Returning Team

The same way that planning to poach when your partner serves helps you move across with more confidence, planning in advance to poach off a return minimizes the risk of the opponent surprising you and hitting behind you.

If you decide to play both back to return, make sure you adjust your return accordingly. Playing both back and going for a huge return does not make sense. If you play both back, play a defensive return. Make the opponents play.

When returning in doubles you always have 4 options: crosscourt, down the line, lob and chip and charge. Make sure you use all of them. Do not let the opponents get comfortable by using always the same return.

Many times the returner will miss the shot after the return because he/she is not very clear what to do. The opponents are at the net and it is very easy to panic or try a great shot to win the point.

A lob return is a great way to destabilize the opponents. However, to be affective the returner needs to take time away from the opponents by catching the serve early and returning from way inside the court.

Returning and charging the net is an excellent way to pressure the opponents. In order to do this more effectively start moving forwards as the opponent tosses to serve.

When your partner returns one of your jobs is to be ready to defend the middle should the server’s partner poach. Therefore it is important that you stand on the service line close to the centerline to start the point.

It is very difficult to remain ready to intercept a shot when you constantly have to look back to see what kind of shot your partner is hitting.

When your partner returns you will start the point in a defensive position around the service line and close to the center line.