Why You SHOULDN’T Follow The Ball In Doubles (Tennis Strategy Explained)

[@2MinuteTennis]

The New Rules of Doubles fuzzyyellowballs.samcart.com/referral/why-the-serving-team-should-almost-never-lob/IWxHYpZnDv9qw1Yu Check out PlayYourCourt: playyourcourt.com/2MinuteTennis

[@KeyofDavid5778]

What's your level of play? The returners partner never even got bellybutton to the bounce of his pardners return and most players that are decent are going to burn that net player without shifting... this is a horrible example using one point.... an inside or outside ball has absolutely nothing to do with the depth of the return that was a quality return.

[@2MinuteTennis]

@@KeyofDavid5778 I’m a 5.0 NTRP

[@KeyofDavid5778]

@@2MinuteTennis you're teaching 3.5 tennis

[@2MinuteTennis]

@@KeyofDavid5778 if you were a KZbinr you’d know that you can use the analytics to know the age (and with time you learn their playing level) of your viewers. Who do you think watches my videos, David? What age and level are they? What you’re saying is no different than walking into a children’s book store and saying “these books are for kids!!!” Or walking into a middle school math class and saying “this is NOT college level math!!!” And then questioning the book store owner’s reading level or the math competency of the school teacher. Teaching is about knowing who your audience is and helping them play better and win more matches. My track record of that (26 years of coaching and 180,000 YT subs) speaks for itself. I will continue to teach 3.5’s how to win more. If my videos aren’t of a high enough level for you then you can find another book store… whoops I meant KZbin channel. There are plenty of other great channels to choose from.

[@KeyofDavid5778]

@@2MinuteTennis I've been a tennis coach for over 40 years.... was director of Tennis & Fitness for 10 years at one of the largest clubs in my state plus I was head pro and assistant Pro for 24 other years at Big clubs. I was #1 ranking the state for singles two years in a row and #1 in mixed doubles 1 year. What are your credentials in your playing record ? I went to 9 world tennis conferences being coached by the best from every country in the world ....played and lost in the finals of the world 35 doubles and got ranked #7in the world losing to the number one team in the world. In doubles... Coached many High School state champions in men's and women's singles doubles and mixed doubles. Sent many players to division 1 and 2 and division 3. Send players that played at New Mexico North Carolina Wyoming to name a few. My son was #1 in 18s in 2018 my daughter won a state championship for her High School and playing college tennis as a sophomore.... both are playing college tennis.... my son plays #1 doubles Coached a player for New Mexico who beat Stanford's #1 doubles team and was ranked #2 in the nation in the ncaa's who's now a head coach for Fresno State. Coached a player in the top 80 in the world on the WTA who went to the US Open consecutive years in a row. What are your credentials of players you coached? Just because you make a video about some ridiculous inside-outside ball doesn't make you a good coach just because you have a bunch of KZbinrs that follow you doesn't make you a good coach. Bob and Mike Bryan were number one in the world for a reason their father trained them the correct way and I watched and played with their dad and was trained by their dad they turn and look at the ball bounced practically every single time and you have never taught that 1 time and if you delete my comment again it shows what a weak-minded person you are. Grow up use some thought and some professionalism......, the level of tennis at the pro level is weak especially with women's doubles . There's a handful of Good Men doubles players..... same with the women only if you really good doubles players very few ship to the right places. It's better to teach mistakes two players make instead of saying to try to do this but cover up the holes and don't tell the players to hit the net player they should never aim for the net player that's the third choice

[@dewster99]

If I get pushed out wide I'm actually more likely to try and slap a down the line shot personally, cos you have to hit a really good angle to avoid the net person. Either that or a lob.

[@mightbefire]

yeah, just wrote essentially the same comment, but from the net person's perspective.

[@randydryer8888]

This probably good on the add side. But on the duce side the forehand down the line will get you.

[@fritzleboo]

I think if it's backhand for me a 3.5 player I can poach that shot if it was the guys forehand on the baseline going to the middle. But if it's outside wide and they hit for hand I feel it's easier for them to go down the line. So I try to protect the alley

[@salya15]

True, I always check if the net player moves to the center and hit down the line , especially on deuce side

[@danielames957]

Man, I'm so happy someone mentioned this. I actually like getting pushed wide soo much because I can confidently know that I will be able to hit it around the net player down the line. It is also like it curves.

