"English Doubles" - what do you call 3-person dubs?

[Redflea]

When I was younger (jr high and high school, in the 70's) my friends and I used to play three-man doubles when we didn't have a fourth available, and couldn't play two singles matches or one full doubles match. We'd play 2 on one, and one guy playing alone. The guy on the singles side would use the singles lines, other two playes used the doubles lines. Periodically we'd rotate clockwise (ad-court dubs goes to singles, singles goes to deuce court dubs, deuce goes to ad). We'd rotate every best of 3 or 5 games, or sometimes play a full set before rotating. It's actually quite fun as it's a real challenge on the singles side, and you get to play some very aggressive doubles on the other side. (Two on one volleying can be very cruel.) ;)

For some reason we all called this "English Doubles." I was talking w/a friend last night about playing doubles this weekend, and he said we would only have three for our match on Sunday as one of our friends was going to be busy. I said it was OK and we would just play "English Doubles," and was suprised to see that he had no idea what I was talking about. I can't remember the last time I've used the term since years ago, but I was surprised he didn't know it, and had always just assumed in the back of my mind that English Doubles was a commonly accepted/understood phrase in the tennis world, like double-fault. Turns out not. :)

I grew up playing (formative years) in California, Hawaii, and Virginia in the US, and I don't remember where I picked up the term, but it was most likely Hawaii or Virginia.

Anyone else familiar with this term, and any idea where it came from? I googled it and didn't find anything, which surprised me.

I assume it may be perjorative, and have originated outside of England rather than coming from there. Sort of like "Dutch Treat" or similar sayings that develop from stereotypes. Maybe the Australians originated it as some sort of dig at the English? :)

Any info or experiences appreciated, particularly where you learned/used the term, if you're familiar with it. Do you have a different term that you and your friends use for this type of play?

[raiden031]

Canadian Doubles

[Redflea]

Canadian Doubles

Seriously? :)

Interesting...do you remember where you lived/played when you were using that term?

Do you still use it among your friends?

That one does come up in Google and is listed in Wikipedia, etc., so it appears my friends and I learned/used a non-standard version of the term. Pretty strange.

Wikipedia says this:

Another, informal, tennis format is called "Canadian doubles" (also referred to as "American Doubles" or "Australian Doubles"). This involves three players, with one person playing against a doubles team. For the single player, singles-court rules apply (such that the ball must be within the singles-court lines) but on the side of the doubles team, doubles-court rules apply (the alleys are considered in). The scoring is the same as a regular game. This format is not sanctioned by any official body and is only played when a fourth player is not available for normal doubles.

[mucat]

I don't know exactly the term, but I believe in french they called it Ménage à trois...

[raiden031]

Seriously? :)

Interesting...do you remember where you lived/played when you were using that term?

Do you still use it among your friends?

I have never used the term, but I was reading some website about doubles strategy and I believe it was mentioned there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Doubles

[SlapShot]

Yep - it's called Canadian doubles up in the frigid north of Minnesota.

[PimpMyGame]

I heard someone call it French Doubles a few weeks ago. I've always referred to it as "Threes". I'm in the UK and have never heard it called English Doubles or Canadian Doubles.

[TonyB]

Canadian Doubles is the term I've heard used for the past 30 years.

[Redflea]

English, French, Canadian, American, and Threes...looks like we have consensus!! ;)

I hope we get to hear from some folks from Asia on this as well...will we add Chinese or Japanese doubles as well?

[Taxvictim]

We call it Canadian Doubles, and three of us just used that term last week at the coast in North Carolina when we couldn't find a fourth. It's still pretty common.

Funny thing was that all three of us said it was the most fun we've had playing tennis in a long time. We were rotating the singles player every fourth game.

[tennis-n-sc]

I don't know exactly the term, but I believe in french they called it Ménage à trois...

ROFLMAO!!!:p

[tennis-n-sc]

We refer to it as Australian or Canadien doubles. I don't have clue why.

[Redflea]

We call it Canadian Doubles, and three of us just used that term last week at the coast in North Carolina when we couldn't find a fourth. It's still pretty common.

Funny thing was that all three of us said it was the most fun we've had playing tennis in a long time. We were rotating the singles player every fourth game.

