keep your back straight and your knees bent as this helps you keep the opponent in your line of sight .”
Your primary objective at the NVZ line is to make sure that there is no opening , no easy shot available to your opponents . That means the middle must be covered . You also want to win , so that means there needs to be some poaching going on . But the poach can ’ t leave half the court open . Most women have decent groundstrokes and can pass you when given an opening . The poach in women ’ s doubles must be a good one . I view the poach as an aggressive , take-charge shot . Marne added , “ I poach when I know my partner has been pulled out of court or is in trouble getting to the NVZ line .”
Communicate . Tell your partner where you ’ re going to return the ball . You can also signal with hand motions behind the net woman ’ s back whether or not she is going to poach and / or cross . Hand signals give you a jump on the play . Sometimes they also unnerve the opponents because they know you ’ re up to something .
You don ’ t want your partner to be surprised so the more she knows the better , so you can move in tandem . You must return effectively , and she must move .
Marne always says “ Yours ” or “ Mine ” when she is covering the return of serve , “ as it ’ s usually in the middle and that takes all doubt out of that next shot ,” she explained . She also says “ Yours ” or “ Mine ” when it ’ s in the middle of the NVZ . Since she usually plays with her identical twin sister , she does not use hand signals since they have that “ wonderful osmosis thing going on .”
Rule # 1 is the player closer to the net has priority . The player farther back can see the partner in front . The person returning the ball can see the partner at net . The player closer to the ball has priority . No need to get way out of position in women ’ s doubles . Consistent volleys win women ’ s doubles . Deep volleys and good court position at the NVZ are the objective .
Marne Smith shifts back to hit an overhead as Alicia Russell keeps her paddle up , gives Marne ample room to hit her shot , and is prepared to cover that center since Marne has had to move back off the line . They work in tandem to protect against the opponent ’ s highest percentage center shot .
As Alicia Russell takes a wide forehand dink , Marne Smith shifts along the NVZ line to cover the center . She is at the T with her paddle up and her weight on the balls of her feet ready to attack a high ball . It ’ s easier to drop the paddle for a low ball than it is to raise the paddle for an attackable ball .
If the ball is returned down the middle and no poach takes place , both players on the receiving side should move to the middle of their respective NVZ lines . If the opponents hit the next ball down the middle , the partner on the left side has an easier reach to take the ball on her forehand . Most right-handed players move better to the right even though their backhands might be their better shot . So , you let the player move to her right to cover the center . Both players shift to the side where the ball is hit .
In other words , players form a cone to cover the logical shot . The player closer to the ball can play toes to the NVZ line . The farther player can drop back a couple of feet
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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2021 | MAGAZINE 33