When Not To Switch

[Cindysphinx]

I played with a new partner recently. She doesn't move so well or volley so well, but she is very consistent and accurate from the baseline.

Because I knew she would never transition to net, I played the net pretty tight. As a result, a fair number of high middle balls were out of my reach. No problem, as my partner would move over and hit these balls as groundstrokes.

When this happened, I would glance back to check her position. If she had to run into my half of the court (crossing the center hash), I would call a switch and cross to the other side.

Anyway, when I was in the ad court, there was one of these high balls where I called a switch. Afterward, my partner told me she would call the switch in that situation. She kind of explained that I was cutting off the shot she wanted to make.

My question is this: In that particular situation, shouldn't I switch? The situation is that I am at net in ad court, partner is deep in deuce court, opponents are 1 up 1 back (with deep opponent in front of me). If I don't switch, we are in an I formation because my partner has crossed the center hash, and there is no one to cover the deuce side of the court because we are both in the ad side.

I know that there have been times with other partners when I was the deep player returning the lob and my partner didn't switch. That left me with a crosscourt toward the opposing net player (not good), or a drive into my partner's back. So I wind up with no options other than the lob.

 

[kelkat]

Cindy, I think it depends on how high the trajectory of the ball is, and how far your partner is crossing over the center line. In obvious situations, like a deep high lob over my head with no chance for an overhead I will call switch. In iffy situations, where she is barely crossing the center, I let her make the call because she has a better perspective of the situation than I do. I will stay put and crouch down a bit if she doesn't call switch to give her "room".

 

[rfm29]

If your partner is staying back, they should be the one calling a switch, unless you can tell the ball is far enough behind you that you have to.

This is because you don't want to be looking back at your partner, then trying to snap back and react to the opposing players (particularly the net person).

Edit: One more thing. You don't need to look back to check their position. You can tell about where the balls going right? it is a pretty fair guess that that is where your partner will go too.

 

[spaceman_spiff]

What I usually do is squat down (so that I'm out of my partner's way) somewhat close to the center of the court. Then, I wait to see where my partner's shot goes to determine whether I should switch.

I find if he/she goes DTL, then I can switch over just to the other side of the center line and still cut off my opponent's crosscourt angles. If I move early, my partner should see this and know to switch.

But, if he/she goes back at the net player aggressively or lobs, I might be better off holding my ground and letting him/her switch back to the original position. It all just depends on my partner's shot and position.

Basically, just duck down and let your partner decide.

 

[PushyPushster]

I think any partner should be able to call for a switch, but a ball close to the middle isn't where I'd want you to make that call if it were me playing the baseline. Also, I like playing the Deuce side. If my partner were switching me on easily re-positionable ground strokes we'd have to chat a bit.

 

[tennismonkey]

don't look back at your partner. first watch the opposing net gal and if the ball isn't going to her, focus your eyes on the baseline girl.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Interesting. I was taught you should look at your partner when you need information about what she is doing (rather than doing it out of habit). If she might be behind you because she ran around her BH, that is one of those situations to take a quick look. If she hadn't run around her BH, there would be no reason to switch.

I also thought the net player calls switches in most cases, and net players are responsible to hit or call switch for every ball going over their heads. This was a center ball, which makes it a bit more tricky, though.

During this match there was a time when I didn't switch, and the opponents hit the ball into the open deuce court. Remember, this partner is not agile, so it would have been better had I switched to prevent this.

This does explain a lot. There have been times in other matches when my net partner ducks when we are in I formation, even if I yell switch. This does not end well, and I wind up having to lob because I know any other shot is going to leave an undefended open court.

 

[spaceman_spiff]

I'm still not sure why you need to even call a switch in this situation.

Squat down facing forward to allow your partner as many angles as possible. As soon as you see what shot your partner has hit, move to cover the side that would be more difficult for her to cover herself (you should get a sense of her court position based on the trajectory of the ball; or, you could just listen for her footsteps before she hits the ball). Or, if her shot puts your opponents on the defensive, move aggressively to cut off their return and put the point away.

As soon as you make your move, your partner should be able to see you and react accordingly. It should be fairly obvious that, if you go one way, she should go the other.

If your partner keeps playing shots that your opponents can put away in the open court before either of you can cover it, then she needs to put some serious thought into her shot selection, because such shots are easily put away regardless of how the two of you move.

 

[jc4.0]

Part of my response addresses "new partner". If you two aren't clear on strategy, then there is too much "glancing back at my partner" to see what she is going to do (you shouldn't be looking toward the baseline at all, but watching the ball). Maybe a few seconds of communication before the point takes place would be beneficial.

With partners whom I play with often, we assume certain sequences - like if I get lobbed at the net, we'll automatically switch and my partner takes the lob. That's just one obvious example. If you are watching your partner and wondering what she might or might not do, then you will be reacting too slowly to the ball and will find yourself in awkward positions to make shots.

