Trouble Moving to the Net in Doubles Question: I playa lot of doubles and everyone keeps telling me to move to the net. But, when I do, I always get stuck hitting balls in the mid-court. The balls often land low at my feet, and I hit far too many into the net.
Answer: We all know the two main objectives of tennis: Hit the ball over the net and hit it within the lines. Sounds simple, but it isn't always easy; and it gets more difficult when you try moving to the net and regularly find yourself hitting balls at your feet. Here are some suggestions to help you overcome common pitfalls of moving to the net, and thus, taking your game to the next level.
Recognize Reality If you are able to move quickly and take a split step just as your opponent hits the ball, I have two words of advice. "Do it" -each and every time. But keep in mind that if you are moving forward after your serve or your return of serve, you will generally be able to take just three steps after each shot before splitting for the next one. In other words,
moving in from the baseline to an aggressive volley position halfway between the service line and the net will be impossible. So don't try it. Your split step will most probably be behind the service line. Then, depending on the incoming ball, take some smaller adjusting steps to optimize your court position to hit your volley. Or, if the ball lands
ence in Hilton Head Island about moving to the net. She said, "You know what, as I get older, my half volley keeps getting better and better." King's point is that if you end up hitting more balls between the service line and the baseline, your shots there can't help but improve, and you can't help but become a stronger player in the mid-court area.
As you age, you'll also find that chipping requires a lot less effort than hitting topspin groundstrokes. short, move forward and hit an aggressive groundstroke. After that mid-court shot, move farther in to the more ideal volley position. If you are a senior player or have an injury that prevents you from moving quickly and taking a split step, I have just one word of advice: "Don't." You can still play effective tennis, and you can still move toward the net; it just may be more gradual. Here's how two tennis legends addressed their compromised mobility in getting to the net. A few years ago, Billie Jean King, well known for her aggressive net-rushing playing style and tremendous doubles skills, spoke at a tennis teachers' confer-
The second example is Roy Emerson, holder of twelve Grand Slam singles titles-a record only recently surpassed by Pete Sampras. As an older player, Roy has his share of physical limitations, including bad knees that don't allow him to run well but he still plays effective doubles. Yet, in a doubles exhibition in Phoenix a few years ago, I saw him do something that makes total sense for players who need to lower the stress on their knees. He doesn't split step anymore; instead, he bends slightly and "un-weights" to change direction in a way similar to skiing or snowboarding. It's a great technique to help players get to balls that they otherwise probably would not reach.