The REAL reason why you keep getting passed at the net in doubles

[@huntsail3727]

Always good, enjoying your channel.

[@StokkeTennis]

Thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@cjcycledude]

I like your videos because you show and discuss topics that other online coaches don't address. Keep up the good work!

[@rwgallup]

Wow! Pretty high level stuff for where I'm at. I really appreciate your great content.

[@StokkeTennis]

Thanks for the kind words! Let me know if there are any topics you want me to cover moving forward.

[@rwgallup]

@@StokkeTennis My biggest problem right now is consistency. A video on how to improve that would be welcome.

[@bellelinee4532]

Thank you for a new key word. Negative step. Learning so much

[@alexandersoloveicik5656]

you are simply the best, good advices, makes me believe that I can still improve my tennis following your advices

[@NamesAreRandom]

Her ready position was fine imo - her left leg had plenty of bend to push off, and that's the important leg going right. The fact that as she pushed with the left she lifted the right and brought it in is almost certainly what her coach taught her. Once her left leg had straightened her right leg was perfectly turned and bent to keep going - I can't see how that slowed her down. In the end the ball was just too good.

[@StokkeTennis]

Solid points! Her left leg was bent and she pushed off of it, which I love. I respectfully disagree...I don't see a good reason to lose ground when taking a step, however.

[@Bess0824]

Really appreciate the content. I played college tennis and now coach and use a lot of your videos to gain a better strategy and understanding of the game. What I’m seeing (not that it’s correct) is that the reason why the footwork is off and you see the negative step is because the split step is late to land. Your thoughts? Also, I’d imagine that when she pops up it would be important to carry forward momentum so she’s tighter to the net.

[@harryedwards9318]

Yep Serve should be down the middle on the I formation

[@TenisLaMinut]

interesting because when you showed yourself doing it as well (by the way absolutely love that you showed yourself doing the "wrong way" and addressed it) I guess that that drop step came instinctly when the ball was wider and our brain tells us that we cant just step outside but have to put that foot in a bit to angle ourself and be able to start running there. isnt that drop step something you and top players do when also at baseline and going for a wider ball ?! Although interesting that as you said maybe in this case you should try to avoid being too wide to avoid that drop step but maybe that ball in the example was a bit too good/wide. Also I think, (me trying to analyse the footage myself:)) ) even if she was balanced, low, athletic position maybe she was a little bit hesitant , maybe a bit too much planted after that split, maybe a bit starting too little to no momentum into the right direction she was supposed to go. Im sure you wont mind my thoughts on this since you're one of the smartest coaches ive seen/heard as ive commented before. Learning a lot from you. thanks !

[@StokkeTennis]

Love the thoughts...typically when you see players moving at the baseline they almost never take this "negative" step, except when running for drop shots. When they move laterally they usually reposition that outside foot. You see the same footwork on returns.

[@B.P-l3n]

Hello Coach. Thanks for the video. With all due respect. From my point of view it's exactly the other way around. You call it "negative step" others "Drop Step". It's a crucial foot work technique all pro's do perform when it comes to lateral explosivness, especially at the base line. You can see it clearly in slow motion (e.g. Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Sinner, Alcaraz, Ruud, Rublev,...you name it). Once you see it you can’t unsee it. They can’t be wrong.

[@StokkeTennis]

That's interesting! When I watch those players in slow motion I see a lot of the footwork that I mentioned, although I do see both!

[@smilesrykee7067]

I see the drop step you are naming as a move taken after a before 2 or so full strides at the baseline or to catch a drop. For shorter distances, that negative step will make you too slow when all you need is to cross with one step your "back" foot. Different footwork is needed for different distances. The "backfoot pushoff" he was saying is bad is considered good footwork in badminton for much shorter explosive movements to cover a smaller court

[@JanitorIsBack]

While I think it would help to have more of a shoulder width stance she was more favoring the ad side of the court with a lean instead of a neutral position. The point of the right foot moving in first is a great one. This is where playing another sport would be helpful. Basketball teaches this foot work

[@StokkeTennis]

@@JanitorIsBack right, we know she had the right half of the court to cover so she shouldn’t have been leaning left. This footwork is easier to execute when you know which way you’ll be moving, which definitely applies here.