Thanks for the wording and location info...

I agree, the variety of English/French/Canadian/American/Threes doubles can make it a lot of fun.

[kevhen]

Australian doubles is when your partner lines up in the same side court (both on deuce side) as you when you are serving as it is backwards or opposite what is normal.

Canadian is played with 3 players since Canada doesn't have a large population and are always short trying to find a fourth for doubles.

I-formation is when players line up in a straight line with one at net and one serving.

[jamauss]

I've heard it called English/French/Canadian/Australian, etc.

so now whenever I bring it up I just put a random country name in front.

"Hey, you guys want to play a set of Madagascarian Doubles?" is always fun to explain. :)

[Redflea]

I've heard it called English/French/Canadian/Australian, etc.

so now whenever I bring it up I just put a random country name in front.

"Hey, you guys want to play a set of Madagascarian Doubles?" is always fun to explain. :)

LOL... :D

[Redflea]

Australian doubles is when your partner lines up in the same side court (both on deuce side) as you when you are serving as it is backwards or opposite what is normal.

Canadian is played with 3 players since Canada doesn't have a large population and are always short trying to find a fourth for doubles.

I-formation is when players line up in a straight line with one at net and one serving.

Interesting...I've heard it called Australian formation, but never Australian doubles in that context.

I like the reference to population for the Canadian version...that could apply to Australia as well. Have you heard it explained that way, or was that your own deduction?

[kevhen]

I usually just say 'let's go Australian' and don't add the word 'formation' or 'doubles' but would still say I am playing Australian doubles when in the Australian formation.

I have only heard 3-player tennis referred to as Canadian doubles but then I am in the US. So if you lived next to a smaller, goofy country, you could always just add that name to it. The Swedes probably call it Nordic, Finnish, or Lapland doubles. The Chinese probably call it Mongolian doubles....

[Geezer Guy]

Australian doubles is when your partner lines up in the same side court (both on deuce side) as you when you are serving as it is backwards or opposite what is normal.

Canadian is played with 3 players since Canada doesn't have a large population and are always short trying to find a fourth for doubles.

I-formation is when players line up in a straight line with one at net and one serving.

Above is correct, but the term "Australian Doubles" (my understanding) came from that old Australian coach (Harry Hopman?) who used the 2 on 1 formation as a way of working the bejezuz out of the single guy to improve stamina through prolonged points. It was often played somewhat cooperatively, meaning the doubles team just kept the ball in play as long as possible, and the singles player was trying to actually win the point. If the doubles team got a ball they could put away, they would instead hit an easier shot just barely within reach of the single player. The points would be VERY long and hard, played out until the single player hit either a winner or made an error.

[Redflea]

Above is correct, but the term "Australian Doubles" (my understanding) came from that old Australian coach (Harry Hopman?) who used the 2 on 1 formation as a way of working the bejezuz out of the single guy to improve stamina through prolonged points. It was often played somewhat cooperatively, meaning the doubles team just kept the ball in play as long as possible, and the singles player was trying to actually win the point. If the doubles team got a ball they could put away, they would instead hit an easier shot just barely within reach of the single player. The points would be VERY long and hard, played out until the single player hit either a winner or made an error.

Thanks...that's a great source if it's corrct. It would not be a surprise to find that Harry Hopman had left another mark on the game of tennis... :)

Do you remember where you heard that story, Geezer?

[peter]

The Swedes probably call it Nordic, Finnish, or Lapland doubles.

We don't have a name for it, but if we would then it definitely would have been "Norwegian Doubles" (we always like to make fun out of our neighbor country :-)

[kevhen]

Hey I was in Norway last summer for 3 weeks! My Norwegian friend mostly makes fun of the Laps but the Finns are fun to make fun of as well.

http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/10/28412174347.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3660074)
http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/10/28412164682.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3660067)
Norwegian tennis (no fence of course!)
http://f10.putfile.com/thumb/8/21910485531.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3169552)
Norwegian woman
http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/9/26816271286.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3505941)

[Redflea]

We don't have a name for it, but if we would then it definitely would have been "Norwegian Doubles" (we always like to make fun out of our neighbor country :-)

Uh oh, it's let's not start a nordic flame war... ;)

[Capt. Willie]

We called it Canadian Doubles in upstate New York.

