. Plus the kicker has more clearance and would prevent me from double faulting. And if there was a point that was real crucial, you could mix it up and hit a slice or hard flat serve.
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