Player style matchups that work/don't work in doubles

After a year of playing with rotating partners, for the past several months have played with one partner almost exclusively and with great success.
It seems our styles match up well and we have had some truly stellar wins together.

Due to travel commitments, I had to play with a few others. Three successfully one a total epic disaster. Makes me wonder what styles mesh well and which don't.

I am an aggressive player, S&V in most doubles matches (as well as singles),I tend to hit with pace and heavy TS (for my level) I have a strong serve that requires a good net player to put it away as they are typically popped up nicely, I'm very mobile as well. I am not patient however (working on it)

The partner that I mesh so well with is also a net crasher, but is steady and patient on the baseline, presents opponents with a lot of slice on serve and groundstrokes, does not play with a lot of pace whereas I do.

The player that was like oil and water: a lob queen. One trick pony. Exceptionally patient. But very good both defensive and offensive lobs. Does not like the net, practically avoids volleys. Wants to play 2 back. Has a good winning record at 3.5 play, and wins 50% while playing up at 4.0. But together, we stink!

Overall, I want to be that player that can play with anyone well ... adapt to what is needed, but ....

So, out of others' experiences, what player styles tends to mesh well and which clash and create disasters?

Or is this a thought that is merely in my head and doesn't really exist?

I match up well with most, and that works because we rotate partners often (like 4 or 5 of us move around in D1). I am more active than most, so as long as my partner is willing to cover and move it all works out, or at least let me know they aren't going to be as active and we can plan to have me moving most the time. I talk a lot during play to let partners know what I am doing, so I like the same.

I am similar to @OnTheLine and have tough time playing with most and be competitive. I need a partner who is above average at the net, can poach, and because I am slow on court, my partner needs to be fast. I do wish I knew how to adapt better to my partners' strengths, which I will be working on this winter

Thankfully, @Ft.S I can play well with most, but not all. Some partnerships are more winning and enjoyable than others. Part of the fun is adapting and altering to different players, filling needs on the court, altering positioning, changing one's serve to suit your partner's volley style.

I would like to know if there are some styles or strength/weaknesses in a pair that more universally don't work.

I cannot play well with two type of players. Ones that have no BH [relative to the FH] and cannot play the net and those that are net players only with no ground game. The 1st one gets drawn to the net with angles and drop shots and we will lose the point when the reply is a weak BH that is put away or they get caught retreating back to the BL. The 2nd type will never abandon the net so I do most of the running due to Lobs [they won't abandon the net] and big holes up the middle.

I’ve found that having one player an aggressive shot maker and one steady from the baseline (who gives a lot of different looks ) to be the best combo...the shot maker needs to play smart thought not always going for the Hollywood shot.

OnTheLine said:

So, out of others' experiences, what player styles tends to mesh well and which clash and create disasters?

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Absolutely some styles are more complimentary to each other than others, although you should be able to adapt reasonably well to any one.

Personally I play better with a partner who has an effective serve and can hold easily without much help from me at the net, vs a partner who is great at the net but has a weak serve. That's because I can usually hold my serve pretty easily regardless of my partner's net play, so having a strong net player is a bit of overkill, whereas I'm not great at the net myself and so can't help a weak server as much as I'd like to.

The combos that don’t work (aside from obvious stroke deficiencies)
-two aggressive shot makers (especially if they don’t communicate, and one is really off that day...a lot of ego wrapped up in those type of games and when the partners start blaming each other...look-out)
-two steady types, will normally fair better than the two aggressive types, and will have a solid match, but less of a winning percentage together.

....double post....

OnTheLine said:

After a year of playing with rotating partners, for the past several months have played with one partner almost exclusively and with great success.
It seems our styles match up well and we have had some truly stellar wins together.

Due to travel commitments, I had to play with a few others. Three successfully one a total epic disaster. Makes me wonder what styles mesh well and which don't.

I am an aggressive player, S&V in most doubles matches (as well as singles),I tend to hit with pace and heavy TS (for my level) I have a strong serve that requires a good net player to put it away as they are typically popped up nicely, I'm very mobile as well. I am not patient however (working on it)

The partner that I mesh so well with is also a net crasher, but is steady and patient on the baseline, presents opponents with a lot of slice on serve and groundstrokes, does not play with a lot of pace whereas I do.

