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In Stacking Strategy: Part 1, we discussed the basics of stacking; what it is, options for setup positions, and communication between partners. Now let's talk about some other facets of stacking. It is important to know the benefits and risks of any strategy. Not only will identifying the risks help you make informed decisions about whether or not stacking is right for you, but it will also present ways you can exploit stacking strategies when your opponents choose to stack (especially if they do not execute well).
Those photos are still funny. They're stacks!
Stacking risks
With virtually any strategic choice you make, there are advantages and disadvantages, risks and rewards. We have covered the strategic advantages for stacking, but there are also risks.
Incorrect positioning
If you choose to stack, it is important to
- know the score and
- know which player is the even player and which player is odd
The player who starts as the first server for the game needs to be on the right side to serve or receive any time your score is even. The other player needs to be on the left side when your team's score is even. When your score is odd, the even server plays from the left side and the partner from the right side. These requirements are only true for the serve and return. Typically, you only stack one way. If you start out in the position you prefer to play in, your score is even and you will not be stacked when your score is even, but any time your score is odd, you will either play stacked, or you will play out your point from the sub-optimal positions.
Some teams start in a stacked position. If you do that, you just have to remember than you will be stacking when your score is even and unstacked when your score is odd. Why would a team start in a stack? You might choose to start from a stacked position if one player has an effective and offensive serve, but s/he wants to play on the left side. It is not done as frequently, but if you watch teams in pro games, you do see it here and there.
If your opponents are stacking, also keep track of where they belong relative to the score. This is not hard to do. You simply have to make a mental note of which partner started serving for the game. If they make a mistake, call them on it. If the wrong player hits the return, it's a free point for your team. If the wrong person serves or they serve from the wrong side, they lose a serve.
Matches with a Ref
If your opponents are stacking, also keep track of where they belong relative to the score. This is not hard to do. You simply have to make a mental note of which partner started serving for the game. If they make a mistake, call them on it. If the wrong player hits the return, it's a free point for your team. If the wrong person serves or they serve from the wrong side, they lose a serve.
Matches with a Ref
When you are playing in a tournament with referees, the ref should be watching for these things, but many refs are inexperienced and not paying close attention. You can call it to their attention if the ref misses it.
Also, if you are not sure if you are in the correct position or if you are the correct receiver/server, you can ask the ref. There is no penalty for asking. And if you ask and the ref makes a mistake, you can't get penalized for doing what the ref told you was right.
You can stop a point as soon as the incorrect server, or receiver hits the ball, however, if you stop the point, and you are wrong, you lose the rally. Be sure. Know the score. Know who should be where.
Also, if you are not sure if you are in the correct position or if you are the correct receiver/server, you can ask the ref. There is no penalty for asking. And if you ask and the ref makes a mistake, you can't get penalized for doing what the ref told you was right.
You can stop a point as soon as the incorrect server, or receiver hits the ball, however, if you stop the point, and you are wrong, you lose the rally. Be sure. Know the score. Know who should be where.
Greater distance to travel to get to your position
This is really only an issue for stacking when your team is receiving. If you have trouble making it to the NVZ straight ahead from the baseline before the serving team hits the third shot, this is a greater distance (approximately 18 feet and some change as opposed to 15 feet from baseline to the kitchen running straight). You will either need to be faster, give yourself more time by hitting the return deep with more loft, or you won't make it. If you cannot make it to your stacked position at the NVZ, you might consider a 1/2 stack or 3/4 stack if only one partner has mobility issues (again, refer to the first article if you don't know what I mean by 1/2 stack or 3/4 stack).
Thank you Pythagoras |
Of course, those measurements assume the serve comes nicely to the middle of the court near the baseline. Servers who realize you are stacking may decide to not make life easy for you. We'll discuss what to do when the serve causes you trouble shortly.
Miscommunication and brain fail
Another common problem is caused when one of the players forgets the plan between the time the signal is flashed and the time the return is hit. These things happen. Here are two points in a row from a tournament in Hot Springs last year where I messed up the switch. My partner signaled a switch to me when I was receiving. Between the time he signaled and I hit the ball, I forgot what we were doing. On the next point, I signaled a switch to my partner and I still forgot. Take a look.
