Here's the hand signals lesson I talked about at the end of today's video: ruclips.net/video/NXoOGJkBIuQ/видео.html Thanks for watching and keep working hard at your tennis!
Ian, #2 is an excellent observation. I love poaching, but that's an opportunity I had never considered (not that I've been playing very long--less than a year still). I plan to implement that one asap. Thanks!
As far as #2 is concerned... if I see my partner miss a poach, I'd try to avoid hitting crosscourt, because of the risk to hit the ball right on my partner's body. So, all of a sudden, the largest target for me would be down the line and the smallest ones either a risky short angle crosscourt in the "short" diagonal, or a lobe crosscourt ("long" diagonal).
And btw hope u can give easy tips on when to let go of a ball that's out in doubles...(sometimes i still hit balls fired in front of me not so sure if it's out or not.For fear of "omg it may be inside or the product of defense reflex reaction.
The best way to poach in a great way is to put a ball machine and to learn to start you move only when the ball is released. In reality you'll become a player ten times worse than a pusher, cause you block the ability to hit either cross court and down the line....
I am 69 yes old and I love to poach but my timing is not right I want to find a system ,in which my opponent take the back has made his decision to wher to hit ball ,than I want poachthe way the my age players play it give the opponent ample time to see me moving,so he can hit the ball the he want ,thanks
When the net player goes, poaches full center after partner serves from the deuce side,, does the server move left to the center of the court to compensate, being more able to cover the left side of the court? Thanks…
I feel like I need to give my best in tennis bcuz a friend died when we played. We played together to be better and never gave up. He inspires me when I struggle playing a match or just rallying
Good video as always. My partner and I always signal while serving. We also love signaling while returning. Works great. A returner's partner poaching really gets the opponent wondering!
Idea #2 is a great one!. A concern, however, is - If the opposing net player couldn't reach the ball on poach, this would often be because the ball he tried to reach was hit at a sharp cross court angle; if his partner is retrieving a ball hit that was hit with a sharp cross court angle, then this partner would have a lot of room to hit a down the line shot, no? and a poach by me would expose even more down the line space?
Thanks Ian! I needed this! At the beginning, you were right. It’s mainly cross court and the people at the net do nothing. My coach and I will probably work on this!
Very good tools, Ian, much appreciated. I'll share it with my USTA team we just created. Doubles needs more tools than singles and this set is great. Loved #7, inception to opponent's head is 💪
Doubles requires more tennis skills and this leads to lots of hit and hope one up and one back doubles. As a high school tennis coach I constantly drill and teach volley skills and do situational drills. The rule in doubles is for the player closest to the ball cut it off. Hit down at their feet or between your opponents. You want to double team and isolate one opponent to pressure on them. You don’t see a lot of higher level doubles play but lots of singles players ( baselines afraid of the net)trying to play doubles who are very uncomfortable hitting a volley. Personally as an old school serve and volley player I love to constantly move up in doubles. Chip and charge on return, serve and volley and poach when my partner serves. You got to get into their head.
I'm a club player..sadly just had my foot injury (tho not tennis related) so I have so much time watching tips on how to improve my doubles game. Thank you for sharing.Watching on the video u posted made me realized that "oh I should've done that" once I'm back to playing will definitely apply the tips u shared.
surprised that this is not mentioned in your lesson on "a time to poach". i have gotten to where i tend to poach when my partner has hit a good lob over the opposing net person. my first preference is for my partner to come in after doing that. but if they aren't comfy to do that, i have to accept that. but this is when i will choose to poach, as the person recovering the lob tends to lob it back or hits it down the line, towards the person that they think is at the baseline. but when the poach is done at right time, then i am there to hit a volley at the net person (who many times is watching their partner hit the ball, a NO NO). or even if i volley back to the baseline person, it takes time away from their next shot. which i hope allows me to PUT IT AWAY!!
13:17 here Ian is describing what is your job as the net player. And being a bad doubles player, I don't do this job at all. When I am at the net, I don't poach (didn't know that term before) at all and often feel isolated from rallies or even letting my mate down when he/she can't win points while I am not really helping. I am not quiet sure if I ever will be a solid doubles player, but as I need to play doubles for both teams that I'll play on in summer, I really need to find some adjustments. Thanks Ian for bringing up some hints about it. Would you add some examples out of the recent doubles match like you did with the singles match between Mark and Scott back then?
I need to show this video to about 90% of those with whom I partner. I can't tell you how many times a partner doesn't make the right move or is in a poor position on the doubles court. Just one suggestion you made "poach when you opponent has to make a shot off there weakest shot" I am amazed at how little many players know about doubles. Even some who play decent singles. They'll hug the alley and back up instead of move forward etc. Grrr!