The player that was like oil and water: a lob queen. One trick pony. Exceptionally patient. But very good both defensive and offensive lobs. Does not like the net, practically avoids volleys. Wants to play 2 back. Has a good winning record at 3.5 play, and wins 50% while playing up at 4.0. But together, we stink!

Overall, I want to be that player that can play with anyone well ... adapt to what is needed, but ....

So, out of others' experiences, what player styles tends to mesh well and which clash and create disasters?

Or is this a thought that is merely in my head and doesn't really exist?

Click to expand...

It took some time, but I think I can play with your lobbing partner. It is tiring, rather boring, and the sets go on forever. But I've learned to trust my partner that she/he will win the lob fest. In the meantime, it is my job to stay ready in case opponent hits one short or tries a different angle. When I'm serving, I will look for an opportunity to approach the net. First lob and my partner is going back.

My favorite partner plays aggressively all-court but is especially effective at net. My baseline is better than his and I've been doing damage control at net. I don't poach, but my partner does. We both have good serves so we are both ready to put the ball away at net. The biggest thing for me is to not get in his way and cover for him when he gets pulled off the court. I like it because I don't have to try to do too much. I play my spot solidly and let him get the majority of the winners.

My worst partner is an older guy. He's very nice. And hits good strokes during practice. But my guess is that he's not moving to the right spot fast enough to swing at his "strike". So any rallies that go on for more than 3 hits and he UE. He's not particularly aggressive at net either. I think I get impatient trying to do too much and I tack on the UEs too. So lately I've been just taking the lost points with stride and just making sure I take care of my side of the court. That's I can really do.

OnTheLine said:

Overall, I want to be that player that can play with anyone well ... adapt to what is needed, but ....

So, out of others' experiences, what player styles tends to mesh well and which clash and create disasters?

Or is this a thought that is merely in my head and doesn't really exist?

Click to expand...

I think there is something to the idea of styles meshing/clashing, but perhaps it is of less importance than people think.

The one partner match-up that doesn't work well for me is a poor volleyer partner. I like to come in, but I cannot do that if my partner cannot volley. Oh sure, I can come in. But if my partner is uncomfortable at net (e.g. backpedals to the baseline, makes positioning errors, boots easy volleys), then the opponents will start sending everything to her such that I can't/shouldn't come in. Or if she is net-hugging/alley-hugging, I will simply have too much court to cover if I try to come in.

The other partner match-up that tends to spell certain doom is a partner who cannot transition to net and so gets pinned in the back corner against two net-crashing opponents. This will result in me being at net while my partner is sending up short lobs or shoulder-high groundstrokes from a position deep in the court. The opponents will finish these points with drives to my abdomen. I am not good with reflex volleys against two at net who are hitting down on the ball, so that partner pairing is a problem.

That said . . . my answer to this is to simply learn to play several different styles myself. When I have a poor volleyer as a partner, I stay back myself (or we both stay back) -- that means my groundstrokes have to be good enough. When faced with a partner who gets pinned in the back, I get off the net and go back with her so as to avoid being an easy target.

To be versatile, you kind of need to develop additional shots/tools you can use when your partner isn't playing the way you prefer. I think that developing a good slice is probably the one single shot one can develop to be a more versatile partner. I have found that if opponents are beating us with lobs or if their net player is a great poacher, being able to slice the return is essential. It also helps if my net player is timid because opponents have more trouble smoking their shot at my partner off of a good slice than they might off of a ball that sits up a bit more.

YMMV.

On a more psychological note, I dislike playing with partners who are constantly apologizing. I then not only have to carry myself mentally, I also have to carry them. I may not be strong enough and even if I am, it gets tiring.

S&V-not_dead_yet said:

On a more psychological note, I dislike playing with partners who are constantly apologizing. I then not only have to carry myself mentally, I also have to carry them. I may not be strong enough and even if I am, it gets tiring.

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Guilty as charged. I know I need to stop doing this ... I guess in my mind I am trying to take the blame for a lost point on myself. If is a habit I am working on eliminating.

S&V-not_dead_yet said:

On a more psychological note, I dislike playing with partners who are constantly apologizing. I then not only have to carry myself mentally, I also have to carry them. I may not be strong enough and even if I am, it gets tiring.

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Guilty as charged. I know I need to stop doing this ... I guess in my mind I am trying to take the blame for a lost point on myself. If is a habit I am working on eliminating, except for the most egregious errors.

Only thing I require in a doubles partner is a sense of humor and total disregard for winning or losing. Drama queens or egomaniacs need not apply.