 

[skiracer55]

Precisely...

Part of my response addresses "new partner". If you two aren't clear on strategy, then there is too much "glancing back at my partner" to see what she is going to do (you shouldn't be looking toward the baseline at all, but watching the ball). Maybe a few seconds of communication before the point takes place would be beneficial.

With partners whom I play with often, we assume certain sequences - like if I get lobbed at the net, we'll automatically switch and my partner takes the lob. That's just one obvious example. If you are watching your partner and wondering what she might or might not do, then you will be reacting too slowly to the ball and will find yourself in awkward positions to make shots.

...as I've said before, before you get on the court, you and your partner need to have a short fireside conversation about who's going to do what, and when. Or, if you don't, then you have to have it as (ahem) misunderstandings arise. Don't assume that there are universal rules for doubles play that everyone knows and understands. It all comes down to what you and your partner agree on...or not...

 

[LuckyR]

Interesting. I was taught you should look at your partner when you need information about what she is doing (rather than doing it out of habit). If she might be behind you because she ran around her BH, that is one of those situations to take a quick look. If she hadn't run around her BH, there would be no reason to switch.

I also thought the net player calls switches in most cases, and net players are responsible to hit or call switch for every ball going over their heads. This was a center ball, which makes it a bit more tricky, though.

During this match there was a time when I didn't switch, and the opponents hit the ball into the open deuce court. Remember, this partner is not agile, so it would have been better had I switched to prevent this.

This does explain a lot. There have been times in other matches when my net partner ducks when we are in I formation, even if I yell switch. This does not end well, and I wind up having to lob because I know any other shot is going to leave an undefended open court.

I wouldn't sweat this issue too much. As you point out clearly, you guys are not playing optimal doubles strategy due to your partner's lack of mobility and volley skills. Having said that, it is silly (IMO) to quibble about "rules" like don't look back at your partner hitting, leaving part of the court uncovered, and which partner should call "switch".

I completely agree with you that the best way of handling this admittedly suboptimal situation is dependant on the quality of your baseline expert partner's shot. For example, if they hit a great CC lob over the netman's head you are probably are not going to be facing a tough return and she should have lots of time to go back to the deuce side (where she prefers to be, if she is RH'ed). On the other hand, if she coughs up a pathetic DTL groundie, then you may be better off just on the other sideof the center line as others have mentioned. I would definitely look back to see the quality of this shot (even though it goes against conventional wisdom) to answer this question.

 

[Off The Wall]

Of course you can look back to get partner information.

In your specific case, I'm switching if I am you. She crossed the hash. Her smart shot is away from the opposing netplayer (CC). Therefore, you (the smart doubles player) are guiding her shot selection DTL by standing in the way of the dumb shot.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Part of my response addresses "new partner". If you two aren't clear on strategy, then there is too much "glancing back at my partner" to see what she is going to do (you shouldn't be looking toward the baseline at all, but watching the ball). Maybe a few seconds of communication before the point takes place would be beneficial.

My old pro used to run lob drills with us. Let me describe what he advocated.

Say I am at net in ad court; partner is at baseline at deuce court. Lob goes up over my head.

When I realize I can't hit that lob, I yell switch. My partner will cross behind me and -- hopefully -- take that ball out of the air and continue to the net. Or if she can't do that, she bounces it and deals with it somehow.

Meanwhile, I do more than just switch. I hustle to the opposite service line T. I then *look at my partner* and see what she is doing.

If she is moving forward to hit an approach volley or overhead, I stay at net.

If she must bounce the lob or looks like she is on defense and about to cough up something weak (say, backpedaling/waddling backwards), then I retreat to the baseline and get ready to play some defense. I do this before my partner has struck the ball, so I have time to return my gaze to the opponents before they are poaching etc.

Now. When I play with partners who do not handle lobs in this way because they have been told it is an error to look at one's partner, we get in all sorts of trouble. I will be running down a lob while they are switching, but they stay at the net no matter how horrible my shot is going to be. Sometimes I manage to yell, "Come back with me," and sometimes they will hear and follow this command, but not always.

Then the opponents smash the ball onto my partner, who didn't come back with me because she thought it was forbidden to look back (or failed to heed my request). So partner is unhappy because I hit a weak shot, and I am unhappy because we lost the chance to play defense because my partner didn't feel there was useful information to be obtained by glancing backward.

 

[blakesq]

the person playing back, should yell switch if she is crossing over to the other side. if the net person crosses the centerline with both feet, she should continue to the other side, and the back person should automatically switch. Because the back person is in back, she can see the whole court, and should be able to automatically switch. explain this to your partner, if she doesn't do this automatically. You can't be constantly looking back, without chancing a ball or a racket to the eyeball.

