THE LOWDOWN
Let's drill! If you arrive first, unlock the wheels before moving net into place, then lock. There are four courts at this venue, and Rec players usually begin showing up by 8:30 AM.

Drilling will take place from 8-9 AM for now, after which players can usually stay for rec games. (See the Hope Highlands group in Player Lineup for info on rec games at this facility.) On some days, two of the courts are dedicated to tennis play. Mainly, though, there is at least one court available at this time of day for drilling.

Sign up for a date listed or add a meetup of your own.

If there's a particular skill you'd like to work on, post it in a message and we will get it onto the schedule.

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A SAMPLE DRILL ~ STACKING

As understood by me (Phyllis P)

What is stacking?

Stacking is a skill that can confuse even pro players, but once it's understood and practiced, it can really change the outcome of a game to your advantage because you will be better able to cover the middle of the court, where a lot of the action is.

When is it a good idea to stack?

Stacking is often done when a team has one left-handed player and one right-handed player, but there are other reasons to stack as well. For instance, if one player's forehand is stronger than their partner's, stacking can provide an advantage. Ideally, you want the most capable hand(s) to be towards the middle of the court, and stacking provides this.

How does stacking differ from "normal" positioning?

In a normal (non-stacking) setup, players move to the left or right half of the court after their team scores a point. When stacking, players can play the entire game from their preferred side. However, the correct player MUST serve (and also return their opponent's serve) from the side they would normally be on if they were not stacking.

This sounds confusing. How will I remember where I'm supposed to be on a serve or return?

Knowing where you need to be standing on a serve or return is based on your team's score. If your score is even, serve (or return a serve) from your preferred side. If your team's score is odd, you and your partner will line up in an "odd" way. You will need to serve from your partner's preferred side and vice versa.

How do we begin?

On a serve, when in stacked position, you and your partner will slide to the left or right as needed, so that the server is positioned on the correct serving side. Once the ball has been served, you and your partner then slide back to your preferred sides. There is no rule about where the non-server must stand during a serve, so find a method that works for you.

What about receiving a serve?

After a side out, when you are about to receive your opponent's serve, figure out where you would be if you WEREN'T stacking. (There's an easy trick to figuring it out, don't worry.) The teammate who would then be on the right side of the court will receive the serve. Once the ball has been hit back to the serving side, you are free to get back to your preferred position.

OK, so what's the trick to remembering correct positioning?

Remember what side you're standing on at the start of the game. The score is zero at that point, which is considered an even number. Whenever the score is even, you should be in your starting position. When your score is odd, your position will be "odd" (opposite of starting side). Once the ball has been served, or once the serve is returned if you're the receiving team, you are free to move to your preferred side if you're not already there.

It's really not as difficult to implement as it sounds, but it will take practice to get comfortable with it. Don't be afraid to try out this scenario. It's only a drill. Good luck!