[@KashNoorani]

Coming from table tennis, I found this to be an interesting video as many tactical principles are common to both sports. Since there are many comments about how easy down-the-link shots are, I decided to bring in a perspective from a sport that uses much more spin than is common in tennis. At the higher level, there is so much spin/rotation on every ball that controlling a down-the-line shot, especially when it's hit with power (i.e. speed and spin) from cross-court is quite difficult. Even in singles, the pro players do exactly what this video is advocating. If you are playing at a lower level where the incoming ball isn't powerful, yeah you'll be able to hit down-the-line shots easily and your opponent won't have the footwork to play the next ball to your wide cross-court but when your opponent is hitting with power, you may be able to "guide" the ball down-the-line (and set up his cross-court winner) but it's a much higher-risk (not to mention higher-skill) shot to hit your own down-the-line winner. Therefore, at the higher level, it's better to play cross-court with power i.e. continue the rally and look for another opening rather than immediately try and win the point with a riskier shot.

[@mightbefire]

I actually think the opposite is true because of the angles available. I'd rather move on the inside-out forehand because the ball is in the center of the court. The people I play with can crush that wide down the line backhand pretty routinely.

[@2MinuteTennis]

Ok. Well, thanks for watching!

[@davidmccurtain6443]

I agree especially on the juice side. if you move to soon they'll pass you

[@watermelonwater44]

Ok I have coaching for over 30 years from D1 college to low level . This strategy can work. I would try it first on the backhand side forcing a down the line backhand since most players hit a weaker backhand. For this to be successful the poaching team really have to hit accurate and solid shots. This probably would be easier to use on a higher level with more athletic players.

[@hcscuoteguazza]

Great use of Wardlaw's Directionals! I've seen it applied to singles but rarely to doubles.

[@2MinuteTennis]

thanks so much!!!

[@MMm-kp7lk]

I think it also depends how deep the return is as well. If it’s deep I agree w this tactic it is extremely difficult to redirect that shot down the line but you also have to understand these players are too level guys that move twice as fast as the average player that volley he hit was extremely hard to execute. If that ball lands short I would stay put unless it’s a slice and makes him hit up also something they won’t tell you about when to go and I tell this to my students wait till his head goes down to watch the ball he won’t see you going by the time he does it’s too late. As a net person you should always be doing some kind of movement either faking going or an early poach the returner needs to know you aren’t afraid of moving

[@2MinuteTennis]

I agree with everything you said.

[@Grugbuytheberry]

Yep same for me, if they're scrambling because of the quality of return then poach hard. If they have a good backhand and they have some time then you're 50/50 gonna get beat

[@andrewwarren654]

Great vid. First return I hit in doubles is DTL (or at least a couple of shots early in the game), just to let the net person know .. I'll go. And then the game is afoot.

[@JosePayano]

The first two moves.. (i) Watching your opponent and not ‘following the ball’ is excellent, just until it crosses the net. (ii) the second and third moves are also good. I go for letting the opponent attempt to go down the line, because as you say it’s a low %shot but, you should add some ‘poaching’ to season this strategy a notch up!

[@adamslj7702]

hey ryan, i want to be in the outer corners. There are two scenarios. Outside the line of serve, and inside the line of serve. I have found that if you are in the outside corner inside the serving line, your opponent will often play a straight ball, and if you don't cover the outside line, your opponent can easily score because it looks like the ball will go out of bounds, but in fact it will go from the outside to the inside of the court and reach the inside of the court to score. If the ball is outside the line of serve in the outside corner, as you say, it is much more likely to poach in the center.

[@markvanderwerf8592]

So many of these videos that analyse pro play completely ignore that tactics are way different at low level. Outside groundstroke going cross is a thing at high level play where the ball is played with pressure into the corner. At low level play it really isn't and most of all players tend to go down the line too often at that level.

[@2MinuteTennis]

I’m not ignoring anything. May I ask… are you a player or a coach?

