Tennis Doubles Tip: The Movement Triangle

OTI Instructor Gregg le Sueur explains his movement triangle principle, which is THE key to becoming a great active net player in doubles!

You may have realized that movement is critical if you want to be a successful poacher up at the net.

But how exactly should you move in order to maximize your chances of success?

That’s where the movement triangle comes in.

It is simple and can easily transform your doubles game!

[notsohandytim]

Our pro has been trying to teach us this weekly, but in fragments. He did not teach it as movement within a triangle. Now I see what he was trying to convey. Thank you.

[jamesm]

Good video. I find myself moving sideways along the net but this makes more sense with better positioning. As someone said, , against big hitters you need to tighten the triangle but generallly the right approach.

[PURETENNISsense]

Gregg was a coach at my academy for a little bit when I was in High School, great to see him in this video! I remember these exact things he said!

[thomasmedeiros]

For those doubles players who have played hockey or basketball think of double teaming/ two on one strategy to isolate the opponent at the baseline and hit the volley between your opponents or at the feet of the opposing net player.

[S-xu]

Thanks so much. Very well done, I use this with my High School team. Very effective & no standing around!

[omarsultanov]

Thank you so much. Very useful and very very helpful advice.

[hrms]

Movement at the net is important I agree. However you need to time your movements as too soon and you leave a gap to be taken down the line.

[gavlatennis]

Thats a great video - informative yet straight to the key points. Perfect. I like the way you teach.

[thomasmedeiros]

To play effective doubles your team try to double up on the opponent that is playing the ball. The player on your team that is closest to the net should intercept the return an place it in between your opponents or at the feet of the opponent closest to the net to force them to hit up so you can put the ball away. I coached High School Tennis for twenty years and always emphasized this tactic. My doubles players that played hockey and basketball naturally understood that you had to close in and cut off the return. There are many good drills that doubles players can use. It is necessary to develop volley skills. We started every practice in the service box with one player at the net and his practice partner in the opposite service box. 5 forehead then 5 backhand volleys right back to the player hitting ground strokes. Learning to volley is all about preparing and control.

[Mickey_McD]

Thanks Gregg and Florian. Question: For an out wide shot, Gregg initially moves out wide, but it seems like he doesn't wait long enough to see if the returner makes a down the line shot before moving toward the middle. Doesn't this make you more vulnerable to being passed down the alley?

[lordbyron]

I like that triangle. It makes a lot of sense. I’m usually just standing near the doubles alley where you have it marked ... very ineffective. Most of the time, I’m watching balls zoom by me to my right. If I were nearer the service line as marked, I’ll be able to catch those balls. I’ll try it out. Thank you.

[lordbyron]

Who generally makes more points, the guy at the net or the one at the baseline? What should be the mindset of the guy at the net? Also the one at the baseline? Thanks.

[blackatzluck]

Thanks. Now i know how to dance in game. 😊😊 cheers!

[opalpearl]

Gregg, I watch a lot of pro doubles, and they don't seem to use the triangle. Instead, the net man just crowds the net by standing a foot or two away most of the time.

[lordbyron]

If your poach is weak, should your partner stay back at the baseline or come to the net? Also, a bad poach usually results in an unwanted i-formation leaving one side of the court completely open and unmanned. Is there a way to prevent that? Thanks.

[j.scholtz]

Hi Gregg, I took a dubs 2 day course from you last year in FL. Very good. Question - at that session you talked about moving within a rectangle in similar fashion rather than a triangle and I'm wondering why the change? I note that your triangle seems to be on the receiving team - maybe the rectangle is more for serving? Also, in terms of the serving team, it's the responsibility of the server to give the net player the best chance to be successful at the net and at the same time exploit any deficiencies that the specific returner has with an angled serve, body or down-the-T. As you noted in a previous video, the net guy getting passed 1-2 x times isn't a problem, but 3+ is (either a net coverage/volley skills problem or a movement problem) but also location on serve problem. Thanks for the tips. J. Scholtz

[thetfactor]

Hey Gregg. Do you ever do a hesition break on that ball out wide to protect against the shot down the line? Or do you make a different sort of split step, either higher or lower?

[KRN]

4:28 and you can see the opponent net player (blue shirt) NOT doing the movement pattern, very stationary

[yimingzhh]

I was going to hit like button. But wait, I already did long time ago!

[thegefster]

What about the alley.... Seem to be leaving it wide open