Neutralizing net rushers: pace control and lobbing

What this lesson covers

Net rushers are identified by their tendency to hit fast, flat volleys and their failure to recover to a stable net position. When serving against these opponents, use a medium-speed serve with slice directed toward the side glass to reduce the ball's speed. Follow this with a soft, sliced first volley aimed deep into the center, forcing the ball to die near the back glass. This prevents the opponent from attacking and forces them to remain at the back of the court.

When returning against aggressive servers, focus on blocking the ball back into the court to keep the point alive. If the serve does not hit the glass, aim for a soft chiquita to the feet or a high lob. Because net rushers often play with high pace, utilize the back glass to absorb the speed of their incoming volleys. The rebound off the glass provides the time needed to guide the ball back over the net. This strategy requires both partners to maintain a controlled pace, as playing fast against a net rusher only accelerates the point and leads to errors.