Where do I look when playing doubles at the net?

When I'm playing doubles and I'm at the net position and the baseliners are doing their cross-court thing

I always look back to watch my teammate hit the ball some other times I keep looking in the direction of the opponents

what is the correct method I feel that when I look back or it's it's pulling me away from the net
when I look forward I'm more planted and ready to take on a volley or poach
 

Dragy

Legend
Don't look back. Trust your teammate. Position in such a way you don't block directions for your teammate. Face opponent netman and be ready to play his poach. Turn to the baseline player and step up against him once you see your teammate shot is going to pass the netman.
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
Didn't watch the video above (yet), but here's my basic idea.

You're always going to be switching between offense and defense when those baseline rallies are going on. When the ball goes deep to the other guys, take a step up into a more offensive posture, ready to jump on the shot that comes back. If that shot goes cross court (out of your reach) to your partner, I say take a step back, spot your partner setting up on the ball, but then get your head back forward. Don't watch your partner hit the ball.

When you switch back into defensive mode, you want to primarily watch the opposing net player so that you can react to whatever they send you. If you watch your partner hit the ball and that net guy poaches the middle, you might get a ball in the ear or right in your face as you turn back forward - too late to react to that shot. That net player may also hit a drop shot that only you can reach, but you'll only get a good jump on it if you're watching that guy.

Once your partner's shot gets past the opposing net player, back to offense - step up and be ready to pounce. Do this right and you'll be constantly moving and working, even though you're not hitting any shots.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
As others have said, do not look back to watch your partner serve or hit a ball in play. However, there are a few times times when you should glance back. When your opponent hits a shot towards your partner that appears that it might land very close to the baseline or sideline, it is a good idea to briefly look back to (help) make the call. Quite often your partner will be more focused on the ball than the line and won't be able to determine exactly where the ball bounces wrt the line. OTOH, if they focus on the line, it might be difficult for them to play the ball. A Catch-22, if you will.

Also, when the ball is in close proximity to our position, it is very difficult to determine its location -- or to even see it all, in many cases. You, as the net player will often have a better perspective on the bounce wrt to the line in question. Many players mistakenly believe that the player closes to the bounce has the best view. The opposite is often true -- of the 4 players on the court, the one closes to the bounce often has the WORST view. This is because they are too close and the ball moves across their field of vision too quickly. For players further from the bounce, the ball moves thru a very small angle -- it does not travel thru their field of vision very quickly at all.

Consider a jet traveling at supersonic speed very high in the sky. Since it is relatively far from us, it does not move across our field of vision all that quickly and we don't have much trouble seeing & tracking it.

Another situation where you MIGHT possibly look back (briefly) is when you think that your partner might somewhat out of position and might not be in a good position to play anything but a defensive or emergency shot. It would be good, for instance, to determine EARLY if your partner is going to put up a lob or play a very weak shot. Only glance back for short time in this situation -- DO NOT WATCH THE BALL COMING OFF THEIR RACKET. Make a determination quickly and then, if needed, back off or adjust your position accordingly.

Otherwise, DO NOT LOOK BACK.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Nice tips everyone. Bethany's comment really appealed to me: People act surprised when the opposing net man poaches, as if they did not know that he is the closer person to the returner than his partner!

However, guarding against the poach is less feasible in club play because the returning side net man cannot stand closer to the net than the service line due to the need to call the serve good or bad. At least if he stands on the service line, his calls will have more conviction and be less likely to be challenged. I have seen many bitter arguments when the ball is called out solely by the returner, or by a net man half way between the net and the service line and looking back.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
Depends on how hard people are hitting the ball. When I play mixed I'm always looking back at my female partner, so if I see her putting up a sitter I can get myself moving backwards. When I play with a hard hitting male partner I don't have time to look back then forwards before the net man has made a shot, so I keep my eyes forward at the net guy.
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
Nice tips everyone. Bethany's comment really appealed to me: People act surprised when the opposing net man poaches, as if they did not know that he is the closer person to the returner than his partner!

I think they act [and are] surprised because the net man just took a ball that wasn't on "his" side.
 
Once your partner's shot gets past the opposing net player, back to offense - step up and be ready to pounce.
Do this right and you'll be constantly moving and working, even though you're not hitting any shots.

This was excellent.
When they hit cross court to my partner, I will step back a bit, so I have a chance to return a possible poach.
If it clears the net man, then I will run forward to try to poach myself.
When, I am at net, I am playing 2 positions, one defensive and one offensive.
I was just standing in the same place, up at net, watching my partner when ball was on our side.
If poached, I am useless to defend.
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
When, I am at net, I am playing 2 positions, one defensive and one offensive.

Exactly right - you want to constantly roll with the grain of the rally, think at least one shot ahead, and use your positioning to deny your opponents any easy shots.

Work on your reaction volleys - match play is no substitute for rep's on the practice grinder - and you'll be able to more confidently stand your ground, even when you're in defensive mode.
 

Dan Huben

Semi-Pro
Took a class. The consensus was to watch the net player and judge if he is making a play. If not move your eyes to the back player.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I was looking forward today.
I would use the net man's reaction to know he was getting it, and would back up.
By then, it was too late.

I forgot to really move back while the ball is on my side.
I need to remember to keep moving
But at least I was looking forward today.
 
When the ball goes deep to the other guys, take a step up into a more offensive posture, ready to jump on the shot that comes back. If that shot goes cross court (out of your reach) to your partner, I say take a step back, spot your partner setting up on the ball, but then get your head back forward. Don't watch your partner hit the ball. Once your partner's shot gets past the opposing net player, back to offense - step up and be ready to pounce. Do this right and you'll be constantly moving and working, even though you're not hitting any shots.

It's just crazy how much there is to remember when learning dozens of ideas in tennis.
I finally did this ONCE last night!! Once. LOL. The point from 1:34 to 2:02
 
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