Anyone Else Love Playing Doubles?

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

- Quick reflex volley exchanges
- Communication with a partner
- A team effort
- Different formations
- Signalling
- All four players firing on all cylinders simultaneously
- Variety of shot
- Surprise plays
- Group problem-solving
- Partner encouragement when they're down [or vice versa]

I don't play doubles because I can't play singles. I play doubles because I love playing doubles [I love playing singles too but for different reasons].

 

[jacob22]

Most of those things don’t happen in my level(3.5) of doubles.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Most of those things don’t happen in my level(3.5) of doubles.

None of those things I mentioned require great athleticism save for the reflex volleys. You can do all of them by altering your style of play; it's even better when your partner is on the same page.

If you're interested in improving your doubles, check out the following for some ideas:

 

[jacob22]

- Quick reflex volley exchanges fun when it occasionally happens
- Communication with a partner
- A team effort
- Different formations rarely see I formation, 2 back when my partner sucks at returning
- Signalling mostly see women do this
- All four players firing on all cylinders simultaneously very rare occurrence
- Variety of shot
- Surprise plays you mean DTL returns?
- Group problem-solving
- Partner encouragement when they're down [or vice versa]

I don't play doubles because I can't play singles. I play doubles because I love playing doubles [I love playing singles too but for different reasons].

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

- Surprise plays you mean DTL returns?

Sure, but not limited to that:
- chip lob volley when opponents are too close to the net
- slice into the alley when opponents are too close to the middle
- poaching
- fake poaching
- well-disguised TS lob
- extra angle due to alleys [that extra 4 1/2' on each side makes a noticeable difference]

You can do a lot simply by positioning yourself more opportunistically [ie don't alley camp, poach once in a while]. You might find people starting to comment on your new doubles skills.

 

[ptuanminh]

Don't do DTL returns unless u are very comfortable.

 

[Cindysphinx]

I love doubles too. What could be more fun than a sneak attack? In doubles, you're a predator when your partner is hitting.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I love doubles too. What could be more fun than a sneak attack? In doubles, you're a predator when your partner is hitting.

And sometimes, even if I get burned DTL, my partner can still cover me.

 

[FiReFTW]

No, i hate playing doubles.

 

[Deleted member 293577]

I also like playing doubles, plus it’s less work. The social part of it is nice too.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Once I understood doubles I really started enjoying it as a different sport in its own right.
1) I can play mixed with my wife so I get "time spent together" marriage points
2) social comraderie with "the guys"
3) the cat and mouse strategies that go on
4) I can hit all the shots in tennis: groundstrokes, lobs, volleys, half volleys, overheads.
5) You can grow old with doubles, you'll get old playing too much singles on hard courts

 

[FiReFTW]

Once I understood doubles I really started enjoying it as a different sport in its own right.
1) I can play mixed with my wife so I get "time spent together" marriage points
2) social comraderie with "the guys"
3) the cat and mouse strategies that go on
4) I can hit all the shots in tennis: groundstrokes, lobs, volleys, half volleys, overheads.
5) You can grow old with doubles, you'll get old playing too much singles on hard courts

Pf

That feeling when your doubles partner is having a horrible day and missing routine shots

That feeling when your having a bad day and miss an easy shot and feel like ur letting ur partner down

When you want to run to the ball but realize its not singles and its ur partners side of the court and feel suffocated on court


Singles are best, where ur a lone ranger, responsible for your own destiny!

Live by the sword die by the sword!

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

@Dartagnan64 @Cindysphinx @FiReFTW @emilyhex @jacob22 @ptuanminh

Another interesting aspect is the almost choreographed nature of a point where all 4 players are moving with the same goal in mind and how everything shifts on a dime when an unexpected shot occurs.

Some of my favorites doubles points:

 

[Cawlin]

I forget where I read or heard it, might have been on this forum somewhere, but for me, doubles is like a chair - it's only really comfortable if all 4 legs are close to even.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I forget where I read or heard it, might have been on this forum somewhere, but for me, doubles is like a chair - it's only really comfortable if all 4 legs are close to even.

