Tip #15
No More "No Man's Land," Please!

I have stopped using the phrase no man’s land in my doubles presentations and classes because it implies that you should not ever be there. Not true!  Many times you need to be attacking or defending somwhere around the service line (no man’s land). Instead, I call this area the most difficult place on the court to play. It takes a great deal of skill to play there so you need to leave that area to improve your position as soon as possible, but how you play in that area determines how well you can compete. I always teach my students how to play in that area, but they know they should get out of there as soon as they can can for better positioning. In my opinion there is no, no man's land, in doubles.

Tip #14
What you do before the ball is hit is key

If you will learn to react to the situation created by the shot, instead of reacting to the ball after it is hit, you will be able to raise your game immediately.  Let me give you an example:  You hit a lob over the netman deep into the corner.  What do you do?  If you both move to the net, because of the time allowed by the lob, then react to the shot, a good return lob will put the team in trouble.  Lets react to the situation instead.  You have created a lob situation with your return.  In other word, the opponents should lob the return.  Realizing this, I send the ball side player to attack the net, so she can put away any poor lob and can also poach a poor return.   But I send her partner to the middle third of the court and back just behind the service line, before the ball is hit.  Now the team can destroy a poor shot and still cover any great lob return effectively.  React to the situation before the ball is hit, do not just react to the opponents shot.

Tip #13
Where are you when the point is finished?

The area around the service line requires the most tennis skill to play effectively.  In fact, it is often called no man's land, suggesting that you should never be there.  While this is not true, because many times attacking or defending you should be there, you should leave that area as soon as possible.  It is easier to defend at the baseline and much easier to win at the net, so leave that difficult area when you can.  Many league players get to the service line and then spend the rest of the point there.  In fact, I see it so often, that I call that area in my lectures "home," as so many players do not attack further once the get to that area and they are happy and contented to finish the point there.  Home to me is the net.  Where is it to you?

Tips 15-13
Tips 12-10
Tips 9-7
Tips 6-4
Tips 3-1