I always have the feeling that we need that kind of specific guidance to singles strategies.... i just feel singles strategies are more general than doubles instruction.
Re. poaching the wide serve: Depends on your partner's groundstroke strengths and tendencies and your own volleying strengths. The return, even if hit down the line, is generally moving back to the center. Cover the alley if playing with a serve and volleyer, or someone whose weaker side is defending that DTL shot. Poach liberally otherwise.
Hi Ian, these are all great tips for spotting opportunities to poach. But here's my question. How do you train yourself to recognize these situations? When I'm at the net I am not aware of anything more specific than which side of the court the ball is on and who is about to play the next shot. How do you train yourself to become aware of things like the opponent is moving to his left and is going to play a backhand?
For tip #7, "stay and go" signal, when ur partner chooses "go", do that partner poach to middle and then also try to cover the right side of court? And that means i switch from right court coverage to left court coverage after my serve?
why are all these videos the same talking about how to poach the net, how to master the net. how about teaching how to get past and beat very good netters??
Thanks for your suggestions. My concern is the times to poach are when your partner hits to the inside of the opponent, but that's when the opponent at net poaches. How do I stop the poacher?
Excellent video as always! Incidentally, I would love to also see a future video on "defensive" doubles tactics. The "yang" to this video's "yin", so to speak. Thanks again for the great content!
I miss doubles! Hopefully I can apply these soon. I played doubles for the first time in a long time the other day and it was all about keeping errors down because none of us had played for a long time. Can't wait to get more comfortable at the net again and start to use poaching more!
Ian while you bring up a lot of good points and your videos are excellent, I have to add some thoughts here.... When receiving a ball in which the player is hitting up on the ball (usually a low short ball) you suggested to poach on an “inside shot” meaning the groundstroke that is closest to the center of the court. I have to disagree with that. It is generally easier to change direction and go down the line on an inside shot (inside shot means ball doesn’t cross the plane of your body before you hit the ball). You probably know the difference between inside and outside groundstrokes but I just wanted to clarify. So what I’m saying is all things equal it’s gonna typically be better to poach on a ball in which the player is hitting up but particularly when the player has an outside shot. It’s just more natural to hit the ball crosscourt on an outside shot versus an inside shot, therefore, it’s a better time to poach. Also you mentioned poaching when the player is jammed, however, you said to poach on an inside shot. It would be better to poach on an outside shot for the reasons I stated above. I’m not saying what you said will not work but I am saying that my suggestion certainly is generally a better play against most players in my opinion.
I'm not sure that the Wardlaw Directionals apply as effectively to doubles as they do in singles because the "inside shot" is blocked by a net player in standard doubles formation. That being said, I find that the strength of my partner's middle shot and the degree to which my opponent is lunging or off balance in attempting to return the shot are the keys here, along with me delaying the poaching movement until just before they contact the ball.. If my partner's "T" serve or middle groundstroke is very strong, the opponent will generally hit defensively back through the middle.
@@johnnybgood1169 nearly everyone is quite a bit more likely to hit the ball down the line when hitting an inside shot versus an outside shot. Doubles is no different. Simply because hitting an inside shot down the line is more natural and it is easier. My last doubles lesson I counted 7 down the line shots in a row (as the baseliner) were inside groundstrokes. The toughest shot to hit crosscourt for most people is an inside out backhand.
I notice some players’ rackets hit the court when they are returning very low volley shots. This puts wear and tear on your racket, but is it best to never develop this habit and simply reach very low with your racket without making contact with the court?
Here's the hand signals lesson I talked about at the end of today's video: ruclips.net/video/NXoOGJkBIuQ/видео.html
Thanks for watching and keep working hard at your tennis!
I want to see more Project Ian!
Ian, #2 is an excellent observation. I love poaching, but that's an opportunity I had never considered (not that I've been playing very long--less than a year still). I plan to implement that one asap. Thanks!
It's a GREAT one, Walter!
As far as #2 is concerned... if I see my partner miss a poach, I'd try to avoid hitting crosscourt, because of the risk to hit the ball right on my partner's body. So, all of a sudden, the largest target for me would be down the line and the smallest ones either a risky short angle crosscourt in the "short" diagonal, or a lobe crosscourt ("long" diagonal).
Not enough videos can be made about this subject 💯❤
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for a very helpful video.
I wish I had seen it when I started playing tennis 65 years ago.
