Footwork at the Net in Doubles

In the last lesson we saw that the typical Up-and-Back point is a crosscourt rally between the two baseline players. Meanwhile, the net players look for a chance to cut off a shot and volley through the angular gap between partners on the opposing team.

In that lesson, we looked at the pattern of eyework your net player should follow to make sure he or she is always focused on what they need to see.

Now let's hook up the feet.

First, don't make your partner thread a needle with his or her shots between you and the opposing net player. If you do, you are partly to blame for the errors and cut-offs that result.

Second, menace the other team's shots. Even if you never touch the ball, by constantly threatening to, you cause errors.

In other words, stay out of your partner's way and get in the opposition's way.

By combining these principles, we get the following Footwork Pattern:

1. While your baseline partner hits, make room by stepping back at an angle toward your alley.
2. While the opposing baseline player hits, front the shot by stepping forward at an angle toward the center line.

Step 1 widens your partner's hitting lane. Teamwork.

Step 2 narrows the opposing baseline player's hitting lane. Front the shot, making that opposing baseline player choose between two tight hitting lanes, one on either side of you.

Yes, tempt that opposing baseline player to go for your alley. For one thing, the alley shot is a low percentage shot. For another thing, the best way to pressure people is to confront them with choices.

Don't be reckless, because down-the-line shots like the alley shot reach you quicker, and you have little hope of back-up on that side. But don't plant one foot in your alley as if it would be a sin to have the ball get past you on that side. If you never get passed down your alley, you aren't playing the net well.

This footwork pattern combines with the eyework pattern in the last lesson.

Eyework and Footwork:

1. When the ball enters your court, watch the opposing net player, and step back at an angle toward your alley.
2. When the ball leaves your court, watch the opposing baseline player, and step forward at an angle toward the center line.

The diagrams below illustrate. They show the hitting lanes, and the arrows show what you (Player D) should be looking at.