Too aggressive at the net in doubles?

Strategy

Hi all, Am a middling player - not a beginner, am fit enough and have won a few very low level competitions. I play with a variety of doubles partners generally people slower and older than me. When I play doubles, I love to be at the net and have a fairly decent overheads and am able to hit winners most of the time. Watching online coaching, I stand quite central in the service box when my partner is serving and try to control the centre of the court most of the time. I'm 6ft so middling height. The real question is, when i play competitive matches, I'm so present at the net that the opposition will focus a lot of their efforts to getting it over/wide of me. Is this a good thing forcing them to hit lobs/wide so my partner is in a good position or is this costing us points because it's putting my partner under pressure? Generally, I haven't played with partners who come in but will try to trade shots at the baseline crosscourt while I try to poach. I'm wondering if being so imposing makes it easier for the opposition to figure us out by lobbing/hitting wide every time? Are there things my partner can do to increase our percentages if I'm at the net? (I'm right handed). Thanks

Posted Feb 20, 2026, 4:25 PM UTC

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