Defending the middle

It depends!

 

It is ALWAYS the cross court defender, because they have the most options. That is why you should never lift down the middle. It does not matter who is defending forehand or backhand or anything - the cross court defender has the option to play straight defence, which will go away from the attacker and his partner, or go straight back at the attacker and confuse their partner.

Good luck!

 

If you push it to the rear corner and you know the opponent is going to be late to it, then you'd be right to stay up for the inevitable drive or drop to the net. Let your partner handle any weak high lift towards the back.

 

This is now just a case of tactics. Yes - feel free to simply move forwards and take the net, your partner should go backwards in court. However, it may be your partner is better at the net and you are best at the back, so you should go to the back and they should go forwards. OR you can both stay side by side, both ready to pounce forwards or go backwards and smash (sides attacking).

 

The receiver should be the one who can return the smash with a backhand block/return. A backhand return for smashes are much easier to control. However if the shot is a clear to the middle rear while receivers stand side by side then the receiver who can hit it with a forehand, also the same reason that it is easier to perform a forehand clear/smash/drive from the rear of the court.

 

I've heard three theories over the years on who should take the smashes to the middle, one of which is probably wrong.

1. The one that can take it forehand - this one is probably wrong. It assumes the one taking it with forehand is the best person regardless of situation. It also ignores the fact that in under-hand shots, backhand actually is more versatile and stronger than forehand. Today, I still hear some otherwise good players say this to me on court.

2. The one that can take it with backhand - this is an extension of #1 above, though I'm wondering if this applies to forehand/backhand choice, rather than players. Presumably, both players can use backhand, though one of them may be in a better position to use it than the other. E.g. when defending against a straight smash down the right hand side (even court).

3. The one that is cross-court from the attacker - this is the one I clearly remember hearing from a top ex- Doubles professional (from Chinese National Team). The cross-court player may still prefer to use backhand defense, but this doesn't preclude the use of forehand if needed. This frees up the straight player to defend against the fastest straight smashes. And in here, I learned about the other reason from Matt earlier.

Regardless, the attack to the middle is very effective. The middle may be ambiguously defined. It doesn't have to be exactly the point geometrically equal distance from each player. There's a transition somewhere each player thinks it belongs to his partner. At this point, the cross-court player will not stick is racket out trying to return it.

 

what if there is not cross court player? ie smashed from almost exactly in middle and to the middle of the other court?

 

I think it really depends, depending on how strong their forehand/backhand defense for smashes. My forehand is stronger and has more control, so if it comes right down the middle and it's towards my forehand, I would be the one defending.

My coach didn't mention anything with regards to playing in such a way so long as the defender knows how to get back to position depending on the shot he/she returns.

 

That's why it's not a good idea to do defensive clear to middle, as your opponents would attack/smash your middle.

For regular partners, they may have a way to break the "tie". Maybe always the one on right hand side takes it, with backhand. Or as some suggested, the stronger defender takes it.

 

I prefer players on the forehand side to return middle shots.