[@markvanderwerf8592]

@@2MinuteTennis player. Perhaps I'm just judging because of the affiliation with the new rules of doubles/singles playbooks. That stuff is absolute trash full of bad statistics and poor advices for average Joe. I do feel you forget to mention here that especially at lower level of play favourite shots of players are WAY more important to keep into account than play patterns. Low level players simply don't follow good play patterns as much and will make illogical choices much more. Just going 'outside shot => likely cross' is not as useful at low level club play.

[@2MinuteTennis]

I appreciate your thoughts. Obviously I think the opposite since I made the video. Thanks!!

[@markvanderwerf8592]

@@2MinuteTennis fair enough. But for example do you really believe that at low level club play watching the player is better than watching the ball? At high speeds and when players move properly so you can see what they are about to do from their movements that makes sense. At low levels with moonballs etc you have all the time in the world and just watching the ball works better really. I find it weird so many of these tennis channels aim to give advice to regular players analysing pro play all the time. You dont learn chess either watching pro's, it's a completely different game at different level.

[@2MinuteTennis]

Again. I appreciate your thoughts. My video speaks for itself. If I’m making the video, it’s bc my 60,000 hrs of coaching over 27 tells me this is a great thing to teach. Have a great day!

[@DukeofHesse-he7bu]

I hope that the people I play against watch this video because I just love to smack backhands down the line. More than half the time that I'm receiving serve that goes to my backhand, the opposing net man poaches my return. I really like the look on their faces when the ball zips down the line and they're standing in the middle of the court and can't do a thing about it.

[@2MinuteTennis]

You must be really good

[@DukeofHesse-he7bu]

Not really good. Really wiley.@@2MinuteTennis

[@DukeofHesse-he7bu]

Nope, just a sly old fox taking advantage of young hot shots who oftern hit the ball a hundred miles an hour - into the net.@@2MinuteTennis

[@phoenixtennisacademy6682]

See I was taught and teach to follow the ball but it does exactly what you’re saying. When the ball goes cross I’m going to follow the ball cross and square my shoulders, so I’m giving away the alley like you’re saying. It’s funny how communication/interpretation is everything 😂 but I agree with what you’re saying. So follow the ball concept may be right or wrong depending on how they teach it? Good stuff!!

[@Brutherrrr]

hey ryan, this has nothing to do with the doubles but i was wondering if you can do a video explaining the different two handed grips like I feel the newer generation players, Alcaraz, Rune, Zverev, Medvedev, Sinner, etc are having a more eastern grip while players like Djokovic, Nishikori, Nadal are using semi western backhand grips for their top hand, so I was wondering if you can explain which is easier for recreational players and why new players are switching their grips to a more eastern backhand grip, if not a video, a reply is also good.

[@dextersmom18]

He did a similar video talking about a righty backhand return on the deuce side being more likely to go down the line vs mid in recreational players and I was like "nope"

[@colinbyer3018]

Ryan thanks for this video so much. Very good stuff. My coach tells me when you have a high floaty volley that volleying at the net players feet is not the best place to hit. He says that’s the second best. He says it gives them a chance to make a save. He says the best shot is thread the needle, would you agree or disagree? He says if you’re poaching on a backhand volley that yeah there’s no way to thread the needle so hit to their feet. But otherwise better to thread the needle. Either way it’s a harder shot to execute.

[@michellem9392]

What is "thread the needle"?

[@colinbyer3018]

@@michellem9392 it’s when you hit behind the net player if I’m on the right side at the net, the opposing net player is on my left and I angle it to the left back half behind them

[@JosePayano]

I go with you for right hand players with one of two hands BH… But, in my case I have an opponent which has an excellent forehand down the line, especially because he is a lefty… So, this is mostly true, in case your opponent is a righty!

[@Billbillr]

The only problem with this strategy is that if the ball does go past the net player there is no one there to get the ball. I don't agree with this strategy. It is more of a guessing game. I think it is more important to take away the opening then it is to guess where the ball is going. Just saying. The simple notion of the net player closing in to the net and following the ball will give them a play on the ball no matter what side the ball is being struct on. I think this is bad advice.

[@2MinuteTennis]

ok. thanks for watching!

[@gozlot]

i agree with u

[@lexwaters6945]

Additionally, the servers partner never moved. When the return went by him, he should have moved towards the T at the center of the service box to take away that easy volley thru the middle.

