Net positioning: holding the line during lobs

What this lesson covers

Defending the net during a lob requires one player to retreat for the overhead while the partner remains at the net. Many players mistakenly follow their partner back, which leaves the entire court open and creates gaps for the opponents to exploit. By staying at the net, the non-hitting player guards the space and prevents the opponents from hitting into the open court.

The player at the net must remain active and ready to intercept balls that the opponents cannot cross to the hitter's feet. If the lob is deep, the net player retreats, but they should look to push forward again as soon as the overhead is struck. This positioning forces the opponents to play difficult shots and allows the pair to maintain their offensive stance. When the opponents attempt to reclaim the net, the player holding the position must fight to keep their ground rather than retreating.