Net play and serve return

The main points in 30 seconds

Nikolai Ukk on the front court: net shots, cross-nets and an active return of the short serve — what decides a doubles rally.

• Reach the racket towards the shuttle together with the lunge — it helps judge the distance. Left arm and left leg point to the centre of the court.
• Don't squeeze the racket at the net: on the forehand the index finger leads, on the backhand the thumb.
• Take the shuttle as high at the tape as you can and spin it with the wrist — a spinning shuttle is hard to return.
• A cross-net starts like an ordinary net shot; at contact the wrist turns the racket face, so the opponent can't read it.
• Returning the short serve: stand close to the net, hands forward, weight on the left leg, hit down. If you can't — push to the side alley behind the server.