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Around-the-Post Angle Judgment

Also known as: ATP angle read, judging an ATP

Definition

Around-the-post angle judgment is spotting when a wide ball can legally go around the net post. The shot travels outside the sideline, below net height.

An around-the-post shot, or ATP, is legal specifically because the ball travels entirely outside the post rather than over the net. That means it does not need to clear net height at all. Judging when this is realistic requires reading the ball's width and path early. A ball that will land close enough to the sideline, and far enough outside the post, has a viable ATP angle. A ball that is only moderately wide does not, no matter how hard it is chased.

The most common misjudgment is committing to an ATP attempt on a ball that is not actually wide enough to clear the post. The result is a shot that clips the post, or an ordinary reply that could have been played more simply from a proper court position. An ATP has to travel around the post rather than over the net. So the angle required is often sharper than it first appears to a player in mid-court.

Recognizing a viable ATP angle early, not mid-sprint, gives a player time to set their feet and swing with control. The alternative is committing to a low-percentage, all-or-nothing lunge. Most high-level players treat the ATP as an opportunistic shot available only a few times a match, not a shot to actively chase.

Example

A ball drifts well wide of the sideline. The player quickly judges the angle is clear of the post and drives it around, low, back into the court.

Why it matters

Correctly judging whether a wide ball has a legal ATP angle, rather than guessing mid-sprint, decides the outcome. The player either commits to a viable shot or wastes the point chasing an impossible one.

How it shows up on video

On video, check how far outside the sideline the ball was when you hit it. Reviewing the clip after the fact shows whether a committed attempt had a real angle.

Common mistakes

Committing to an ATP attempt on a ball that is not actually wide enough to clear the post
Deciding whether to attempt the shot only mid-sprint rather than reading the angle early
Chasing every wide ball as a potential ATP rather than reserving it for genuinely clear angles

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if a ball is wide enough for an around-the-post shot?

The ball's path and landing point need to clear the post entirely. This usually requires more width than it first appears from mid-court — reading it early, before sprinting, gives the clearest judgment.

What happens if I misjudge the angle and hit the post?

A ball that clips the post rather than passing cleanly around it is treated as an out-of-bounds shot. As a result, misjudging the angle simply loses the point.