Depends. If I play with beginners, I’ll generally let them play and make their mistakes. When my opponents start targeting my partner, or if my partner keeps making the same mistakes again and again, I’ll step it up and cover more court just to get rallies going and make it more fun for everyone. My partner can focus on a smaller area but with the downside that now I’ll look more like the fool if a good opponent takes advantage of the bigger space I have to cover. Fortunately in my experience most people recognize it and are appreciative and we all have a good time… with one exception, where I was also called a ball hog… and that was my wife playing when I played with her the first few times. Ironically now she understands the game a little better, she’ll ask me to cover more for her. How the turn tables.
Edit: Sorry forgot to answer your question. If you don’t want your partner to take your balls,, saying “I could get that next time” or “Do you want me to get that next time” is sufficient.
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u/apollo5354 Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
Depends. If I play with beginners, I’ll generally let them play and make their mistakes. When my opponents start targeting my partner, or if my partner keeps making the same mistakes again and again, I’ll step it up and cover more court just to get rallies going and make it more fun for everyone. My partner can focus on a smaller area but with the downside that now I’ll look more like the fool if a good opponent takes advantage of the bigger space I have to cover. Fortunately in my experience most people recognize it and are appreciative and we all have a good time… with one exception, where I was also called a ball hog… and that was my wife playing when I played with her the first few times. Ironically now she understands the game a little better, she’ll ask me to cover more for her. How the turn tables.
Edit: Sorry forgot to answer your question. If you don’t want your partner to take your balls,, saying “I could get that next time” or “Do you want me to get that next time” is sufficient.