OnTheLine said:

Guilty as charged. I know I need to stop doing this ... I guess in my mind I am trying to take the blame for a lost point on myself. If is a habit I am working on eliminating.

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Yeah, I do this too.

But I don’t see the problem. I mean, if you boot a shot you should make or hit a cream puff that gets drilled at your partner, what is one to say? If my partner says sorry, then we both at least know who owns that outcome.

I have some partners — usually male — who hit a poor shot that gets us in trouble and rather than apologize for their role in the fiasco will tell me what I did wrong. Like, he gets pulled off the court and sends the ball right to the net player, who smacks a winner between us. I then get a lecture about how I should have covered the middle in the .5 seconds between my partner’s crummy shot and the volley winner.

I would far prefer it if he just said, “Sorry about that.”

Cindysphinx said:

Y

I have some partners — usually male — who hit a poor shot that gets us in trouble and rather than apologize for their role in the fiasco will tell me what I did wrong. Like, he gets pulled off the court and sends the ball right to the net player, who smacks a winner between us. I then get a lecture about how I should have covered the middle in the .5 seconds between my partner’s crummy shot and the volley winner.

I would far prefer it if he just said, “Sorry about that.”

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Oh yes .... what is that?
I think as a general rule women apologize for too much, but with some men, you are hard pressed to hear those words uttered, and if you then get lectured for "not being in the right place" after you just got drilled on a volley hit off their floater .... reason #17 as to why I generally avoid mixed.

OnTheLine said:

Guilty as charged. I know I need to stop doing this ... I guess in my mind I am trying to take the blame for a lost point on myself. If is a habit I am working on eliminating.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I do this too.

But I don’t see the problem. I mean, if you boot a shot you should make or hit a cream puff that gets drilled at your partner, what is one to say? If my partner says sorry, then we both at least know who owns that outcome.

I have some partners — usually male — who hit a poor shot that gets us in trouble and rather than apologize for their role in the fiasco will tell me what I did wrong. Like, he gets pulled off the court and sends the ball right to the net player, who smacks a winner between us. I then get a lecture about how I should have covered the middle in the .5 seconds between my partner’s crummy shot and the volley winner.

I would far prefer it if he just said, “Sorry about that.”

Bad teammate guy. People who almost go out of there way to make every point lost your fault.

Red liner. Yea it is cool you hit the 100 mph fh return but now you cant make a ball trying to do it again.

Indecisive mover. Either be aggressive, play back or be a retriever, my last match my partner tried all of it. Thankfully are opponents were weak enough it was a mute point.

No second serve guy. Hate this guy two first serves doesnt work as well in doubles as it may in singles. I almost feel like just getting the point started is a box to check cause it is so much more rapid fire than singles neutral balls and serves are not as bad.

OnTheLine said:

Guilty as charged. I know I need to stop doing this ... I guess in my mind I am trying to take the blame for a lost point on myself. If is a habit I am working on eliminating.

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Note that I do this too. Occasionally is fine but some people do it on at least half of their mistakes.

OnTheLine said:

Guilty as charged. I know I need to stop doing this ... I guess in my mind I am trying to take the blame for a lost point on myself. If is a habit I am working on eliminating.

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Note that I do this too. Occasionally is fine but some people do it on at least half of their mistakes.

Cindysphinx said:

Yeah, I do this too.

But I don’t see the problem. I mean, if you boot a shot you should make or hit a cream puff that gets drilled at your partner, what is one to say? If my partner says sorry, then we both at least know who owns that outcome.

I have some partners — usually male — who hit a poor shot that gets us in trouble and rather than apologize for their role in the fiasco will tell me what I did wrong. Like, he gets pulled off the court and sends the ball right to the net player, who smacks a winner between us. I then get a lecture about how I should have covered the middle in the .5 seconds between my partner’s crummy shot and the volley winner.

I would far prefer it if he just said, “Sorry about that.”

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I'd like to think I'm secure enough in my ability to know when it was my fault [like in your example above]. When we do a doubles drill and I make a boneheaded play that allows the opponent to put the ball away past my partner, I'll say "My bad" and rotate myself out even though technically my partner should rotate out because the ball got by him.

Causa remota vs causa proxima.

I'm a poor match for partners who think they win games with their strokes rather than with their legs. Regardless of racquet skills, doubles is won with court positioning and chasing down that fuzzy yellow thing.

Skill levels vary, but lazy is .... lazy.

