| Red Light…Green Light…COURT POSITION By: Michael Kowalski – USNTA Certified Instructor and USRSA Certified Stringer.Every doubles player… at all skill levels is guilty of this mistake. I see this ALL the time, and, sad to say, I’m as guilty as the next player.You’re moving forward into the court… you’re about at the service line… here it comes, that semi-floating ball, it’s not a short overhead, but a high volley.Boy it looks “juicy,” and we know, I mean we just KNOW we can do something really big with it… something to end the point NOW!! So why? Why did you hit it into the net?!?!Because… that sure thing was really a very difficult shot from our not-really-good court position. (Remember, we were still slightly behind the service line at contact).Think RED Light…GREEN Light... and never make this mistake again… Make the service line your reference point as to where on the court you either do or don’t have true put away opportunities. |
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| YELLOW (OK… there is one more light to think about) If you’re just a little in front or a little in back of the service line, and the ball is close to net-height when you make contact, resist the urge, you don’t have a put away opportunity. Your attitude has to be to think pace, crisp, and keep it low… this is a “stay in the point” shot you’re making. | |||
| And the bottom line when you play any GLORY shot…. Take your time! Even when all the lights are green, it’s way too easy to force the ball back down into the court by pulling your racket down as you hit… that’s why we all hit the net too often! (Now what was the volley tip my USNTA instructor gave me about punching with a firm wrist… and, something about a stop sign?) | |||
