Lesson Library

The Ten Most Common Doubles Errors

by Jim McLennan, TennisONE Senior Editor

Error #5: Playing Defensive Volleys Offensively


You have come into net behind either your serve or return, and your opponents have played their return low and to your feet. Where do you play your volley?

Volleyers can choose either to play close-to-close or close-to-deep (the opposing net player is close, the opposing baseliner is deep). When the ball is coming to you comfortably above the net, the best play is to volley it is at the close opponent, or close-to-close. When the ball is low and difficult, then choose a more defensive volley, playing close-to-deep.

Here my opponent (Player #1) is committing Error #5: playing a defensive volley offensively (yes, pun intended). He is in a position that calls for a defensive volley (he is behind the service line and the ball his below his waist). Yet he has chosen close-to-close, creating a low-to-high play. As his opponent (Player #3) at the net, naturally I'm pleased. I consider my many options as his low-to-high angled ball comes to me and I volley between my hapless opponents.

Remedies? My opponent can either stay on the baseline and approach the net only when he's confident he can get into good volley position or he can work on getting to the net quicker so that he take the ball above his waist and volley from a more offensive position. The long-term lesson here is don't try to force your shot selection. Take what your opponents give you and work towards a more offensive posture.