I've had fun playing where all 4 were not roughly even: it makes for a more dynamic match as partners have to compensate for each others' weaknesses. MXD is the ultimate because often there is an NTRP x man and x-1 woman, which can be huge discrepancy.

Even when all 4 are close to even, it's likely they all have different strengths and weaknesses [ie one has a great serve but not a great BH; one has a great return but so-so OHs; etc.].

That aside, do you enjoy yourself when all 4 are close to even?

 

[Cawlin]

That aside, do you enjoy yourself when all 4 are close to even?

I do.

 

[GrassCourtFan]

Yep, doubles is pretty fun!

 

[BenC]

@Dartagnan64 @Cindysphinx @FiReFTW @emilyhex @jacob22 @ptuanminh

Another interesting aspect is the almost choreographed nature of a point where all 4 players are moving with the same goal in mind and how everything shifts on a dime when an unexpected shot occurs.

Some of my favorites doubles points:

2018 would probably just be Jack Sock punching holes through people with his forehand ...

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

2018 would probably just be Jack Sock punching holes through people with his forehand ...

Just hit it to his BH!

 

[GeoffHYL]

I played doubles in high school for three years, so I am just as comfortable playing doubles as I am playing singles. As Dartagnan64 mentioned, it is a lot easier on us old folks than singles. Back in the day when I could run for hours i did enjoy singles more, but now it is pretty much even.

 

[Dartagnan64]

That feeling when your doubles partner is having a horrible day and missing routine shots

That feeling when your having a bad day and miss an easy shot and feel like ur letting ur partner down

When you want to run to the ball but realize its not singles and its ur partners side of the court and feel suffocated on court


Singles are best, where ur a lone ranger, responsible for your own destiny!

Live by the sword die by the sword!

Lone wolf's die lonely.

Learning to deal with bad days by yourself or your partner is an important life lesson.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Another interesting aspect is the almost choreographed nature of a point where all 4 players are moving with the same goal in mind and how everything shifts on a dime when an unexpected shot occurs.

Sadly that happens about once a set when I play. Everyone laughs and says, "Hey we actually looked like real tennis players for a second there."

I also like the points that drift into chaos with everyone scrambling blind making saving lobs with the dominance in the point shifting back and forth until someone knocks one into the net, leading to a muted cry of anguish and possilbly a scratched or broken racket.

 

[J011yroger]

I love doubles too. What could be more fun than a sneak attack? In doubles, you're a predator when your partner is hitting.

Sometimes I sneak attack my partner though...

J

 

[KamehamehaBackhand]

None of those things I mentioned require great athleticism save for the reflex volleys. You can do all of them by altering your style of play; it's even better when your partner is on the same page.

If you're interested in improving your doubles, check out the following for some ideas:

Happy to see this thread pop up in response to the 'anyone else hate doubles' thread... let's see if we can overtake it - we're only 200+ posts behind . Thanks for sharing the videos, they contain some great content.

I'll admit that while I never said I hated doubles, I used to make a lot of the same arguments as that group. I played some each of doubles and singles in high school but enjoyed singles more and that's what I was most interested in playing when I got back into tennis 2 years after graduating from college. However, I would always tell my captain that I would play wherever she needed me to. I ended up playing a lot of doubles in the winter and singles in the summer when flex leagues were available. I really just wanted to play as much tennis as possible and doubles was better than nothing.

What I liked more about singles was finding it easier to get and stay in a groove, a better workout, and less pressure (never really played team sports growing up and hated the feeling of letting my partner down). I also didn't really get doubles. Most of my instruction up to that point was focused on strokes, fundamentals, etc. I tend to overthink things, and singles allowed me to quiet my mind a bit more and just play.

Over the years, I've attended a lot of drills/clinics focused on doubles strategy, scenarios, and practice, so I'm starting to "get" it. I've also gotten a lot more consistent, which makes the "getting/staying in a groove" thing less of an issue. It's still a struggle to put a lot of the concepts I now understand into play regularly, while simultaneously try to pick up on the other team's weaknesses and adapt strategies to those. But, little by little I'm getting there. I now enjoy doubles almost as much as singles, though I still tell my captains I prefer singles because there are fewer opportunities overall to play singles so I want to take them when I can.

