Skill level: beginner through advanced
Age: all
Number of players: 3 or pro plus 2
Focus: executing volleys and overheads as a doubles team at net; retrieving overheads
This game is enjoyable and instructive in a wide variety of situations, but it really stands out as one of a few games in which an advanced player can have a challenging competition with much less advanced players.
Note that the instructions are addressed to the person who is leading the game. That person need not be a pro, despite the "P" designation on the diagram, but if that person is playing, we'll assume that she is the most advanced player on the court.
1. Stand at the center of one baseline and put the other two players at net on the opposite side.
2. Feed an easy lob to A.
3. A may hit any shot he wishes, but it will usually be an overhead. You then play the point out, with either A or B able to hit any given ball once the point is underway. Use the doubles lines on both sides.
4. Start the next point to B.
5. If A and B are considerably less advanced than you, you'll find that just by retrieving their overheads and popping up one easy lob after another, you'll still win plenty of points. They will gradually learn to place their overheads better, and with a doubles court to cover, you'll get your running in.
6. If A and B are sufficiently advanced, you should give some tougher feeds and try to hit a winning pass or lob if they fail to put the ball away. They'll get practice at handling more difficult balls, and they'll gain better appreciation of the vulnerability that results from giving you an extra chance.
7. Play each game to ten, then rotate through all three positions or switch A and B. The baseline player needs to be fairly strong, so a complete rotation often won't make sense.
Variations:
- Two-on-One Passing Shot: Instead of lobbing every first ball, mix in some hard drives, low dippers, high backhands, shots into the body, and wide stretches. To add difficulty and realism, don't let A and B know to which of them each feed will go.
- For four players: The game can work with adding another player at the baseline, but it's best that they both be advanced. The tiny delay that many baseline pairs encounter when trying to decide who should field each ball can make retrieving overheads tougher for a pair than for a single player. Advanced players manage well, but others sometimes get frustrated, run into each other, or stop a hard smash with something other than a racquet.
- If you're feeding lobs to small children, stand well inside your court. That will help you feed a gentler lob, and they will learn that hitting past you is a good way to win a point. Kids often try to hit the ball between the net and their opponent, even when that opponent is well inside the court. It's a courteous habit, but one that needs to be broken for competition.
- Pop up a high, defensive lob now and then so that the net players will learn when to let a lob bounce before hitting it.
Best Practice Games: "Smash and Volley"
