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They are hitting from the deep left corner. Where do you shift at the net?
Shift the pair toward the ball. Cover the cross-court diagonal, leave the hard line shot.
The opponent is about to hit from deep in their left corner, near the glass. You and your partner are at the net. How should you adjust?
Shift the pair toward the ball. Cover the cross-court diagonal, leave the hard line shot.
Why
From deep in a corner, the easy shot is cross-court: it has the most court to land in, the net is lowest in the middle, and the hitter is facing that way. Down the line is shorter, over the higher part of the net, and has the side glass to worry about. So the net pair shifts a step or two toward the side the ball is on, covering the diagonal and the middle, and dares the hitter to find the line. When they do find it, applaud; over a match they will miss it far more often than they make it.
What this means at your level
Beginner
When the ball is on their left, both of you move a step to your left. When it is on their right, a step to your right.
Intermediate
The player on the ball side covers the line with their body position; the other covers the middle. Neither covers "everything".
Advanced
Watch the hitter's shoulders as they set up. Open toward the line means the line is coming; square to the net means cross-court. Shift late but shift correctly.
Common questions
The opponent is about to hit from deep in their left corner, near the glass. You and your partner are at the net. How should you adjust?
Both shift toward the side the ball is on. Shift the pair toward the ball. Cover the cross-court diagonal, leave the hard line shot. From deep in a corner, the easy shot is cross-court: it has the most court to land in, the net is lowest in the middle, and the hitter is facing that way. Down the line is shorter, over the higher part of the net, and has the side glass to worry about. So the net pair shifts a step or two toward the side the ball is on, covering the diagonal and the middle, and dares the hitter to find the line. When they do find it, applaud; over a match they will miss it far more often than they make it.
Why not both shift to the opposite side to cover the line?
The line from a deep corner is the hardest shot on the court. Covering it leaves the easy cross-court open.
What should a beginner do here?
When the ball is on their left, both of you move a step to your left. When it is on their right, a step to your right.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Watch the hitter's shoulders as they set up. Open toward the line means the line is coming; square to the net means cross-court. Shift late but shift correctly.
Puzzles like this one
They lobbed you deep. Smash it or play the bandeja?
Deep ball, high hands: bandeja. The shot exists to keep you at the net, not to win the point.
beginnerThe ball is at your feet at the net. What now?
A ball below the net cannot be attacked. Block it deep and wait for one above the tape.
beginnerBoth of them are at the net. What is the highest-percentage ball?
Only the lob moves a net pair backwards. Everything else invites them forward.