Nets & Edges

When people get frustrated with the occurrence of nets and edges, it often stems from an ingrained (and mistaken) attitude that such shots should not occur, are an aberration, and are somehow contrary to the norm. The first step on the long road to recovery from "net and edge victim" syndrome is to accept the fact that their occurrence is very normal, quite common, and likely to happen at the worst possible time. Nets and edges, are not simply some freak of nature and a curse upon the sport, they are a statistical reality. In short, they WILL occur.

WHAT CAN ONE DO?

Be prepared. I am repeatedly distressed at the number of players at all levels who suffer from denial with regard to nets and edges. They get in the middle of an intense match, the ball hits the net, and they stand there with a victimized look on their face. Even when they "go for it, "it is evident from their technique that they spend little or no time practicing against such shots. It is almost always these very same players who spend their training in denial of nets and edges. Playing against such shots does not seem to merit attention in their training regiment. When their partner blocks for them as they practice their loop, if the partner gets an edge or a net (for either player), the player often "gives up" and just picks the ball up to start the drill over again.

Dealing with net and edge balls is simply an extra set of skills that can and should be practiced ALL the time. At tournaments, I hear complaints over and over about the lucky edge or net ball that won the match, blah blah blah...as if these shots just wait to appear only at crucial moments in crucial matches to dash people's hopes on the rocks of fate. Well, guess what, they happen all the time in practice drills and in practice matches at your local club. They occur so frequently in fact that, contrary to popular belief, they can be practiced against regularly, systematically, and consciously. Unfortunately, most players simply do not take such shots seriously when playing in their clubs, and their lack of both mental and technical preparation for their occurrence shows up in tournaments.

Some players even apologize during drills when they get nets and edges!! This perpetuates the attitude that such shots are a "mistake" and have no place in the sport. People should thank their practice partner for every net and edge ball. Players should thrive on them, embrace them, and consciously develop strategies on how to deal with them. Such preparation shows up in tournaments.

Sure, some of these shots are "unreturnable." But I would argue that 90% of such shots are actually returnable. The first step though is to get over the denial, and go for EVERY SINGLE one of these shots in practice, no matter if your opponent is rated 500 points below or higher than you. It is this type of training (and attitude) that will enable you to make amazing save shots in tournaments that you never thought yourself capable of. The more you practice, the higher percentage of these “impossible” shots suddenly becomes returnable and even winnable.