[Solat]

well in Australia we call it American

those crazy yanks :D

[armand]

This thread is hilarious!

Anyway, here in Canada I've heard it called Australian Doubles.

[OrangeOne]

Here in my part of Australia (Sydney) I've always know it as:

Cut-Throat!

Is that the first of the non-nationality-based names for it? ;)

[joeyscl]

"trips/triples"

[J-man]

I don't know exactly the term, but I believe in french they called it Ménage à trois...F*cuking lol

[Redflea]

Here in my part of Australia (Sydney) I've always know it as:

Cut-Throat!

Is that the first of the non-nationality-based names for it? ;)

Except for Menage a trois... ;)

I only know Cut-Throat as a pool (as in billiards) game, that's a totally new angle...

[Redflea]

"trips/triples"

Also from UK, or ?

[Thud and blunder]

I've always known that game as 'American singles'

[slice bh compliment]

Here in my part of Australia (Sydney) I've always know it as:

Cut-Throat!

Is that the first of the non-nationality-based names for it? ;)

A good one, which probably came from billiards/pool vernacular or squash/racquetball culture.

I have lived all over the US. Started tennis as a kid in NY. We all called it Canadian Doubles when you played games. When drilling using just the singles lines, we called it '2 on 1'. Boring.

A few of us would drill with an Aussie teaching pro who called it American doubles. He also called the alley 'the tramlines'. Whether we used the tramlines or not, we did a LOT of the drill where the two up at net would work the heck out of the guy at the one guy at the baseline. We'd do the one up vs two back at times, too. Sometimes all three volleying playing HORSE like in basketball, or trying to hit eachother in the legs. His influence - we called all of these drills 'threes'.

But yeah, OO, cut-throat makes sense if you're competing.
The international ones are more fun, though. Good thread.

We saw Yannick Noah working out with two guys on a practice court at the Open, so we called that Cameroonian Doubles for a month or two. He and a few of us kids would go back and forth calling it Moroccan Doubles (which sounds like "More rockin' doubles"...which makes some sense), Puerto Rican Doubles, Djiboutian Doubles, Monagasque Doubles, Papua/New Guinean Doubles, Glaswegian/Patagonian/Liverpudlian/Kentuckian/Tierra del Fuegan Doubles. Anything with a cool name that had a ring to it....Fijian Doubles. One day we had to dry the courts -- we were "squeegeein' for the Fijian". Everyone knew what he meant.

If I ever play 'threes' with my kid (who just discovered Looney Tunes on Boomerang / Cartoon Network), he's probably going to want to call it: The Tasmanian Doubles.

The Tasmanian Doubles. I think I'll start calling it that now. Maybe it will spread itself.

[PimpMyGame]

In the UK we also have Welsh doubles, which involves three people and a sheep.

[slice bh compliment]

Hhahah, in Borneo they play New Guinean Doubles. It involves four people, but eventually it's just three.

[A.Davidson]

In North Carolina we called it Two-On-One when we first started, but started calling it Canadian Doubles one day when a buddy of mine showed up and started spewing NONSENSE. Anywho...We used to play Cut-Throat, but it was hard for us to find new people to play with us. Nobody wanted to come near our court.

"Who are those dead guys?" they said.

"All the blood is staining the court!" they said.

"Eww, that one's got maggots in his eyes!" they whined.

Pssh. Losers.

[kevhen]

Cutthroat is pool for 3 players but doesn't make as much sense in tennis since cutthroat pool is each man for himself.

[jimmycoop]

Down here in the Sunny South, it's always been "Australian Doubles." Not to be confused with the Australian formation referred to above.

[Redflea]

Hhahah, in Borneo they play New Guinean Doubles. It involves four people, but eventually it's just three.

LOL - Dangerous Doubles, dude...

[Redflea]

Great story, thanks. Moroccan Doubles (More Rockin') is my new favorite name, though Tasmanian is a close second....love that Tasmanian Devil. ;)

Interestingly, I've heard the "tramlines" phrase before as well, I think from a commentator while watching a match on TV. Took me a bit to figure out what the heck he was referring too... :)

A good one, which probably came from billiards/pool vernacular or squash/racquetball culture.

