#1006: "Respect the X" — Do People Really Know What it Means?
#1006: This is an often-used but greatly misunderstood saying about which player takes the ball, depending on the angle at which it crosses the net. Coach Deb Harrison thinks beginners and intermediates may have never heard the phrase, whereas more advanced players think they know what it means...but there's a good chance they don't! Coach Deb calls the middle of the court between the partners "Divorce Court" because players miss the ball but blame each other because they aren't clear whose ball it is.
In this episode you’ll hear:
What “Respect the X” really means — and why it’s about ball direction, not forehands
Which player should take balls coming through the middle (and why drifting causes trouble)
How the X applies differently in women’s doubles vs. mixed play
When it’s smart to break the X — and when doing so gets you burned
How beginners and intermediate players can learn this early to build better habits
Why trust and communication matter more than assigning blame when a ball gets through
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