Stop moving HERE in doubles - Tennis Strategy Lesson

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Every time you get pegged in doubles, it's a red flag that you've made a common positioning mistake. Don't worry, you're not alone - even the pros are guilty of it from time to time. Here's a simple rule to follow to keep you out of harm's way and in the best position to fend off attacks from your opponent...
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If you can read this you have an impressive scrolling game.
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#tennis #essentialtennis #tennislesson

[@Alejo.Martinez]

There are a lot of tennis content creators, but so few with a real pedagogical talent. Thank you so much Ian.

[@EssentialTennis]

Appreciate your support very much!

[@knockitclose]

Another thing I saw from the Bryan brother who was at the net was he didn’t look behind him much. He kept an eye on the opposing net player while his brother was returning from the baseline. Gave him a clue on if it was hit cross court and he could move up.

[@AlexTennisChannel]

Yes that’s a good thing to do for sure!

[@willecutlip]

@@AlexTennisChannel Alex - you realize that your response here is contrary to the one you posted on my question to Ian 🤔

[@canadiantennispro]

Hence Follow the path of the ball !

[@Liilz269]

Ian u are a huge inspiration to me man keep doing ur thing and don’t let anyone or anything stop u from keeping ur passion alive 💯

[@RCShufty]

0:07 lol just penko doin penko things.

[@Keroppikun]

Fantastic presentation! It’s great that you are back into this new (your old) way of doing lessons! While we’re about it, on a rainy day, let’s have another juggling lesson, please!

[@EssentialTennis]

🙏

[@Mrmelody85]

Such a a useful lesson Ian. I've just started playing doubles a bit more and I didn't know this!

[@-Munditimum-]

I've rarely played doubles and when I have done it, I was a lost soul on the court...lol. Thank you for the great video. What a different game than singles...truly fascinating. Cheers! M

[@EssentialTennis]

Glad this was helpful!

[@beeth1362]

A great lesson. Thank you.

[@dennisang5608]

Good analysis and pointers. Thanks!

[@davewhitehead5116]

Good stuff Ian!

[@lanlam879]

I am new to the doubles game, so thanks for this fundamental tip!

[@axisofpeter]

Excellent lesson.

[@timefly4221]

If you get hit because your partner is back on defense but you stand up close to the net anyway, that’s your fault. If you get hit because your partner gets a neutral or offensive ball but manages to pop it up short to the opposing net player anyway, that’s your partner’s fault.

[@EssentialTennis]

😆 Agree.

[@marcelopereira2234]

Amazing video! Thanks a lot! Which the app please?

[@weswes5876]

Great tip and good examples. Definitely have to move with the ball.

[@EssentialTennis]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stephenkeye2678]

This is why I don't play on teams. Club players don't know this, and many other things.

[@jllarivee60]

Im so good at this. If theres one thing im proud of in my tennis game its my ability to move back and forth with the ball. Everything else sucks. 3.5 player here.

[@EssentialTennis]

Keep up the good work!

[@willecutlip]

Ian - can you comment on Mike Bryan looking back at his brother after the ball passed him (twice)?

[@AlexTennisChannel]

It’s because he want to look in what situation his brother is in

[@willecutlip]

@@AlexTennisChannel I asked because I’ve always been told to not look behind me when I’m at the net - to instead read the eyes of the player across the net from me.

[@EssentialTennis]

I strongly encourage players to NOT look back so they can read what their opponent is doing instead.

[@TheDrakulie]

This play almost never gets to practice for amateur level guys so i think that has alot to do with it. I played college tennis so i know this tactic but what if you play with someone that doesn't understand this court positioning. How do you adjust your game to compensate for your partner's poor positioning ? that is more of the question.... unfortunately

[@EssentialTennis]

If your partner isn't doing this at all then the middle of the court will be exposed. They're not doing their job so more work is left for you. There's nothing you can do to really "fix" that, focus even more on avoiding the net player from the baseline and be prepared to run/cover the middle.

[@coachhannah2403]

Absolutely. Getting hit is my fault. But, most human being resist hitting other people. Taking a hit now and then is the price to pay for getting in your opponents' heads!

[@EssentialTennis]

All depends on the level/mindset of the opponent. If you wanna keep running at me when I have a high volley I have NO problem continuing to hit at you 😆. Doing the wrong thing at the wrong time once in a while can definitely cause some confusion, though. Totally hear where you're coming from.

[@Angler180DC]

This concept is textbook doubles, which I completely disagree with. I've spent so much time getting high school and rec players to not do what you promote. The returning team in a high school match is more likely going to be more "offensive " especially girls. They can crush returns. I want the returners partner with their nose over the net. The ppl in your video are getting hot bc they are not close enough to the net lol. At rec play, it takes too long for them to get from the service line to a position to intercept. The best D1 doubles players don't play like you show I can promise you that.

[@EssentialTennis]

If the return is stronger than the serve then the return team is on offense and the serve team is on defense.....so the positions flip, but the principle of "cover the middle" and the principle of "follow the ball" doesn't go away. If you're teaching the net player on both sides to stay up close to the net all the time then they're giving away the easiest target possible for the opponents....while playing a game of errors. That just doesn't add up. There's definitely not always enough time to get all the way back to the service line, but that doesn't mean they should just stand there and do nothing. "All or nothing" tactics will lead to easy opponent targets.

[@Angler180DC]

@EssentialTennis I totally get what you're saying, just practically out doesn't align with my experience coaching many years and watching hundreds of high level school matches. The returning team should almost always be on offense first. Probably not 99% but definitely 70%+ of the time. Boys and Girls. And it doesn't matter if it's 10 utr or 4 utr level. The returner should be in a position where poaching is going to be difficult. And if they poach you've got two players up in the court to reflex volley.

[@EssentialTennis]

Your 10 UTR players have weak serves? Weird.

[@Angler180DC]

@EssentialTennis I know, right. 😀🤣. Plenty of D1 college girls that crush returns and can't serve that well. Pretty common actually. And for the boys, it's not a given that they can serve better than a 10 can return, especially second serves. My typical was typically two back on first serves but second serve return, returners partner was up in the box. I don't want them playing balls from the service line, that's the returnees role imo.

[@eastbaystreet1242]

The other thing at the rec level (where I play) is that we are told to be in the middle of the service box and not focus too much on the alley, "if they can hit the alley, good for them". But that open alley is catnip to the rec players receiving serve, and most serves aren't that good, so you end up looking the fool getting passed down the alley a lot. Suggestions?