 

[ShaunS]

I don't play doubles because I can't play singles. I play doubles because I love playing doubles [I love playing singles too but for different reasons].

Absolutely. I've never had as much fun winning a singles match as a doubles match. There's something more rewarding for me to win with a partner.

Doubles tends to have a quicker "pace of play", which can be terribly frustrating if you're off your game, but I prefer it to the sometimes glacial grind of a long singles match. I'll never show up to a doubles match without warming up because the first set might be over before you find your rhythm.

I can also get a moderately entertaining match of doubles against some old guys with limited mobility. Play either of them in singles, and it'll be a bore. There's not a lot of singles players at my level in the area, so it's a lot of getting housed by college guys, or playing someone who's hopeless.

Edit: To be clear, not claiming I'm good at singles, just a real lack of singles players .

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I also like the points that drift into chaos with everyone scrambling blind making saving lobs with the dominance in the point shifting back and forth until someone knocks one into the net, leading to a muted cry of anguish and possilbly a scratched or broken racket.

It's not chaos; it's unpredictable control!

I watched teammates play a 20-shot rally with all 4 at the net at one time or another! It was exciting to watch the cat turn into the mouse and then back again.

 

[GrassCourtFan]

I've thought about it a bit, and I think for me, doubles is more up and down - the highs are higher but the lows are lower.

The most fun I have on a tennis court is, I think, an excellent doubles match with four even players playing well. Good serves, a mix of S&V and serve-and-baseline doubles, quick volleys and poaches, all that with a teammate... and some defensive running too. Whereas in singles, even the best matches end up having quite a bit of "grind" to them, where we both tire each other out to the point where it turns ugly.

On the other hand, bad doubles can be less fun with no way to fix it. In singles, if I'm off a bit, I can at least grind and play some defense to get some rallies going and have fun; in doubles, if I have a bad day, it's just ugly with no redeeming features. Serve, return, point over. And if the match is mismatched for whatever reason, if my partner is way weaker or way stronger than me and it's a partner I don't play with much, it can also become a game of keepaway.

 

[Ft.S]

I enjoy doubles a great deal, I mostly play doubles becuse I am better at it than singles (75%/25%).

I think the angles and general path of shots in doubles are much narrower, and mistakes or average shots are punnished far more quickly. Working, strughling and winning/losing as a team also adds another level or different level of excitement. Adapting to two opposing players’ styles, shots, kovements, etc. also adds another challenge to the picture.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Sure, but not limited to that:
- chip lob volley when opponents are too close to the net
- slice into the alley when opponents are too close to the middle
- poaching
- fake poaching
- well-disguised TS lob
- extra angle due to alleys [that extra 4 1/2' on each side makes a noticeable difference]

You can do a lot simply by positioning yourself more opportunistically [ie don't alley camp, poach once in a while]. You might find people starting to comment on your new doubles skills.

+c&c
+sabre & charge
+lob & charge

 

[Deleted member 23235]

No, i hate playing doubles.

then do it because you love playing singles.
i specifically focused alot of my time playing dubs to get better at singles.

 

[FiReFTW]

then do it because you love playing singles.
i specifically focused alot of my time playing dubs to get better at singles.

Yes its a good way to improve and works some shots and things more than singles.

And I also enjoy playing it for fun with friends, but competitively? I dont like it, i dont like having half my court cut out and relying on someone else or so, so in that sense its not my thing.

But other than that I agree with you.

 

[atp2015]

- Quick reflex volley exchanges
I generally suck at it.
- Communication with a partner
Poorest communicator on the court.
- A team effort
I'm on the hunt for individual glory.
- Different formations
very confusing
- Signalling
I like explicit plans and verbal instructions
- All four players firing on all cylinders simultaneously
2 is company and anything more is crowd and noise
- Variety of shot
net man eats up my soft and touchy shots
- Surprise plays
I like a predetermined plan of action. surprises are not good for health - unnecessary tension.
- Group problem-solving
Group usually makes problems more complex
- Partner encouragement when they're down [or vice versa]
I usually yell when my partner messes up an easy volley. If I miss, my partner hit an easy shot to start the point.