I have lived all over the US. Started tennis as a kid in NY. We all called it Canadian Doubles when you played games. When drilling using just the singles lines, we called it '2 on 1'. Boring.

A few of us would drill with an Aussie teaching pro who called it American doubles. He also called the alley 'the tramlines'. Whether we used the tramlines or not, we did a LOT of the drill where the two up at net would work the heck out of the guy at the one guy at the baseline. We'd do the one up vs two back at times, too. Sometimes all three volleying playing HORSE like in basketball, or trying to hit eachother in the legs. His influence - we called all of these drills 'threes'.

But yeah, OO, cut-throat makes sense if you're competing.
The international ones are more fun, though. Good thread.

We saw Yannick Noah working out with two guys on a practice court at the Open, so we called that Cameroonian Doubles for a month or two. He and a few of us kids would go back and forth calling it Moroccan Doubles (which sounds like "More rockin' doubles"...which makes some sense), Puerto Rican Doubles, Djiboutian Doubles, Monagasque Doubles, Papua/New Guinean Doubles, Glaswegian/Patagonian/Liverpudlian/Kentuckian/Tierra del Fuegan Doubles. Anything with a cool name that had a ring to it....Fijian Doubles. One day we had to dry the courts -- we were "squeegeein' for the Fijian". Everyone knew what he meant.

If I ever play 'threes' with my kid (who just discovered Looney Tunes on Boomerang / Cartoon Network), he's probably going to want to call it: The Tasmanian Doubles.

The Tasmanian Doubles. I think I'll start calling it that now. Maybe it will spread itself.

[Wtitanium]

Where I'm from, way up in the north, we call it Canadian Doubles. I think that I learned the term at tennis lessons. I still wonder where the term came from... I'll have to read this entire thread. When I was younger I thought it was called that because the Canadians were weird.

[jamumafa]

Threes, two-ups or American dubs.

[Redflea]

Threes, two-ups or American dubs.

A new one there..."two-ups."

You an Aussie?

[pNoyr3D]

Over here in Illinois me and my friends call it "Canadian Doubles".. My other friend a couple days back said it is also called "Australian Doubles".

I refer it to Canadian Doubles though.

[Dunlopkid]

Around here it's Australian Doubles. I played a guy from Australia who called it American Doubles.

[ibringtheHEAT]

we call it australian doubles, but ive heard almost everything

[Redflea]

Thought it would be good to summarize after all the great input. So far (on the relatively serious side):

English Doubles
Australian Doubles
Canadian Doubles
American Doubles
American Singles
French Doubles
Norweigan Doubles
Three's
Trips/Triples
Two-Up(s)
Two-on-One
Cut-Throat
2 on 1 (singles lines only)

On the entertaining side:

Moroccan (More-Rockin') Doubles
Fijian Doubles, Puerto Rican Doubles, Djiboutian Doubles, Monagasque Doubles, Papua/New Guinean Doubles, Glaswegian/Patagonian/Liverpudlian/Kentuckian/Tierra del Fuegan Doubles, Tasmanian Doubles
Norweigan Doubles
Lapland Doubles
Welsh Doubles
Menage a trois
New Guinean Doubles

I have to give the "most creative/funny" awards to:

Fijian Doubles ("We're squeegeein' for the Fijian")
New Guinean Doubles ("It involves four people, but eventually it's just three.")

Honorable Mention to Welsh Doubles ("Three people and a sheep.")

:D

[bigfoot910]

Down here in New Mexico we called them Australian Doubles

[Duzza]

Hilarious! This game (2 on 1) we call American Doubles :p
Around here it's Australian Doubles. I played a guy from Australia who called it American Doubles.

[sureshs]

It is called Canadian doubles. Threesome or menage-a-trois are NOT to be used as an alternative.

[Redflea]

It is called Canadian doubles. Threesome or menage-a-trois are NOT to be used as an alternative.

You mean as an alternative name, or as an alternative to tennis? ;)

[patrick922]

we call it canadian in northern virginia