Anyone experienced a tough transition between Singles and Doubles play?

ace18

ace18

Professional
For the past year, I've played doubles 99% of the time and have done extremely well winning say 80% of my matches, if not more. My game starts with my groundstrokes and my net game follows. I'm very consistent and have an above average return of serve for my level.

Due to very busy schedule, I signed up for a flex singles league this spring. I hadn't played singles for almost 2.5 years so it a big change.

I started off my first match with inconsistency and lost in 3. I won my next 4 matches and beat a guy that I've never beaten in straight sets. Over the past 2 months, I'm hitting the ball better, cleaner, harder then I have in a long time and feel super confident on the singles court.

In the past, playing singles has helped my doubles play because of having the oppty to hit so many more balls in singles.

I've had the adverse effect. My doubles game has been very sucky. Lacking consistency, return of serves have been awful, lack of patience. Volleys have improved since doing the singles things as I've been attacking the net in singles. The shots that I hit regularly in dubs, I'm missing.

I know that I need to try and take a more simple approach to my doubles game and practice patience. Its not as easy to be patient in doubles as in singles since the game is that much faster. Perhaps its just mental but the game just seems to be so fast. Playing same guys I've played in the past.

Anyone been thru this similar experience, if so, what did you to to get out of this funk. Again, hitting the ball better then I have in a long long time, just can't translate that play on the dubs court.

Me, 4.5 player, weekend warrior, baseliner first.
 
ace18 said:
For the past year, I've played doubles 99% of the time and have done extremely well winning say 80% of my matches, if not more. My game starts with my groundstrokes and my net game follows. I'm very consistent and have an above average return of serve for my level.

Due to very busy schedule, I signed up for a flex singles league this spring. I hadn't played singles for almost 2.5 years so it a big change.

I started off my first match with inconsistency and lost in 3. I won my next 4 matches and beat a guy that I've never beaten in straight sets. Over the past 2 months, I'm hitting the ball better, cleaner, harder then I have in a long time and feel super confident on the singles court.

In the past, playing singles has helped my doubles play because of having the oppty to hit so many more balls in singles.

I've had the adverse effect. My doubles game has been very sucky. Lacking consistency, return of serves have been awful, lack of patience. Volleys have improved since doing the singles things as I've been attacking the net in singles. The shots that I hit regularly in dubs, I'm missing.

I know that I need to try and take a more simple approach to my doubles game and practice patience. Its not as easy to be patient in doubles as in singles since the game is that much faster. Perhaps its just mental but the game just seems to be so fast. Playing same guys I've played in the past.

Anyone been thru this similar experience, if so, what did you to to get out of this funk. Again, hitting the ball better then I have in a long long time, just can't translate that play on the dubs court.

Me, 4.5 player, weekend warrior, baseliner first.
Click to expand...

Hmmm...interesting. I think it is easy for us to forget that although it is all tennis, singles and doubles are, to a great extent, different sports that can be played very differently. In singles, a good baseline game is fine and can often be a ticket to winning. In doubles, especially against seasoned doubles players, staying at the baseline makes it very challenging to win. I'm not saying it can't be done, just that your margin for error is much smaller.

I am a baseliner/all-courter in singles and always have been, preferring to stay back and work my opponent with my groundstrokes. In doubles, which I play a lot more of these days, I still feel naturally comfortable at the baseline, but I find it very difficult to dictate play from there---too easy for an opposing net man to get involved. So, my doubles game consists of a mix of staying back and coming in. I am willing to stay back longer than most doubles players, and just try to be selective on my approaches. I wait till I have put an opponent on the defensive and try to close in behind that ball. I have also developed a very good offensive lob and I use it freely. Players aren't nearly so eager to charge the net after they've been burned with two or three good lobs they can't run down. Finally, recognize that while singles may often be about power or speed, a lot of doubles is about patience, guile, ball control, placement, more patience, etc.

Biggest difference about doubles, though, in my opinion, is not the actual style of play but the chemistry that is needed to be successful. That is what you lose when you don't play doubles with a regular partner on a frequent basis. In singles, you know every ball is yours to go get, and you do whatever you want to with it. In doubles, it is much more a tactical and strategic team game-plan, and it takes chemistry to make that work well. That takes time and practice.

My two cents worth anyway...
 
Biggest adjustment for me between singles and dubs is the return of serve. Completely different, at least at the 4.5 level. I adjust pretty quickly going from dubs to singles; takes me longer to groove the return going from singles to dubs.
 
I am not in y'alls atmosphere of play...but I've spent much of the past two seasons bouncing back-n-forth between singles and doubles, while for the 4+ years prior...I was mostly a doubles chick.

The hardest transition for me is going back to singles. Mentally and physically, I have to adjust the court: my "angle" shots can't have so much "angle"...and my groundstrokes need to have a whole lot more depth. And any approach I make, has to be all that much better in singles (as I do not have a partner to help me cover the net or lob). Singles is also more of a physical challenge and match-fitness has been an issue at times.