Really helpful. I feel more confident about my doubles net game already. Maybe I'll be a useful partner now! 😃
sometimes get burned by lobs and can’t get back don’t think I am standing back far enough in doubles box? besr
And btw hope u can give easy tips on when to let go of a ball that's out in doubles...(sometimes i still hit balls fired in front of me not so sure if it's out or not.For fear of "omg it may be inside or the product of defense reflex reaction.
The best way to poach in a great way is to put a ball machine and to learn to start you move only when the ball is released. In reality you'll become a player ten times worse than a pusher, cause you block the ability to hit either cross court and down the line....
I am 69 yes old and I love to poach but my timing is not right I want to find a system ,in which my opponent take the back has made his decision to wher to hit ball ,than I want poachthe way the my age players play it give the opponent ample time to see me moving,so he can hit the ball the he want ,thanks
When the net player goes, poaches full center after partner serves from the deuce side,, does the server move left to the center of the court to compensate, being more able to cover the left side of the court? Thanks…
Great video Ian !!! Love all the doubles content 👍
Your doubles players are playing with the singles poles in.
I feel like I need to give my best in tennis bcuz a friend died when we played. We played together to be better and never gave up. He inspires me when I struggle playing a match or just rallying
Wow - number 2 is a great tip! I never thought of what a great opportunity that is before. Thanks Ian!
Good video as always. My partner and I always signal while serving. We also love signaling while returning. Works great. A returner's partner poaching really gets the opponent wondering!
Idea #2 is a great one!. A concern, however, is - If the opposing net player couldn't reach the ball on poach, this would often be because the ball he tried to reach was hit at a sharp cross court angle; if his partner is retrieving a ball hit that was hit with a sharp cross court angle, then this partner would have a lot of room to hit a down the line shot, no? and a poach by me would expose even more down the line space?
If it's a sharp cross court angle that makes it very difficult to go down the line
Thanks Ian! I needed this! At the beginning, you were right. It’s mainly cross court and the people at the net do nothing. My coach and I will probably work on this!
3:37 No I always rifle it.
Doubles gold! Thanks Ian!
Very good tools, Ian, much appreciated. I'll share it with my USTA team we just created. Doubles needs more tools than singles and this set is great.
Loved #7, inception to opponent's head is 💪
Doubles requires more tennis skills and this leads to lots of hit and hope one up and one back doubles. As a high school tennis coach I constantly drill and teach volley skills and do situational drills. The rule in doubles is for the player closest to the ball cut it off. Hit down at their feet or between your opponents. You want to double team and isolate one opponent to pressure on them. You don’t see a lot of higher level doubles play but lots of singles players ( baselines afraid of the net)trying to play doubles who are very uncomfortable hitting a volley. Personally as an old school serve and volley player I love to constantly move up in doubles. Chip and charge on return, serve and volley and poach when my partner serves. You got to get into their head.
I'm a club player..sadly just had my foot injury (tho not tennis related) so I have so much time watching tips on how to improve my doubles game.
Thank you for sharing.Watching on the video u posted made me realized that "oh I should've done that" once I'm back to playing will definitely apply the tips u shared.
Awesome!! Oh my...“signals” not ready, I would need a consistent doubles partner first!😳 🎾😜
Happy ❤️ Day!!!!!
I LOVE the psychology of this!
Thanks for breaking it down, Ian.
Much LOVE from The USVI.
surprised that this is not mentioned in your lesson on "a time to poach". i have gotten to where i tend to poach when my partner has hit a good lob over the opposing net person. my first preference is for my partner to come in after doing that. but if they aren't comfy to do that, i have to accept that. but this is when i will choose to poach, as the person recovering the lob tends to lob it back or hits it down the line, towards the person that they think is at the baseline. but when the poach is done at right time, then i am there to hit a volley at the net person (who many times is watching their partner hit the ball, a NO NO). or even if i volley back to the baseline person, it takes time away from their next shot. which i hope allows me to PUT IT AWAY!!
13:17 here Ian is describing what is your job as the net player. And being a bad doubles player, I don't do this job at all.
When I am at the net, I don't poach (didn't know that term before) at all and often feel isolated from rallies or even letting my mate down when he/she can't win points while I am not really helping. I am not quiet sure if I ever will be a solid doubles player, but as I need to play doubles for both teams that I'll play on in summer, I really need to find some adjustments. Thanks Ian for bringing up some hints about it.
Would you add some examples out of the recent doubles match like you did with the singles match between Mark and Scott back then?
I need to show this video to about 90% of those with whom I partner. I can't tell you how many times a partner doesn't make the right move or is in a poor position on the doubles court. Just one suggestion you made "poach when you opponent has to make a shot off there weakest shot" I am amazed at how little many players know about doubles. Even some who play decent singles. They'll hug the alley and back up instead of move forward etc. Grrr!