 

[JavierLW]

I think your reasoning for switching is sound.

However if she feels that you are in the way of the cross court return, that means you are too close to the net. If you back up far enough, you're opening up either shot, you shouldnt be crowding the other net player.

 

[esgee48]

I subscribe to the theory that the person at the baseline should call for a switch if warranted. Could also be a simple 'Backup' call if the partner is in trouble. That's what I normally tell my partners. Fortunately for me, it's normally 'two up' and chase your own lobs unless your partner has a better angle to take it out of the air. Looking back is OK, but it should be a quick sideways glance because you do not want to lose track of what your opponents are doing.

 

[JavierLW]

I subscribe to the theory that the person at the baseline should call for a switch if warranted. Could also be a simple 'Backup' call if the partner is in trouble. That's what I normally tell my partners. Fortunately for me, it's normally 'two up' and chase your own lobs unless your partner has a better angle to take it out of the air. Looking back is OK, but it should be a quick sideways glance because you do not want to lose track of what your opponents are doing.

This all depends on what the norm is.

If the net players are getting lobbed frequently and they seldom ever attempt to go back and hit a overhead, it seems that those are the matches where you see the other player automatically run behind them and yell "mine!!!".

But if it's a case where the net player is more active, they are the ONLY ones really that can judge whether they can hit that overhead or not, so they need the ability to declare if they need help. (but their partner has to back up with them and be ready in case they are needed)

I take 4.0 Men's doubles drills and we hit overheads well behind the service line, it would be annoying if I was called off everytime my partner called me off. We're taught to hit that overhead if at all possible (to get the ball back in play at least, not necessarily to hit it for the winner). It's a lot easier positionally then having to switch out everytime because your partner is over anxious about shagging down lobs.

(and it did happen last summer in 7.0 mixed, the lady I played with was probably just used to constantly shagging down every single overhead)

 

[tennisjon]

I'm a college coach and a 4.5 player, but I do play mixed 8.0 also. The person from the baseline should be dictating once the ball is past you whether or not she wants you to switch so it could be easier for her to make her shot. Without a proper switch, a lob might be the only way to get the ball to a place where you don't get hit. Also, as someone stated, the two of you should have a talk on how you guys want to play the match. Given her limitations, playing both back at times might be a good strategy as well.

 

[esgee48]

Javier: Agree. It's what is normal for your level of play. My partner and I normally volley from just inside the service lines, so lobs over either of us are hard to hit. And if it is short, it's a 'put away.' However, for that infrequent lob that is troublesome, the one who can get to it easier will normally call his partner off. That's when I would want my partner or me to switch as it allows for more options to place the shot. OTW, the assumption is 'get your own lobs.'

 

[jswinf]

Could also be a simple 'Backup' call if the partner is in trouble.

This is interesting and something I haven't heard about. As I understand it, if you're playing "back" and a high ball, lob or floater, looks like a difficult shot for your partner playing up and you could easily play the ball from the backcourt, you call "backup" to let your partner know you're there and can play it, giving them the option of hitting the overhead/high volley if they feel they can make a good shot or letting it go to you.

Of course both partners would discuss this beforehand and know what it means. Might have to try that.

 

[Cindysphinx]

I do this sometimes, but I don't call it backup. I just say " I'm here if you need me".

This is pretty rare though, as I am usually on my way up to net if it looks like my partner has a sitter.

 

[larry10s]

Interesting. I was taught you should look at your partner when you need information about what she is doing (rather than doing it out of habit). If she might be behind you because she ran around her BH, that is one of those situations to take a quick look. If she hadn't run around her BH, there would be no reason to switch.

I also thought the net player calls switches in most cases, and net players are responsible to hit or call switch for every ball going over their heads. This was a center ball, which makes it a bit more tricky, though.

During this match there was a time when I didn't switch, and the opponents hit the ball into the open deuce court. Remember, this partner is not agile, so it would have been better had I switched to prevent this.

This does explain a lot. There have been times in other matches when my net partner ducks when we are in I formation, even if I yell switch. This does not end well, and I wind up having to lob because I know any other shot is going to leave an undefended open court.

i havent read the responces
the back player to me should call the switch
you should bend low enough or move to the side to give your partner the whole court to hit to
jmho
icbw

 

[Off The Wall]

... it's normally 'two up' and chase your own lobs unless your partner has a better angle to take it out of the air.

High level doubles would employ this rule. If it's over your head, it's yours unless your partner calls you off. Of course, it's not a big issue because each partner is very aware of what's going on with his/her partner. So being called off is common.

It also illustrates why the partner not lobbed can't just watch or wait for his/her partner to decide. The non-lobbed partner has to retreat until the overhead decision is made.