[@jaquevius]

Fellow Dukie here (well I prefer to use a slightly derogatory version 😜 as I went to Duke for med school but Carolina for undergrad 😊) and I have to say I love your videos! Great content. I’m getting up there in age so play mainly doubles now, so I find your channel particularly helpful. Where are you located now?

[@StokkeTennis]

Thanks for the kind words! Currently live in Charleston, SC

[@jaquevius]

@ no way. I moved from Durham directly to Charleston, but have been on Lake Norman near Charlotte for 20 years now. I lived in Mt Pleasant near the IOP connector. Do you do lessons? I still have friends in Chucktown and get down there occasionally. I heard someone who was with Duke in the past coaches at the facility where Emma Navarro trains. Could that be you by chance?

[@StokkeTennis]

@@jaquevius I'm probably living in your old house 🤣 I moved to LTP but the coach they were probably referring to was Peter Ayers.

[@jaquevius]

@ Ha. I lived off of Rifle Range in a subdivision called Quail Hollow across from Ravens Run (I think that’s what it was called ). I use to jog the connector and bike to the beach from my house. Beautiful place! I haven’t lived there in 24 years but drove by a couple of years ago. Wow, it exploded. I was there when they first started developing Daniel Island and the tennis facilities were just built. So you’re at LTP? I looked it up and looks like there are adult clinics and weekends. I may check it out next time I’m there.

[@lordbyron3603]

Nope ! It wasn’t ineffective positioning; it was a lousy serve placement ! She should have served flat down the middle ! Instead ,, she gave the returner a perfect slice serve!

[@Markph7]

2nd serve. Not going flat.

[@kaialoha]

Wide stance = double weighted. One foot must be unweighted before it can move. Stable but slow. Narrow stance = single weighted and either foot is free to move.

[@PeterDMayr]

Gd point. She is probably also 30 cm shorter than most guys & some women.

[@StokkeTennis]

Yep...but I loved her positioning so much I still think she could have gotten that ball!

[@laurastone6578]

Why are you taking your racket back so far on some of those backhand volleys?

[@StokkeTennis]

I'm depressed my large volley swing took away from the footwork 🤣. I've always had a slightly larger take back than most, but my timing was pretty good so I didn't run into any issues.

[@laurastone6578]

@ Don’t be depressed. I do it all the time too….but trying to break the habit. Your footwork instruction was GOLD! 👍😁

[@chikinlo]

You criticized someone's stance, and then you started with "it all comes down to feels". Like seriously?! How do you know she didn't FEEL right how she did it.

[@StokkeTennis]

@@chikinlo I thought she could improve her stance because of the way she needed to move for the next shot. This footwork has worked for me and my players over the years, but it’s possible this advice isn’t for you and your game! There’s space in the sport for people to do things their own way. And if you’re having fun/maximizing your performance, then your way is working!

[@huyngo2655]

i watched a video with zverev talking about that "negative step" but he seemed to say it was a good thing. Is there more than 1 school of thought on this? Your thought process is sound and makes more sense than zverevs on the surface. Maybe i'm missing some context here? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYetg2Ccja2bis0

[@StokkeTennis]

When you're off balance or leaning the opposite way, you definitely need to. But when you watch people flowing in one direction, like the net player should have been doing here, there's no need.

[@steelwheels4613]

😀😀Not hard to volley when you know where the ball is going. Try volley with a real mens ground stroke. The pro's are wired differently. Hard to comprehend and appreciate just how fast they move. Much of their skill is reading body language.

[@StokkeTennis]

I'd argue she knew where the ball was going...she was responsible for the right half of the court and was moving that direction. The point of the demonstration was just to show the footwork that worked for me in my career. As the pace and angle of the ball goes up, everything gets more difficult. Thanks for your thoughts and watching my video!