[@KeyofDavid5778]

​@lexwaters6945 I totally agree but net player back because the depth of the return was very very good within the last two feet of the court ... all of the ball by shifting back to cover the middle t. The net fire should have been belly button to the bounce and then cut off the center both players don't know how to play the net and are taught incorrectly neither one of them even adjusted to the return .... servers partner cheated he moved before the backhand cross-court was being struck this is horrible advice. The goal is to cover 80% of the Court 100% of the time .

[@mightbefire]

Being honest, this kind of mentality keeps people from playing doubles at a high level. The one piece of advice I would give to 4.5 and lower players is to move on shots at net and be the one to win points. That means getting beat down the line sometimes.

[@wkrp10splayer19]

ball speed is crucial. you showed top-tier D1, where ball speed is relatively high. down the alley would have been tough. in rec, frquently, the ball speed can be poor. the net guy makes right outside read and goes but bc of slow ball speed, the other guy sees the move or twitch and fires down the singles sideline of the alley. as the net guy it is difficult to realize that your partner has hit a slow-ass ball and leaving you out to dry.

[@meditationman415]

Tennis Mentor says the opposite , he says to track the ball. (You are both wonderful 🙏)

[@DoctorJTC]

Ryan- your doubles court positioning/ strategy videos are really excellent. Thank you.

[@2MinuteTennis]

Wow thank you so much!!!!!

[@rrcabrera90]

Would this apply to when the opponent is returning serve? If the serve is out wide would we stay covering the line or anticipate the cross?

[@careydunn8227]

would this inside/outside apply to some degree to a return of serve?

[@TheXxmmgg]

I tried this in tennis today. I was at the net (deuce side). The opposite add player got me down the line. It was this EXACT situation

[@2MinuteTennis]

So what did you do from that point forward in that situation?

[@ronaldt7947]

This was a matter of knowing your opponent. The returners partner has obviously noticed a trend with the server to go cross court. The server may not possess confidence in going down the line especially under pressure. Also what was the score? 40-0 or 0-40, there is higher likelihood server hits down the line vs 30-40 or 40-30. Study and know your opp. Know the score and you'll be able to jump this ball. Score must've been 30-40 because the play ended the game.

[@rosshayden1416]

Mmm yeah nah. If it were forehand return out wide about all you can do is curl it down the line. Back I would go the line 7 times out of 10 still. Unless I'm just trying to play it safe and keep it in. But second serve especially ide be going for the winner. I think this applies for to first serve

[@123Rockchild]

I tried this too in my doubles match last week and got passed 4 times down the alley! Foremost I have to blame myself for not tracking the ball. The other issue is my partner has one of those soft, pushing-type serves that ladies at the 3.0 and 3.5 levels have and it does not penetrate. The returners were able to loft the ball over into the allies while my body and instincts were focused on poaching the middle. 😡

[@coachhannah2403]

Your partner sure better be ready to cover the line shot!

[@davidmccurtain6443]

What about on the juice side?

[@tennisjourney]

Let's go Card!

[@niceguy5430]

What about when the server serves from deuce side....

[@2MinuteTennis]

It’s not much different. They’ll try down the line a bit more from deuce side if right handed but it’s basically the same in rec tennis.

[@davidmccurtain6443]

I think you have to time when you move if they see you move too soon they'll switch down the line .

[@FiendishFuManchu]

As a player who is very confident in my down the line backhand, I hope all the ppl watching this video listen to this advice

[@mightbefire]

ha, yep, I play against you, and I definitely know not to follow this advice. I would rather move on the forehand just because it's in the middle of the court. The angle is better.

[@marko8643]

Sorry. Disagree. You took a video where it worked and tried to make a rule out of it. A down the line in this situation is an absolute winner. You SHOULD follow the ball in most instances (that's why pretty much EVERY instructor says it.) If you make this a rule, you'll lose more points than you win. Do it OCCASIONALLY? Absolutely. Make it a rule? You'll lose a lot of points. Covering the alley forces a cross court that your partner can return. Leaving the alley open leaves you open to an easy slice backhand winner.

