Your videos are great. It's amazing to hear form someone who grew up playing high level doubles. A lot of us grew up playing singles exclusively and now I absolutely love doubles and all the tactics and movements involved.
Another great video Stokke! What I like is that you’re teaching a general conceptI can take to the court, as so many tennis videos are about tips and how-tos. Hope that makes sense.
This is great. I can confirm your video on poaching really helped me and I feel like just trying to poach more I've kind of intuitively covered a few of the assignments listed in this video. It definitely has me standing in the right area close to the net. If you ever feel inspired to make a return of serve video for doubles I sure could use it. Last Monday up against a really good poacher and server (potent combo) I was getting eaten alive. Especially when they served to my back hand, I had a challenge going out wide or lobbing over the poacher.
@@StokkeTennis I second the request for a doubles return video! As someone who is used to making singles returns without much though (at least compared to doubles), doubles returns can be so frustrating!
Hi Coach I have developed a new strategy at the net, and it works 99.% of the time. The trick is I carry a little pocket fog horn, and before my opponent goes to hit the tennis ball I blow the horn and for some reason after the horn blows my opponent either hits the net with the ball or just flat out hits the ball way out of bounds, a few times my opponent hit the ball over the 12 foot fence. For some reason my opponents get mad when I use the fog horn, but hey it works and my partner and I have been winning every match! 😊 Of course I am joking Coach! I think this video is one of the best videos on how the game of tennis is supposed to be played properly, thank you Coach for posting this video and I joke a lot to keep things lose, because some people take things way too seriously and that’s why they never get better as a player or a person. Thanks for posting this video Coach great job on the video my friend.
Thank you for the validation of going at the net player on a short ball! I remember a coach telling me this when I first started taking tennis lessons but it sure got me dirty looks and blacklisted! 😏 Now I won't do it in social play but in tournaments, absolutely!😆
I can appreciate this approach. I will say that as a 4.5 player, if I see a guy trying to gain advantage by doing this, I'm going to screw with him a good deal on the down the line shot, and then get in his head as well - and therefore this strategy is a double edged sword. Yes, you can mess with the returner, but a really good returner can also mess with the net guy.
Someone only gets into my head with a tactic if it's successful, in which case it's warranted. So if you beat me down the line multiple times (in a short time period), I'll get out of the middle. But if you go down the line once or twice early, it's not going to impact me much. Although it will impact your everyday 3.5....
@@ez2733 It depends on the serve and where it is placed. If it is a typical right handed topspin second serve to my forehand, I can pretty much hit it where I want. Right handed topspin second serve to my backhand, I typically will not go down the line unless I have a very clear opening (for example seeing that the net player has shifted very much towards the middle - then I'll hit a backhand approach shot down the line and it will often simply be a winner if the net player cannot get back to recover). If the serve is a challenging or hard hit first serve, I simply want it back in play and out of the reach of the net player.
Great. When you are partnering a weak server, does it make sense to start off before the serve covering the alley more (tempting the cross court) and then after the serve has crossed the net move to cover the crosscourt which should disrupt the returners eye?
Thanks, what if the returner hit consistently high cross court ball so it is too high to poach in server partner position at the middle of the half of service box? Do you stay back and try run across for overhead ? Or rely on your partner to hit hard on high ball?
@@yasim9435 standing deeper could help but the new task would likely be how to force the opponent to hit lower. Slices and some location stuff could help with that.
4:54 I almost always move forward to cut off the angles on these short balls, especially with players who I know love to crush passing shots at me. My theory is that I'm like a hockey goalie coming out to cut down the angles on a breakaway. It works well for me and almost always catches them off guard. Would love to hear your thoughts on it. About half the people I play with are 4.5 and half are 5.0. Occasional 5.5
I did the same. tennis game is a game of probability. When I did a short ball and the opponent has a crush opportunity, If I back up, the opponent has many choice. he can shot the other side with big angel. So his win rate is 80%-90%. If I go forward to put the my racquet on the way of the ball to block it, I have 30%-50% chance to block it and win this point.
I tend to play w guys/girls w weak first and second serves. In stead of backing up, shouldn’t we just start in that position… which is admittedly the typical rec position allowing the crosscourt shot. Now when ive had a strong server, he had said he was uncomfortable w me so close to the middle because he was worried to hit me so unfortunately I played off to the side again to avoid distracting him. I on the other hand love when my partners position the way u showed and i havent ever hit anyone😀
If EVERY ball they hit is weak, then sure, start deep and closer to the alley. As for the partner who didn't want to hit you, they would only hit you if they were standing extremely close to the T or missing a serve wide of the alley. Both of those things wouldn't concern me.
I was going to ask something similar too. Being aggressive and leaving more space down the line is fine when you have a good serving partner. When you're playing at a social tennis level and your partner is bunting the ball over hitting a winner down the line is pretty easy for your opponent if they're at a reasonable level anyway.
