You can BREAK the X - but do it when it makes sense from a strategy standpoint 

Hi Tony, been watching and learning from you and CJ for many years: I would respectfully add these 2 scenarios as well: 1) When your partner is engaged in a “fire-fight” let them stay engaged and play back-up. You don’t have time to be thinking about the X, so don’t stick your paddle in the middle of that intense situation, clank and then claim that was mine, respect the X. This has happened to me, playing on the left, engaged in the rally, ball on my paddle and the path of the ball is aligned with my swing path perfectly to hammer the ball back to the middle and here comes this paddle out of right field which often either clank paddles or will pull the ball to the right and miss. 2) This point is much more subtle: Preface: A different way to teach this is to “Respect the swing path relative to the path of the ball”. So for example when all four players are at or near the NVZ, the “respect the X” terminology makes a lot of sense because this is literally an X configuration. This is fundamentally because for high percentage PB, you want the path of the paddle to be in alignment (i.e. the same) with the path of the ball, which is the whole point of the “respect the X” in the 1st place. For reference, when a ball is returned straight down the middle there is no X (call that zero angle), and a discussion of who takes that ball needs to happen before the game starts. The other (albeit subtle) exception to the X when both players are at the NVZ, is a ball that is (regardless of where it came, so could be on the X path or from straight on) but is to the player on the right’s left side. This is where, like golf, you have know where the miss is going (because we all miss sometimes), and in this case it’s very common for the player on the right to take a ball on their left side and pull it to the right wide and OUT: that’s not a surprise because that is the natural swing path of the paddle. So IF the player on the left can (e.g. has time.. a floater) their swing path will pull the ball to the right and down the middle: it would be relatively difficult for the player on the left to hit a ball on their right out to the right. I see this quite a bit, and you might say that's not an X situation and I would agree, but again I know some players that claim any ball coming from even a slight angle from the opposing side claim that is their ball based on "respect the X" (which I do teach), so I would just throw this in for clarification. Thanks and hope that makes sense.

Love and preach the X, and love this breaking the X piece. 1 and 2 remind me of a play I call "Squeezing the Charmin", where the receiver at the NVZL squeezes the middle if the return is to the middle or returned down the line to the right of the returner (that's not breaking the X). We'll practice your 3 scenarios in my next drill group practice. ;-) Thanks!

This is a really good video. You are confirming things I figured out on the court by playing lots of games.

Just watched the entire playlist. Just subscribed….and just had an epiphany on what my partner and I were struggling with! We were indoctrinated by “forehand takes the middle”. Thanks Tony

Thanks big T! I love your explanation of the X and this video to explain when and where, but has the why we should break the X. 🤠🏓

Thanks, Tony!

Thanks Tony!

what about breaking the X for a dink rally (or NVL volley battle)? is that generally a good thing or bad thing? (it might be a bad thing right because it can leave a hole on one side in a fast exchange). also. what's your recommendation for someone who breaks the X and then misses (perhaps repeatedly?) tell them to stop? :) if you break the X, there should be communication saying this right? (so you dont clank paddles)

Please explain how the player on the lefr in the video is breaking the x? Plz pinpoint the error.

How come the pros, especially mixed doubles don’t respect the X?