[@2MinuteTennis]

Ok thanks

[@marko8643]

You are welcome🙂@@2MinuteTennis

[@jeffmosier7755]

Tennis is all about playing the percentages, so this is excellent advice. Yes, you'll get "burned down the line" occasionally, but that's better than making your partner play one-on-two through the whole match while you "protect" the small sliver of the court that's the hardest for your opponent to hit to.

[@thrinald]

Is this just saying that people hit across their body. Yeah sometimes I think at net you almost move yourself opposite the ball

[@2MinuteTennis]

You are correct.

[@thrinald]

@@2MinuteTennis Also the people who love the down the line they show their colors fast. Its a disease. And the people who think its tough and cool to hit right at the net player.

[@knockitclose]

“Hit the chest…”. Oh boy, at my 3.0 level I’m likely to accidentally take someone’s head off! I’ll stick with the feet for a bit.

[@Kedislol]

You're saying it's more applicable to recreational tennis... It's the other way round. Much easier to hit down the line on a slow ball

[@2MinuteTennis]

Ok

[@DonYang73]

I would definitely hv gone down the line as he was already out of position. I guess i take more risk

[@2MinuteTennis]

Thanks for watching!

[@tomrymal8130]

I respectfully disagree. I hit "outside" balls down the line quite often.

[@2MinuteTennis]

The strategy I explained in this video doesn’t always work. But strategies don’t always have to be right. They just need to be right more than they are wrong. Ans that’s what this strategy is… more often right than wrong. When you win 55% of the points in a match, the score is 6-2,6-2. So losing 45% of the points results in dominating the match. The strategy in this video will result in players losing the point 45% of the time. Which means they’ll dominate the match. Thanks for watching!

[@mightbefire]

@@2MinuteTennis That's an interesting breakdown. The takeaway is to move a whole lot at net, which is probably going to win you a lot of matches.

[@yelkenci601]

Ziraat mühendisi konusu TTF nin fotoğrafı olmuş....

[@atrem7942]

This stupid advice, itmakes the job of coach so much more difficult.you have no eye for defence zero nothing. B,s. Video

[@2MinuteTennis]

Thanks for watching!!

[@danielsheehan6462]

Music video for Flowers

[@danielsheehan6462]

Video of Flowers by Miley Cyrus

[@dandan3045]

follow the ball, don't follow the ball! Sometimes I hate tennis advice!

[@maruyama2076]

Be the ball!

[@123Rockchild]

@@maruyama2076😆

[@KeyofDavid5778]

Neither net player shifted to the depth of the return and the server's partner should have shifted back to the T... the returners partner should have shifted to get belly button to the bounce of the ball and then closed out with a v. This is horrible advice you can't take one point and say you shouldn't shift at the net and never hit the ball at the offensive player's body always go deep middle between them or hit the angle the third choice is at them. Your level of coaching is sad.... neither net player knows how to move and up the line outside balls are hit with he's in today's game with ease.... The goal is to cover 80% of the Court 100% of the time and if they hit the awesome 20% shot so be it but your coaching advice is horrible. Tennis doubles is pretty low level at the peo level..., especially the women and men is much better the Bryan brothers were good for a reason they watch the bounce of the ball on both sides it didn't matter ! They turn their head and watch the ball bounced to know the depth and quality and never took their eyes off the ball and you haven't taught that one time and their record proves they were the best ! Use some serious common sense and thought before you make a video and say this is how you play and don't follow the ball that is absolutely absurd. Both Net players in this video were horrible

[@2MinuteTennis]

Thanks for watching David.

[@watchman1969]

hummmm I believe this is so not true! It's pretty easy tho delay the outside stroke and go down the line! This video is based in only 1 play! Come on...

[@2MinuteTennis]

You think in 26 years of coaching I watched one play and decided to make a video? Come on…

[@watchman1969]

@@2MinuteTennis if somebody make things wrong the entire life, the time only make it worst

[@mightbefire]

I poached early on a guy the other night and he spent the rest of the match trying to prove he could beat me down the line. He got one and missed at least 7. I basically got 6 free points out of one early effective poach. Down the line returns are really hard to pull off consistently, at least for most people.

[@tennisace40]

Please stop the click bait crappy title..it’s misleading and incorrect.in most levels.Like your content.You don’t need the title.

[@2MinuteTennis]

Appreciate you watching!!