What do you do when...

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

…you suspect your opponent is going to lob and both you and your partner are at net? I realize I can't scream "watch out for the lob" but I seem to anticipate this better than my partners and find myself moving backwards into retrieval mode before my partner.

I've turned to speaking sotto voce to try and tip my partner but not disrupt the opposition.

I actually had to learn to bite my tongue because I also play volleyball where it is the norm to yell out where you think your opponent is going to spike the ball just as he's about to hit it. One quickly learns to filter that out.

 

[Laniarty]

For me, it depends on who is where in the court, and what direction they are moving in.

If I am serve and volleying, or moving from the back court to the front, then it is (more often that not) my partners job to anticipate the lob and move back to it, as it's easier for him to move backwards than for me to stop moving forwards, then start moving backwards.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

For me, it depends on who is where in the court, and what direction they are moving in.

If I am serve and volleying, or moving from the back court to the front, then it is (more often that not) my partners job to anticipate the lob and move back to it, as it's easier for him to move backwards than for me to stop moving forwards, then start moving backwards.

True. However, you also have to weigh that against the fact that it's usually easier for the person moving diagonally to retrieve the lob than the person who would have to move straight back. So in your scenario, if they lob over your partner, I think it's easier for you to run down the lob.

What about if both of you are at net and you see some sort of "tell" by your opponent that a lob is coming [ie weight shifted to back foot, racquet face opening up, altered backswing, etc]? Do you try to communicate this to your partner or just assume he sees the same things you do?

 

[esgee48]

Depends on how well your partner anticipates the lob cues. You can have a partner that will read/anticipate and move towards OH very well. Then you will have a partner that has no clue what the heck is going to happen next. You learn by your partners' lack of reaction or by their anticipation. Then you modify your own behavior unless they p..s you off by never backing off the net to chase down lobs. Then you tell them to go get their own lobs. If they don't want to do that, (wicked grin) I will hit a short lob and they can take their punishment at the net. Seriously though, clueless doubles players are far and few between.

 

[dlk]

I tend to act naturally, & run back immediately. Fortunately, my speed allows me to recover if my partner anticipates correctly.

 

[Jonboy]

LOL, OP. Im getting the impression you're quite vocal during your matches.

 

[robbo1970]

I think the biggest element is each of you knowing each others game, strengths and weaknesses. Plus, having an underlying understanding of your strategy when you both go in to attack the net.

I am slightly faster than my regular partner so if he joins me at the net, I will usually just be on my guard to make a dash backwards if needed, usually with a call of "yeah", so he knows I'm after it and we can switch sides if needed.

I just think it's decent etiquette to not call out in anticipation in case in hinders your opponent, but instead to both have an understanding and quietly anticipate and react. I think that a quiet gesture of "yeah" once the ball is on its way over our heads is acceptable.

 

[Mongolmike]

I try for it, and when I realize I can't get to it, I yell out loudly and firmly - "YOURS!"


Works for me everytime.

 

[Alchemy-Z]

one of my main strengths is overheads so normally if anything is popped up my partners typically move out of the way and it's just a natural game plan that if we have a chance for an overhead I am taking it. and since you are running back the best thing for your partner to do it watch their net guy for the poach anyway if you don't get a good piece of it.

so if you are the one with the early anticipation just tell your partner ahead of time..."if we get lobbed I will move back for it"

cause nothing is uglier than two people running back into each other trying to hit an overhead