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A great idea I picked up from an article in Tennis by Roy Barth, regarding changing the way you stand ready at the net when you play against a big hitter, read on:

Adjust your ready position against big hitters.

Doubles is a fast-moving game, so it pays to know how to protect yourself. I learned this when I played on tour against Arthur Ashe, whose blazing backhand would frighten anyone at net. To be ready for one of Ashe’s blasts, I abandoned the traditional ready position, with the racquet straight up and down, in favor of an open racquet face, as I would hold it when hitting a backhand volley. You should adopt this stance against big hitters, too. That way, if one of your opponents drills the ball at your chest, you’ll be in position to block it with a backhand volley. I’ve also found that holding the racquet this way doesn’t slow you down on forehand volleys. You can turn your shoulder and hit a ball to your right (or if you’re left-handed, to your left) just as quickly from this position. This worked wonders for me throughout my doubles career. Protection and simplicity: How can you beat that?

Roy Barth, a PTR Master Pro, is the director of tennis at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina

Very interesting idea, but remember what he says, this is for when you play the big hitter, not I think a good idea for lower level players, but give it a go.