OnTheLine said:

Guilty as charged. I know I need to stop doing this ... I guess in my mind I am trying to take the blame for a lost point on myself. If is a habit I am working on eliminating, except for the most egregious errors.

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I know I do this too. I've been more complimenting the good play from my opponent to try to shift the focus. Or trying to call out it was the right play but execution was a little off.

FedLIKEnot said:

No second serve guy. Hate this guy two first serves doesnt work as well in doubles as it may in singles. I almost feel like just getting the point started is a box to check cause it is so much more rapid fire than singles neutral balls and serves are not as bad.

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I've been trying so hard not to be "that guy" that DFs away the game. My problem is I can't back off on my 2nd serve or else it causes more trouble. So I've been working and working on it. Now a DF is more a rarity. But there were times my partner would say just dink it in. And I'd reply, "I don't know how"...

Traffic said:

I've been trying so hard not to be "that guy" that DFs away the game. My problem is I can't back off on my 2nd serve or else it causes more trouble. So I've been working and working on it. Now a DF is more a rarity. But there were times my partner would say just dink it in. And I'd reply, "I don't know how"...

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Did this yesterday ... at 40-30 putting us to deuce. I usually DF 1X per set, but I save them for important points!

Every DF is like an arrow to the heart ... and usually due to a mental deficiency more than anything else. Too tight, too excited, too ridiculous!

Non-net playing partners are a problem. I've only played with one in recent memory. We got demolished by a very good team. We would've lost anyway, but it wasn't close to competitive. I should have played back. The only thing that would've done is extend the points a few shots.

Player A is a careful steady hitter.
Player B is a maniac trying to end the point every single time he gets the ball, no matter where he is.

There is a way to win in doubles. It's about playing high percentage shots, poaching, overheads, serves, and returns. It does not involve "styles". Not being able to volley isn't a "style". Being afraid of going to net isn't a "style". Cant hit an overhead isn't a "style". Can't put a first serve in isn't a "style".

When partners do not mesh well, it is almost always psychological and not strategy.

Bossy 3.5 ladies.

Moveforwardalways said:

There is a way to win in doubles. It's about playing high percentage shots, poaching, overheads, serves, and returns. It does not involve "styles". Not being able to volley isn't a "style". Being afraid of going to net isn't a "style". Cant hit an overhead isn't a "style". Can't put a first serve in isn't a "style".

When partners do not mesh well, it is almost always psychological and not strategy.

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Not being able to volley may not be a style but if that causes the person to play almost exclusively from the BL, isn't that a style?

To avoid the semantic trap, just ignore "style" and concentrate on strengths & weaknesses.

S&V-not_dead_yet said:

Not being able to volley may not be a style but if that causes the person to play almost exclusively from the BL, isn't that a style?

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Maybe so, I see your point. But I would argue that if your style means you don't come to the net, then you just aren't going to be winning many doubles matches regardless of what style your partner plays.

Moveforwardalways said:

Maybe so, I see your point. But I would argue that if your style means you don't come to the net, then you just aren't going to be winning many doubles matches regardless of what style your partner plays.

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A lot of my ability at the net depends on the competition. Against most 3.0ish players and half of 3.5s I'm good at the net and play aggressively there. But at some level of pace, spin, and lobbing ability, my net game begins to show some definite weaknesses, especially when my baselining partner is hitting balls that are neutral or worse.

There is only so much a team can do when the opposing team is simply demonstrating a higher level of play. BUT, since I am mindful of a few things, there are ways to pick up more games along the way:

1. If my partner can handle the higher level of play at the net better than I can, I can start at the baseline and my partner can look for the opportunity to move up.
2. Often, game counts is a tie breaker in RR and team events. There are times in a doubles match when a high percentage approach can steal a game or two: weaker opposing server, opponents relay because they are waaaay ahead, etc.
3. Sudden aggression may look random to the opponents, but it should be planned - rather than playing at the net the whole game - move up when a good approach shot makes a weak return more likely or when the baseliner looks away.
4. Often, strong opponents struggle with pusher or junkballer shots in doubles just as in singles. They may be good at reflecting your partner's pace back at you, but bad at generating pace and accuracy on pushed balls or junk balls.
5. One partner on the opposing team is usually a weaker baseliner than the other. This provides a higher percentage opportunity to play two back, especially if the opposing net man gets frustrated and tries to end points too early on balls that don't really give an advantage.