Team Forman Tennis for Savvy Tennis Enthusiasts

LEARN TO DEFEND 🎾

If you’re the server’s net partner, understanding how to defend gives your team a significantly better chance of winning the point.

If the server is pulled forward and out of position, the net person must back up and help defend the court.

This isn’t being passive.

It’s a pure anticipation move—thinking about what’s coming next and getting into position before it happens.

TeamForman says:
“You can’t have offense without defense.”

ON THE RECEIVING SIDE…

If the net person doesn’t BURST IN LIKE THE FLORIDA SUNSHINE on their partner’s return…

All sorts of bad things happen:

1. You get passed down the line.
2. Balls get drilled at your feet.
3. There’s no stagger.
4. NO ONE takes control.

Your partner hits the return—YOU BURST IN and hunt the volley. ☀️🎾

TeamForman says:

“If you play with the fear of the lob, you’ll NEVER be aggressive.”

🚨 THE MIDDLE IS YOURS! 🚨

If the return gets through the middle, the net player is NOT doing their job.

And what makes it DOUBLY BAD?

That ball is now going directly to the server’s backhand!

THE FIX:

MOVE YOUR FEET.
HUNT THE BALL.
GET A CRACK AT THE VOLLEY!

Your number-one job at the net is to VOLLEY—not stand there and wait for the ball to find you.

It’s a MINDSET.

🎾 TEAMFORMAN SAYS:

“Don’t let it happen. MAKE IT HAPPEN!”

LOB CROSSCOURT OR DOWN THE LINE? 🎾

Your opponents hit a deep return and rush the net…

Where’s the best place to lob?

1. Crosscourt?
2. Down the line?

TeamForman’s pick: DOWN THE LINE! 👇

When you lob crosscourt, you’re basically hitting the ball right to the opponent charging the net.

Generally, the opposing net player is tighter to the net—making the down-the-line lob your best option.

TEAMFORMAN SAYS:

“Don’t lob where they’re going. Lob where they’ve been.”

STAGGER FOR CONTROL

To play aggressively and take control, staggering is essential.

In both clips, the staggered player keeps the point alive. AND doesn’t let the ball/ lob bounce !

One player protects the court while the other hunts to finish the point.

That’s aggressive doubles.

Never have both players nips to the net or parked on the service line together.

TeamForman says
“One staggers. One hunts. Together, you control the point.”

PRACTICE YOUR WEAKNESSES.
PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS. 🎾

Are you fast?
Are you strong?
Do you have a big weapon?

It’s tough to have it ALL.

When you compete, find a way to make the match feed into your strengths. That’s how you win.

But in practice?

Keep sharpening your strengths while attacking your weaknesses.

The smaller the gap between the two, the stronger—and more complete—you become.

TeamForman says:
Train your weaknesses. Trust your strengths.

For the rest of your life. 💚

WANT TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE? 🎾🔥

Here’s a great drill game that will FORCE you to come forward:

Start two back.

You can only win the point with a volley or overhead.

This forces you to:

• Move forward
• Take more balls out of the air
• Improve your reflex volleys
• Develop your swinging volley

TeamForman says:

If you want to become more aggressive, you have to practice being aggressive.

FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. 💚