I don't play doubles because I can play doubles. I don't play doubles because I love not having to put up with problems with playing doubles.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

- Quick reflex volley exchanges
I generally suck at it.
- Communication with a partner
Poorest communicator on the court.
- A team effort
I'm on the hunt for individual glory.
- Different formations
very confusing
- Signalling
I like explicit plans and verbal instructions
- All four players firing on all cylinders simultaneously
2 is company and anything more is crowd and noise
- Variety of shot
net man eats up my soft and touchy shots
- Surprise plays
I like a predetermined plan of action. surprises are not good for health - unnecessary tension.
- Group problem-solving
Group usually makes problems more complex
- Partner encouragement when they're down [or vice versa]
I usually yell when my partners messes up an easy volley. If I miss, my partner hit an easy shot to begin.

I don't play doubles because I can play doubles. I don't play doubles because I love not having to put up with problems with playing doubles.

hehe, but by your own list you're saying you can't play dubs. (i mean, it sounds like you can do the i'm-singles-player-on-a-court-with-4-people type of dubs... but thats not dubs )

 

[atp2015]

hehe, but by your own list you're saying you can't play dubs. (i mean, it sounds like you can do the i'm-singles-player-on-a-court-with-4-people type of dubs... but thats not dubs )

ya, I play the dumb and skinny version which isn't exactly real dubs as you rightly said.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Yes its a good way to improve and works some shots and things more than singles.

And I also enjoy playing it for fun with friends, but competitively? I dont like it, i dont like having half my court cut out and relying on someone else or so, so in that sense its not my thing.

But other than that I agree with you.

Singles removes half the court as well. The forecourt. Most singles players enter the forecourt as often as doubles players roam side to side.

It's a front back vs side to side form of tennis.

But I get the "relying on someone else" thing. If you haven't played team sports your entire life, it takes some getting used to. But those of us growing up playing hockey, baseball, football and soccer get the comraderie aspects of team sports. Yes its frustrating to lose when the game wasn't on your racket. But its so much more rewarding to win as a team than as an individual. Being able to share that victory with someone is why team sports remain so common worldwide.

 

[FiReFTW]

Singles removes half the court as well. The forecourt. Most singles players enter the forecourt as often as doubles players roam side to side.

It's a front back vs side to side form of tennis.

But I get the "relying on someone else" thing. If you haven't played team sports your entire life, it takes some getting used to. But those of us growing up playing hockey, baseball, football and soccer get the comraderie aspects of team sports. Yes its frustrating to lose when the game wasn't on your racket. But its so much more rewarding to win as a team than as an individual. Being able to share that victory with someone is why team sports remain so common worldwide.

I played/play soccer, basketball etc... and love it, and actually im a very unselfish assist type of guy.
And i like teamwork and theres alot of that there.

Its just something about tennis, i just really love singles, i cant explain, i like the freedom of having the whole court and creativity and problem solving and going 1 on 1 against someone and also like the point building and the amount of court you have to work with.

Meanwhile in doubles theres no dropshots, theres no open court, no outplaying someone, no getting someone off court etc... its just a different type of game and i like playing singles, and doubles i enjoy only for fun casually.

Hopefuly you understand me better now when it comes to this doubles thing.

 

[J011yroger]

Meanwhile in doubles theres no dropshots, theres no open court, no outplaying someone, no getting someone off court etc...

Oh yes there is.

J

 

[FiReFTW]

Oh yes there is.

J

Sometimes perhaps, but 95% doubles are hitting crosscourt and poaching at net.

 

[J011yroger]

Sometimes perhaps, but 95% doubles are hitting crosscourt and poaching at net.

Oh, so now you are telling me how to play doubles.

J

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Sometimes perhaps, but 95% doubles are hitting crosscourt and poaching at net.

Says the doubles specialist.

 

[atp2015]

Says the doubles specialist.

Feature request to ttw - hide replies to folks in ignore list.

 

[Dartagnan64]

I played/play soccer, basketball etc... and love it, and actually im a very unselfish assist type of guy.
And i like teamwork and theres alot of that there.

