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Your partner is serving. Where do you stand?
The server's partner starts at the net, on the opposite half. The server arrives to join them.
Your partner is about to serve from the right side. Where should you be?
The server's partner starts at the net, on the opposite half. The server arrives to join them.
Why
The serving pair begins the point with one player already at the net: the server's partner stands in the net position on the opposite half from the server, about two and a half metres from the net, slightly toward the middle. When the serve is hit, the server comes forward and the pair is in its attacking shape by the time the return arrives. The partner's job is to volley a return that comes their way, usually the one down the middle, and to watch for the return lob over the server.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Stand where you can see the returner clearly and keep your racket up. Most returns come to the server, but the one that comes to you comes fast.
Intermediate
Stand a half-step toward the middle. The returner's best shot is the cross-court lob over the server, and their second best is down the middle at you.
Advanced
Read the return from the returner's racket face. Closed face: a drive is coming and you can step in. Open face: it is a lob and you are already turning.
Common questions
Your partner is about to serve from the right side. Where should you be?
At the net on the other half, two to three metres back. The server's partner starts at the net, on the opposite half. The server arrives to join them. The serving pair begins the point with one player already at the net: the server's partner stands in the net position on the opposite half from the server, about two and a half metres from the net, slightly toward the middle. When the serve is hit, the server comes forward and the pair is in its attacking shape by the time the return arrives. The partner's job is to volley a return that comes their way, usually the one down the middle, and to watch for the return lob over the server.
Why not next to the server, at the back?
Then nobody is at the net and the pair has to win it later. The partner starts at the net so the server only has to join them.
What should a beginner do here?
Stand where you can see the returner clearly and keep your racket up. Most returns come to the server, but the one that comes to you comes fast.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Read the return from the returner's racket face. Closed face: a drive is coming and you can step in. Open face: it is a lob and you are already turning.
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.
beginnerThe ball is at your feet at the net. What now?
A ball below the net cannot be attacked. Block it deep and wait for one above the tape.
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.