On the doubles side, when I'm headed that way from a few times at singles....I've really got to put my thinking cap on, especially if I'm playing with someone new, instead of a regular partner. But that's a challenge I often relish and enjoy learning how best to compliment my partner. Do I need to be the setup guy or do they need me...to put it away? Do I need to be the cheerleader, pumping them up...or the psychiatrist, keeping them calm and in-check? Is their personality such that I need to be consistent, keeping the ball in play...or can they let me spread my wings and fly...to take chances for high-risk/high-reward?

And, like OrangePower suggests, that ROS in doubles is crucial. Even when our opponents don't show much inclination to poach, there's still that greater pressure of net pressure from the outset. Merely blocking back a serve ain't gonna cut it. You need a plan: are you just trying to get it back in play (cause it's hard to handle) or can you actually do something with it and, if so, what? I've found in doubles, there's less of the former and much more of the latter. I believe that to be the case because many savvy doubles players realize that a high 1st Serve percentage is much more important (than in singles)....and so even really good servers, will take just a bit off...to get the play started. So having a "plan" for that return is super important.

While still on the subject of ROS though, I often play deuce side and get a steady diet of serves up the T...so much so, that I really like my BH return be it inside-out CC or whipped back DTL. In singles...I rarely see a serve there and sometimes struggle with what seems like an easy FH out wide.

But OP...you're on the right track: doubles is an exercise in placement and patience over power. Sometimes, the best play...is the most obvious one. Put it back in play (ie make them hit one more ball)...and when in doubt -- solve the riddle and go up the middle. It may not be the winning "shot" but it often turns into the winning "strategy."

The fun of doubles, in my mind, is often less about the actual tennis played (the shots made or defended)...and much more about coaxing a win from a sometimes impromtu partnership...and the social chitter-chatter than accompanies most "team" play.

sorry for the long post...it's just a subject near-n-dear ATM
 
Last edited:
It can be tough for me mentally to open up and hit the ball as hard as I usually do in singles because the court, though bigger, appears smaller to me because it is covered by two players. Orange mentioned return of serve, very true because its much easier to capitalize on weak returns for good net players, so I can be tentative on those as well.

Do what you would in singles, if something isn't working, find a strategy that does and stick with it. If I had to guess you just need to play more doubles, its a different game, much quicker so your reflexes might just need some brushing up.
 
I think the RoS is the biggest thing in doubles. You can get away with so much in singles that loses you the point immediately in doubles. That could be said for a lot of differences actually.

It's the same sport, but it's a different game.
 
Everyone has problems transitioning back and forth.
It's a different version of the same game.
Shots that work great in one don't work at all in the other.
 
Angle Queen, no need to apologize for your zeal and long post. Lazy people won't read it. People who have a higher attention span will. I enjoyed it.
 
Singles to doubles - hardest part for me is serve return. I also find that I hit more balls out because I have so much more time to set up and just wail on the ball.

Doubles to singles - hardest part is the serve. Serving from the T and serving out wide are way different (net clearance and flight distance).
 
Thanks for all the comments and angle queen you make a lot of sense as do the rest of you. I think its probably a matter of me being harder on myself then I should be. They are different games and the transition between the two can be tough. I will keep that in mind next time I hits the courts for dubs play. I enjoy doubles more then singles but thru singles I have rekindled those shots that I can't hit in doubles because I have that darn guy at the net, standing in my way, :).
 
I never really have problems going from doubles to singles, but need time to adjust when going from singles to doubles.
The issue for me is not being the one to hit every ball of every point. Even though I'll usually participate in every rally, the gap in shots lets my mind wander leading to extra UEs.
 
I am a much higher level doubles player than singles. Since I am an old-school doubles player, I can't cover enough court in singles. S&V in singles is nearly dead. It is nearly impossible to cover so much court with the improved racquet/string technology that allows the returns to rip on the ball in the modern game.

In doubles, I am pretty strong. Yet in singles, I am pretty pedestrian. I think I am nearly .5 better in doubles than singles.
 
lostinamerica said:
I am a much higher level doubles player than singles. Since I am an old-school doubles player, I can't cover enough court in singles. S&V in singles is nearly dead. It is nearly impossible to cover so much court with the improved racquet/string technology that allows the returns to rip on the ball in the modern game.

In doubles, I am pretty strong. Yet in singles, I am pretty pedestrian. I think I am nearly .5 better in doubles than singles.
Click to expand...

I know I'm .5 better in singles than I am in doubles. Works both ways!!
 
Yes, took a while getting comfortable at the net and being an active partner by faking or poaching.

You also have to be more precise with your returns.
 
I switch back and forth singles /doubles in the same day in tournaments. I play exclusively singles in the 18+ Leagues and mostly play Doubles in 40+. Some older guys on our 40+ team want to enjoy singles without the pace and speed you see from the 23 - 25 year olds who play 18+

I personally enjoy playing doubles more, but in 18+ there aren't many 40 to 50 year olds who want to bang it out with 23 to 25 year olds.