@@raytrace2014 I agree... sometimes my partner is strong groundstrokes and can play well from baseline. But if they are weak from baseline too, then I have to try to force them to hit dtl sometimes b/c we'll probably lose a cross court exchange.
Players much shorter than me have won grand slams using these tactics. I'm also 6'2, so those 4-6 inches are helpful, but it's only a 4-6 inch difference 👊
@@StokkeTennis I’m sure shorter more experienced players have won grand slams but always giving up the alley doesn’t work as well at the club level we don’t have 100mph serves and the ability to hit any space n the box , I was always taught to give some space up the line, but if you constantly get beat, then you have to cover it let your partner construct the point with his play
@@williamprezioso2742 right. I agree with all of that. The serves aren’t effective…neither is the opponent hitting the return. Keep plugging middle with balanced footwork and good things are ahead. Again, these are just things that worked for me and all the players I’ve worked with. There are lots of ways you can play!
![[Full] 4 ต่อ 4 Celebrity EP.920 | 3 พ.ย. 67 | one31](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KwiW2M_kAg4/mqdefault.jpg)
liked the rectangle to emphasize, 30% chance, liked it. Don't be to harsh on your self.
Your videos are great. It's amazing to hear form someone who grew up playing high level doubles. A lot of us grew up playing singles exclusively and now I absolutely love doubles and all the tactics and movements involved.
thanks for the video! Been waiting for a new one =) love them!
@@jhuang916 had a little vacation so I was MIA! But I’m back now
Dude this is really good. I have a ALTA match this week B6 level and I am practicing this position before the match. This totally makes sense.
Let me know how it goes!
one of the best tennis channels on YT
@@Zooooman thank you!
Superb again Stokke 👏🏽
Thank you!
Very helpful - thank you!
Great advice, gotta show my kids!
This is great advice. Never thought of my role at the net that way
Very intelligent analysis and strategy. Subscribed !!
@@a2casius welcome to the team!!
Great coach! So happy I found this channel and the podcast! Thank you!
@@jonathangreen6163 I’m glad you did too!
Another great video Stokke! What I like is that you’re teaching a general conceptI can take to the court, as so many tennis videos are about tips and how-tos. Hope that makes sense.
Thanks for the kind words!
Great tips! Thanks!
Very useful lesson sir.
Love this ❤
Thisss is gooood!
Excellent advice thank you. Will try tomorrow
@@fabiansylvester7046 let me know how it goes!
This video is exactly what I needed. Been struggling a bit with net play lately in doubles. Thanks!
@@tenniszerg glad it was on time for you👊
This is great. I can confirm your video on poaching really helped me and I feel like just trying to poach more I've kind of intuitively covered a few of the assignments listed in this video. It definitely has me standing in the right area close to the net. If you ever feel inspired to make a return of serve video for doubles I sure could use it. Last Monday up against a really good poacher and server (potent combo) I was getting eaten alive. Especially when they served to my back hand, I had a challenge going out wide or lobbing over the poacher.
Glad to hear the videos are helping! I'll try to make a video on the doubles return.
@@StokkeTennis I second the request for a doubles return video! As someone who is used to making singles returns without much though (at least compared to doubles), doubles returns can be so frustrating!
Hi Coach I have developed a new strategy at the net, and it works 99.% of the time. The trick is I carry a little pocket fog horn, and before my opponent goes to hit the tennis ball I blow the horn and for some reason after the horn blows my opponent either hits the net with the ball or just flat out hits the ball way out of bounds, a few times my opponent hit the ball over the 12 foot fence. For some reason my opponents get mad when I use the fog horn, but hey it works and my partner and I have been winning every match! 😊
Of course I am joking Coach! I think this video is one of the best videos on how the game of tennis is supposed to be played properly, thank you Coach for posting this video and I joke a lot to keep things lose, because some people take things way too seriously and that’s why they never get better as a player or a person. Thanks for posting this video Coach great job on the video my friend.
Great video
Good lesson
Hope it helps!!
This makes sense. This kinda explains to me why pro net players tend to go more to the middle
BINGO
This was great net fundamentals, more on this if you can coach!
I'm on it
Thank you for the validation of going at the net player on a short ball! I remember a coach telling me this when I first started taking tennis lessons but it sure got me dirty looks and blacklisted! 😏 Now I won't do it in social play but in tournaments, absolutely!😆
@@kim267 I’ve never understood this. When I’m a sitting duck I back up…I don’t blame the person for hitting at me. It’s the high percentage play.
I can appreciate this approach. I will say that as a 4.5 player, if I see a guy trying to gain advantage by doing this, I'm going to screw with him a good deal on the down the line shot, and then get in his head as well - and therefore this strategy is a double edged sword. Yes, you can mess with the returner, but a really good returner can also mess with the net guy.
