Home › Puzzle › You smashed, it came back off the glass, and they lobbed. Who covers?
You smashed, it came back off the glass, and they lobbed. Who covers?
After a smash that comes back, the partner takes the lob and the smasher retreats to stay level. The pair defends as one.
You hit a big smash from the left. It comes back off their glass, they retrieve it and lob to your right side. You are still recovering from the smash. What happens?
After a smash that comes back, the partner takes the lob and the smasher retreats to stay level. The pair defends as one.
Why
A smash that is retrieved leaves the smasher off balance, usually close to the net and to one side. If the opponents lob to the other side, the partner plays it and the smasher's job is to get back to the same depth, drifting to the middle, so the pair is together when the next ball arrives. The instinct to stay at the net and "keep the attack" is what splits pairs, and a split pair against opponents who have just retrieved a smash is a pair about to be lobbed over and passed. Recover the shape first; the attack comes back with the next good ball.
What this means at your level
Beginner
After you smash, look at your partner. If they are going back, you go back too.
Intermediate
Retreat diagonally toward the middle rather than straight back. From the middle you cover the reply to your partner's lob in both directions.
Advanced
The best smash is one that does not come back; the second best is one that comes back to where your partner is standing. Smash to the corner away from where the opponents can lob most easily.
Common questions
You hit a big smash from the left. It comes back off their glass, they retrieve it and lob to your right side. You are still recovering from the smash. What happens?
Partner takes the lob; you drop back level with them. After a smash that comes back, the partner takes the lob and the smasher retreats to stay level. The pair defends as one. A smash that is retrieved leaves the smasher off balance, usually close to the net and to one side. If the opponents lob to the other side, the partner plays it and the smasher's job is to get back to the same depth, drifting to the middle, so the pair is together when the next ball arrives. The instinct to stay at the net and "keep the attack" is what splits pairs, and a split pair against opponents who have just retrieved a smash is a pair about to be lobbed over and passed. Recover the shape first; the attack comes back with the next good ball.
Why not you cross to take it. You have the momentum?
You have the wrong momentum: forward and left. Crossing to a lob on the right from there is a scramble at best.
What should a beginner do here?
After you smash, look at your partner. If they are going back, you go back too.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The best smash is one that does not come back; the second best is one that comes back to where your partner is standing. Smash to the corner away from where the opponents can lob most easily.
Puzzles like this one
They lobbed you deep. Smash it or play the bandeja?
Deep ball, high hands: bandeja. The shot exists to keep you at the net, not to win the point.
beginnerBoth of them are at the net. What is the highest-percentage ball?
Only the lob moves a net pair backwards. Everything else invites them forward.
intermediateYour partner got pulled wide. Where do you stand?
The pair moves like one body. When your partner is pulled wide, you take the middle.