This is embarrassing when it happens. Sometimes I think I have the memory of a goldfish.
Since then, I have found it is helpful to me to internally recite the plan to myself after the signal is given. "Hit the return and go [left]" ...or right if that is your stacked position. Just a spoonful of paying attention helps the brain fail go away ...as the song goes.
Okay, now let's talk about when your opponents get their signals crossed. This usually leaves a significant gap. Pop the ball into that gap. This is where the ability to hit low quick shots with some accuracy (but not so hard they go out of bounds) can pay dividends. You don't have to hit a ball crazy hard to make it difficult for players who are piled onto one side of the court to send back to you.
Serves into the stack
Serves that are hit on a sharp angle and carry you off the court in the opposite direction of where you need to go to get to your stacked position can make it difficult or even impossible for you to get where you need to go. This is particularly effective if you are stacking with one player off the court rather than switch style stacking (see diagram below). The green player in the diagram is stacked off the court and the purple player will hit the return. Both players will shift left as the return crosses the court to their opponents. The second diagram below shows the type of serve that can cause problems with stacking
Stacks to the side are more vulnerable to angle serves into the corner |
The receiver is going to have a difficult time getting to the ball and then crossing to his stacked position |
There is no easy way out of this scenario. Your best bet as the partner hitting the return is to send the ball as high and deep as you can and communicate clearly with your partner.
Options to adapting include
- 1/2 or 3/4 stacking instead of stacking for every rally
- using the switching option instead of the stacked positioning
The reason the switching method is less vulnerable to serves like that is because you can cancel the stack if the receiver gets stressed by the serve.
In the diagram below, the red lines indicate the plan and the yellow line indicates the serve. If the receiver feels they will not have enough time to cross back to the stacked position, they can simply call "stay" to their partner to cancel the switch. If the serve has stressed the receiver this much, it is also wise to (again) send the ball high and deep to allow enough time to recover.
How do you exploit a stacking team on the serve? Obviously, hit the ball into the stack, or away from where the receiver is going to try to run to. This strategy is most effective if the receiving team is stacked with one player off the court as shown in the first diagram above for the reasons already outlined. The risk here is that this is a difficult serve to hit and the near corner is a small target. If you miss your serve, you lose your chance to score. But if you get a free point because your serve was so good that the receiver can't get it back, or you force them to hit a weak return that you can use to finish the point, it might be worth it. If you get to a level where stacking is being used, practicing that serve might pay off.
How about this? Do you have an opponent you know loves to hit a serve into the stack? Is that information you could use against them? Hmmm... I wonder.
Inexperience/Uncomfortable on non-preferred side
If you only ever play from your preferred side of the court, you might discover that you are uncomfortable playing on the other side if/when the need arises. If you are a lefty who plays on the right side 90% of the time when you play with right-handed players, what happens if you find yourself playing with a partner who is also used to playing on that side? You want to practice playing on both sides even if you have one side where you are stronger or more proficient.
Also, there are reasons to unstack. For example, if you like a matchup being straight across from one specific opponent because you can overpower that player, or if you or your partner can out dink them on a cross court dinking exchange, being comfortable playing on your non-preferred side makes you a more rounded player and gives you more options for different match ups.
Just to summarize, I highly recommend you practice and become familiar and comfortable with stacking strategies if you are serious about the sport. It can be a useful strategy to employ to change the dynamics of a game if your team is struggling. If are not quick enough to stack on defense (when your team is receiving) then consider 1/2 stacking or 3/4 stacking.
Learn how to exploit some of the weaknesses if your opponents are stacking.
The ability to play out points in a configuration where your team is strongest is an advantage. In close competitive games, that advantage can make the difference between winning and losing.
The ability to play out points in a configuration where your team is strongest is an advantage. In close competitive games, that advantage can make the difference between winning and losing.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you found this helpful.
David
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