I always have the feeling that we need that kind of specific guidance to singles strategies.... i just feel singles strategies are more general than doubles instruction.
Re. poaching the wide serve: Depends on your partner's groundstroke strengths and tendencies and your own volleying strengths. The return, even if hit down the line, is generally moving back to the center. Cover the alley if playing with a serve and volleyer, or someone whose weaker side is defending that DTL shot. Poach liberally otherwise.
Hi Ian, these are all great tips for spotting opportunities to poach. But here's my question. How do you train yourself to recognize these situations? When I'm at the net I am not aware of anything more specific than which side of the court the ball is on and who is about to play the next shot. How do you train yourself to become aware of things like the opponent is moving to his left and is going to play a backhand?
For tip #7, "stay and go" signal, when ur partner chooses "go", do that partner poach to middle and then also try to cover the right side of court? And that means i switch from right court coverage to left court coverage after my serve?
why are all these videos the same talking about how to poach the net, how to master the net. how about teaching how to get past and beat very good netters??
just thought of something while watching this. Maybe have your first match back from injury be a doubles match instead of a singles
Great video! For me that I am a beginner maybe I am still figuring out how to hit the ball, but sure will come on handy at some point!
Thanks for your suggestions. My concern is the times to poach are when your partner hits to the inside of the opponent, but that's when the opponent at net poaches. How do I stop the poacher?
Excellent video as always! Incidentally, I would love to also see a future video on "defensive" doubles tactics. The "yang" to this video's "yin", so to speak. Thanks again for the great content!
Great video Ian. Your vids are always amazing and helpful. Especially this one.
So early I poached the return lol
😆
Which app are using?
BHWHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
The 1+2 will definitely result in a good solid down the line shot to end the point
I miss doubles! Hopefully I can apply these soon. I played doubles for the first time in a long time the other day and it was all about keeping errors down because none of us had played for a long time. Can't wait to get more comfortable at the net again and start to use poaching more!
Good stuff, thanks Ian ! P.S. There's no apostrophe in "guarantees", unless you mean "guarantee is"! :-)
Great Lesson. I love #2, and can't wait to try it.
Excellent lesson for me~Thanks, Ian!
Great video
Thank You
very good stuff
GREAT SESSION! Particularly liked the 'down the middle' poach...thanks
Great to hear!
love the doubles videos ian thank you!!
wow awesome stuff! Thanks Ian.
Thanks Ian. - loved this!
Great lesson! Thanks
My pleasure!
Great tips, many thanks
great ideas i will try
Please do!
I love this video!!
Great content!
Timely post
Pure gold!
Thank you!
Great explanation!
Glad it was helpful!
Ian while you bring up a lot of good points and your videos are excellent, I have to add some thoughts here....
When receiving a ball in which the player is hitting up on the ball (usually a low short ball)
you suggested to poach on an “inside shot” meaning the groundstroke that is closest to the center of the court. I have to disagree with that. It is generally easier to change direction and go down the line on an inside shot (inside shot means ball doesn’t cross the plane of your body before you hit the ball). You probably know the difference between inside and outside groundstrokes but I just wanted to clarify. So what I’m saying is all things equal it’s gonna typically be better to poach on a ball in which the player is hitting up but particularly when the player has an outside shot. It’s just more natural to hit the ball crosscourt on an outside shot versus an inside shot, therefore, it’s a better time to poach. Also you mentioned poaching when the player is jammed, however, you said to poach on an inside shot. It would be better to poach on an outside shot for the reasons I stated above. I’m not saying what you said will not work but I am saying that my suggestion certainly is generally a better play against most players in my opinion.
I'm not sure that the Wardlaw Directionals apply as effectively to doubles as they do in singles because the "inside shot" is blocked by a net player in standard doubles formation. That being said, I find that the strength of my partner's middle shot and the degree to which my opponent is lunging or off balance in attempting to return the shot are the keys here, along with me delaying the poaching movement until just before they contact the ball.. If my partner's "T" serve or middle groundstroke is very strong, the opponent will generally hit defensively back through the middle.
@@johnnybgood1169 nearly everyone is quite a bit more likely to hit the ball down the line when hitting an inside shot versus an outside shot. Doubles is no different. Simply because hitting an inside shot down the line is more natural and it is easier. My last doubles lesson I counted 7 down the line shots in a row (as the baseliner) were inside groundstrokes. The toughest shot to hit crosscourt for most people is an inside out backhand.
I notice some players’ rackets hit the court when they are returning very low volley shots. This puts wear and tear on your racket, but is it best to never develop this habit and simply reach very low with your racket without making contact with the court?