Do what with the high short ball in doubles?

TOM'S ONLINE TENNIS LESSON - Do you know when you're improving?

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You are up at the net and your opponents are in a one-up, one-back formation (one up at the net and one on the baseline). You receive a high short ball. Where should you hit it? Let me begin by telling you where NOT to hit the
high short ball. You should NOT hit the ball back to the opponent on the baseline. Yet, over and over and over again I watch players hit this high ball back to the opponent on the baseline. Your opponent on the baseline gracefully accepts another opportunity to lob over your head and usually obliges you with laser accuracy.

WHERE THE HIGH SHORT BALL SHOULD BE HIT

The best three possible shots to hit in this scenario are down to the net person's feet, down-the-middle between your two opponents, or at an angle. You have three choices! I prefer to have my players hit down at the net person's feet or down the middle if it is clearly open. The angle can be a great shot, but there is little room for error.

The high short ball in doubles is one of those shots players usually know where they should hit, but in the heat of battle do the opposite. This is clearly a case of intellectual knowledge versus application knowledge. You may know it all but you PRACTICE hitting this ball to the correct location over and over and over again in your practice matches until it just happens automatically. Then and only then will you be able to apply the technique in your important match play.

Repetition is how you learn once you know it all!

You tennis pro,

Tom Veneziano