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"Is he aiming to my right, my left, or over my head? " |
While there are several ways to answer that question, there is only one correct answer if you are to stop getting passed in the middle or anywhere else for that matter.
So- What are you doing when your opponent is about to hit the ball?
Answer: Trying to figure out where your opponent is aiming.
That's what's going on the the mind of a high level player. "Is he aiming to my left, to my right, or over my head?" That’s the way to ask the question. DO NOT put in the 4th possibility and ask if he’s aiming right TO you. If you put this in, you won’t move anywhere. Of course, many balls are indeed hit right to you- but those are not the shots passing you down the middle.
If you're getting passed in the middle it's because you're getting lulled into watching your opponent’s shots and then trying to react. The reason you get lulled into not anticipating is because many (if not most!) of your opponent’s shots are hit right TO you. Then, suddenly, one goes through the middle and you and your partner stare at each other wondering who was to take it. If we go back to the original foundation based question the answer is obvious.
If you and your partner are side by side at the net, and each one of you is asking “where is my opponent aiming this shot?” The player who covers the middle is the player who thought the opponent was hitting to that side of him.
Yes. It’s that simple and yes- You could both anticipate the shot is headed through the middle and therefore have double coverage. This often is the case in high level doubles. At that point, body language will call the ball and one player will back off.
Too much coverage in the middle is a good problem to have!
Best wishes for never-ending improvement,
Steve Tourdo
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