Its just something about tennis, i just really love singles, i cant explain, i like the freedom of having the whole court and creativity and problem solving and going 1 on 1 against someone and also like the point building and the amount of court you have to work with.

Meanwhile in doubles theres no dropshots, theres no open court, no outplaying someone, no getting someone off court etc... its just a different type of game and i like playing singles, and doubles i enjoy only for fun casually.

Hopefuly you understand me better now when it comes to this doubles thing.

But still at the end you walk off the court having pleased only yourself in singles. I generally feel “meh” about individual victories. I like making someone else happy by winning as a team.
Shared victories seem more rewarding.

So that will help you understand why I like doubles.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Feature request to ttw - hide replies to folks in ignore list.

ouch, s&v on the ignore list? i have a few folks on my ignore list, but s&v is on my follow list

 

[Deleted member 23235]

I played/play soccer, basketball etc... and love it, and actually im a very unselfish assist type of guy.
And i like teamwork and theres alot of that there.

Its just something about tennis, i just really love singles, i cant explain, i like the freedom of having the whole court and creativity and problem solving and going 1 on 1 against someone and also like the point building and the amount of court you have to work with.

Meanwhile in doubles theres no dropshots, theres no open court, no outplaying someone, no getting someone off court etc... its just a different type of game and i like playing singles, and doubles i enjoy only for fun casually.

Hopefuly you understand me better now when it comes to this doubles thing.

hehe, i get it.

i specifically went to an solo sport like tennis because i sucked at all the other team sports (i played right field in youth baseball, right defender in soccer, kicked off rec basketball (for fighting with other kids that kept saying i sucked - they were probably right ), 3rd string midi in lax, etc...)
in tennis if i make a mistake, it's my fault, and i don't let anyone else down.
in tennis, i don't have to wait around for 10m before i get to touch the ball.
in tennis i don't have to ride the bench for have the match before i get in.
etc...

anywho, i started playing dubs, because when taking an audit of the poitns i was losing, it was due to things like:
* no placement on my returns
* earning the short ball, and missing a low "sitter"
* missing "gimmee" volleys or OH
* missing alot of approach shots
* not executing to do drop shots and dink shots (there are droppers and dinkers,.. just not usually from the baseline since i want to keep my opponents on the back court)
etc...

so i recall being a 4.0, and forcing myself to play dubs more, because i was losing to counter punchers that had more stamina... and i wasn't good enough to blast them off the court from the baseline... wasn't till i started playing dubs and forcing myself to s&v and c&c, that i got better at finishing points.

 

[FiReFTW]

@nytennisaddict what does c&c mean?

 

[FiReFTW]

Nevermind, I got it

 

[atp2015]

ouch, s&v on the ignore list? i have a few folks on my ignore list, but s&v is on my follow list

I'm a snv fan.

 

[KamehamehaBackhand]

Contrary to my feeling that I'm better at singles (but enjoying the learning process of getting better at doubles), I pulled my TR match ratings over the past few years and found:

- avg singles match rating was 3.16, though only 1 took place in the last 18 months
- avg doubles match rating was 3.38 (3.36 women's dbls and 3.41 in mixed)

So either my doubles partners are carrying me to victory (although their rating factors in too to try to account for that), or I'm actually better at doubles. Most likely: I'm not as good at singles as I thought. My mental game is garbage, so I think playing with a partner helps keep me focused and pulls me out of a death spiral quicker than I would on my own. Pretty big pro to add to the dbls vs singles pros and cons list, I'd say.

 

[Cindysphinx]

ouch, s&v on the ignore list? i have a few folks on my ignore list, but s&v is on my follow list

I know! I don't have s&v on my follow list. I just secretly follow. And I try not to say a lot because then he/she will know I'm following. Kinda stalker-ish, you know?

 

[Deleted member 23235]

I know! I don't have s&v on my follow list. I just secretly follow. And I try not to say a lot because then he/she will know I'm following. Kinda stalker-ish, you know?

in the internet age... maybe stalking is the new imitation... the tech form of flattery