How to Pick On the Deuce
Court Player - Gerri Viant
If you are in a match and the ad court player
is the stronger of the two partners, or the sun is blinding
coming out of the ad court side, you need to be able to play
the deuce court player without giving that player a chance to
attack. Here’s a series of shots that will accomplish
this goal.
1. The first shot should
be hit deep down the middle so the deuce court player has to
move back and out towards the middle of the court, keeping them
behind the baseline.
2. The second shot is then hit
by aiming deep in the court along the singles line two feet
from the baseline. ( see red dot )
3. This shot is forcing the deuce
court player from point A to chase down a back side screen (point
B). The overhead should be hit hard enough to make the screen,
but not so hard as to create an opportunity for the backcourt
player to attack.
4. The third shot is hit straight
and deep in line with the second post ( see red dot )
5. You now have your opponents
chasing your shots.
6. If the ad court player comes
over to take the shot, they will be pulled out of position and
the net team will have an opportunity to hit behind them.
7. The net team has now hit a combination
of shots that has the deuce court player on the ropes. Now you
can look to close the net and hit a drop shot !!
8. What is important here is that
all these shots have been hit to the deuce court player with
out giving them a chance to attack a short ball. ( see black
hole )
Article by Gerri Viant
Head Racquets Professional at The Nyack Field Club, Nyack
New York.
Co-founder of Performance Paddle Camp
Certified by the PPTA, and National Tester.