Someone only gets into my head with a tactic if it's successful, in which case it's warranted. So if you beat me down the line multiple times (in a short time period), I'll get out of the middle. But if you go down the line once or twice early, it's not going to impact me much. Although it will impact your everyday 3.5....
If you receive a 4.5 serve (who you should compete with), how confident are you in making quality down the line returns?
@@ez2733 It depends on the serve and where it is placed. If it is a typical right handed topspin second serve to my forehand, I can pretty much hit it where I want. Right handed topspin second serve to my backhand, I typically will not go down the line unless I have a very clear opening (for example seeing that the net player has shifted very much towards the middle - then I'll hit a backhand approach shot down the line and it will often simply be a winner if the net player cannot get back to recover). If the serve is a challenging or hard hit first serve, I simply want it back in play and out of the reach of the net player.
Thank you for this smart approach to playing the finisher role. Do your tactics or positioning change if the returner is left-handed?
Nope! Same rules apply
Perfect! Thank you @@StokkeTennis
:33 flouting that hamstring flexibility.
@@commonwealthedison2640 just long legs 😂
Great. When you are partnering a weak server, does it make sense to start off before the serve covering the alley more (tempting the cross court) and then after the serve has crossed the net move to cover the crosscourt which should disrupt the returners eye?
@@rigidrobot I would wait to see what they do with the weak serve a few times before just starting there. A lot of players won’t take advantage of it.
Thanks, what if the returner hit consistently high cross court ball so it is too high to poach in server partner position at the middle of the half of service box? Do you stay back and try run across for overhead ? Or rely on your partner to hit hard on high ball?
@@yasim9435 standing deeper could help but the new task would likely be how to force the opponent to hit lower. Slices and some location stuff could help with that.
4:54 I almost always move forward to cut off the angles on these short balls, especially with players who I know love to crush passing shots at me. My theory is that I'm like a hockey goalie coming out to cut down the angles on a breakaway. It works well for me and almost always catches them off guard. Would love to hear your thoughts on it. About half the people I play with are 4.5 and half are 5.0. Occasional 5.5
@@mightbefire yep..forward THEN diagonal is perfect
I did the same. tennis game is a game of probability. When I did a short ball and the opponent has a crush opportunity, If I back up, the opponent has many choice. he can shot the other side with big angel. So his win rate is 80%-90%. If I go forward to put the my racquet on the way of the ball to block it, I have 30%-50% chance to block it and win this point.
@@z48723888 absolutely, and they also don't expect it
I think position of net player should be discussed with the sever?
Yes the formation for sure
Thanks but what about for older players with less mobility.
I tend to play w guys/girls w weak first and second serves. In stead of backing up, shouldn’t we just start in that position… which is admittedly the typical rec position allowing the crosscourt shot. Now when ive had a strong server, he had said he was uncomfortable w me so close to the middle because he was worried to hit me so unfortunately I played off to the side again to avoid distracting him. I on the other hand love when my partners position the way u showed and i havent ever hit anyone😀
If EVERY ball they hit is weak, then sure, start deep and closer to the alley. As for the partner who didn't want to hit you, they would only hit you if they were standing extremely close to the T or missing a serve wide of the alley. Both of those things wouldn't concern me.
I was going to ask something similar too. Being aggressive and leaving more space down the line is fine when you have a good serving partner. When you're playing at a social tennis level and your partner is bunting the ball over hitting a winner down the line is pretty easy for your opponent if they're at a reasonable level anyway.
@@raytrace2014 So if your parter hits a lot of weak balls, you'll have to execute job 3 at a high level
@@raytrace2014 I agree... sometimes my partner is strong groundstrokes and can play well from baseline. But if they are weak from baseline too, then I have to try to force them to hit dtl sometimes b/c we'll probably lose a cross court exchange.
Please make a video on how to beat the poacher.
Will try to get on that!
@@StokkeTennis Awesome! Looking forward to it.
Yeah with one step you can step over the net as you demonstrated but smaller people 5’10 and under can’t really give up that much space
Players much shorter than me have won grand slams using these tactics. I'm also 6'2, so those 4-6 inches are helpful, but it's only a 4-6 inch difference 👊
@@StokkeTennis I’m sure shorter more experienced players have won grand slams but always giving up the alley doesn’t work as well at the club level we don’t have 100mph serves and the ability to hit any space n the box , I was always taught to give some space up the line, but if you constantly get beat, then you have to cover it let your partner construct the point with his play
@@williamprezioso2742 right. I agree with all of that. The serves aren’t effective…neither is the opponent hitting the return. Keep plugging middle with balanced footwork and good things are ahead. Again, these are just things that worked for me and all the players I’ve worked with. There are lots of ways you can play!
Our club everybody is playing baseline 😂😂😂.