Biggest adjustment I have to make, is not getting to use those extra 4.5 feet in the alleys, when going crosscourt at extreme angles. In singles, it is deep to the corners, but in doubles I love to hit returns into the alley but in front of the service line, putting the server in the fence trying to dig out that return. ;)

And I get lot more volleys in doubles than singles.

But truth be told, singles makes me stronger mentally - you are alone on the court - you have to figure out the opponent with no partner or coach.

Very glad to play both
 
Last edited:
I find transitioning from dubs to singles fairly easy .... the court opens up a lot and my return percentage becomes much, much better.

I am a better dubs player than singles and I enjoy that more. When I have been playing a lot of singles and then go to doubles it takes me a while to find my return game. That is the most frustrating part for me.
 
The hardest part for me is adjusting to partners. I love singles and really do enjoy playing tennis win or lose given a good partner with chemistry.

The partners I have been getting stuck with lately by our team captain just hurts. Grin and bear it but it is so frustrating sometimes.
 
I fit right into 4.5 doubles, and can hold my own in 5.0 doubles.
However, singles, I like to rate myself 3.5, because I've come close to losing to some top 3.5's when my game is off and I'm walkinabout.
 
I agree with some of the other posters having the toughest time transitioning on the ROS. Coming into doubles, I have to stay on top of my placement and net clearance. I definitely don't hit the high/loopy/deep safe singles return in dubs.

The other thing I've had issues with when having to play both singles and doubles in the same day is My serve. Where I stand, as well as the types of serves and their placement can be a tough adjustment going from singles to doubles back to back.
 
What I lose the most going from doubles to singles is an aggressive volley. In doubles, a deep volley to the backcourt player is often sufficient.
That same volley in singles is an invitation to get passed or successfully lobbed.
 
LeeD said:
I fit right into 4.5 doubles, and can hold my own in 5.0 doubles.
However, singles, I like to rate myself 3.5, because I've come close to losing to some top 3.5's when my game is off and I'm walkinabout.
Click to expand...

This sounds exactly like me. In doubles, I am competitive with most at 4.5 and don't embarrass myself at 5.0. I don't win much but it is not a total embarrassment.

I actually hate playing top 3.5s. They have mastered the ability to keep a very poorly hit ball in play. It is just not a ball I like. At 4.5 to 5.0, you generally see a clean ball. At 3.5, you see a poorly hit ball that denies logic by finding the court. I beat them but it is not much fun.

I've lost to several good 4.0 singles players. Played the same players in doubles and it is not really competition. I guess it is match ups. I've often said singles and doubles are completely different games.
 
It is much easier to transition from Doubles to singles. because when you go from singles to doubles, you actually have to know how to volley and volley well. Also mentally weak guys will have problem handling losses in doubles. they start thinking if it wasn't for bad play of my partner, I would have won.
You can't control what your partner does but you can make him play better by picking up your level
 
ace18 said:
For the past year, I've played doubles 99% of the time and have done extremely well winning say 80% of my matches, if not more. My game starts with my groundstrokes and my net game follows. I'm very consistent and have an above average return of serve for my level.

Due to very busy schedule, I signed up for a flex singles league this spring. I hadn't played singles for almost 2.5 years so it a big change.

I started off my first match with inconsistency and lost in 3. I won my next 4 matches and beat a guy that I've never beaten in straight sets. Over the past 2 months, I'm hitting the ball better, cleaner, harder then I have in a long time and feel super confident on the singles court.

In the past, playing singles has helped my doubles play because of having the oppty to hit so many more balls in singles.

I've had the adverse effect. My doubles game has been very sucky. Lacking consistency, return of serves have been awful, lack of patience. Volleys have improved since doing the singles things as I've been attacking the net in singles. The shots that I hit regularly in dubs, I'm missing.

I know that I need to try and take a more simple approach to my doubles game and practice patience. Its not as easy to be patient in doubles as in singles since the game is that much faster. Perhaps its just mental but the game just seems to be so fast. Playing same guys I've played in the past.

Anyone been thru this similar experience, if so, what did you to to get out of this funk. Again, hitting the ball better then I have in a long long time, just can't translate that play on the dubs court.

Me, 4.5 player, weekend warrior, baseliner first.
Click to expand...

Well, one thing you can try is to stay more back in doubles, close to the baseline.

Personally my biggest problem has been nerves on my serve (with more people involved); I can still crush my ground strokes (i.e. and hit people at the net from behind the baseline, inadvertently)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

I
3.9 in singles, 3.6 in doubles: what should I do next year?
Replies
42
Views
4K
antony
antony
M
do you play Singles and Doubles
Replies
32
Views
6K
Doubletime
D
GatorTennis
Should you play both Singles and Doubles?
Replies
15
Views
4K
GrassCourtFan
G
Traffic
Singles or Doubles
2
Replies
57
Views
4K
Ruark
R
J011yroger
Where is the line between singles and doubles.
Replies
35
Views
3K
winchestervatennis
W
Back
Top