skill imbalancetargetingteam roles
When Opponents Send Every Ball to One Player on Your Team
Instead of trying to hide the less experienced partner, use both players' positions and opening patterns to remove the easy target.
Start with this check
When one player remains isolated at the baseline, opponents can repeat the same crosscourt ball and lob while taking the other partner out of the match.
Try these steps in order
- Choose the serve and return order, and the deuce-ad side arrangement, that gives your team the most comfortable pattern.
- The stronger partner actively pressures the middle with poaches and fake moves.
- The less experienced partner uses generous crosscourt targets and lobs to create time for both partners to move forward.
Bottom line
A team with unequal skill is strongest when it creates simple, repeatable roles for both players instead of hiding one of them.
Reviewed sources
Technical evidence is shown separately from community topic signals.
Technical evidence
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