Can’t seem to get warmed up in doubles.

[Jst21121]

Primarily a singles player and used to rallying etc and getting into the rhythm of my serve and forehand etc…

but I cannot for the life of me get into the rhythm in doubles. It’s to much stop and go, and then waiting to serve and then my forehand backhand just can’t seem to work and I’m sailing balls long and or hitting them into the net…

many tips on how to get into rhythm for doubles? Or should I just give it up and focus on what I’m good at- aka singles… because at this point standing around for 2 hours and not having a good game nor a good workout(standing around) is not worth my time.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Primarily a singles player and used to rallying etc and getting into the rhythm of my serve and forehand etc…

but I cannot for the life of me get into the rhythm in doubles. It’s to much stop and go, and then waiting to serve and then my forehand backhand just can’t seem to work and I’m sailing balls long and or hitting them into the net…

many tips on how to get into rhythm for doubles? Or should I just give it up and focus on what I’m good at- aka singles… because at this point standing around for 2 hours and not having a good game nor a good workout(standing around) is not worth my time.

Get accustomed to doubles rhythm, which is different than singles rhythm. Don't try to force doubles rhythm into something it's not.

 

[eah123]

Practice serve and volley in singles. Then do the same in doubles when you are the back player.

As the front player, imagine that you already served, and get ready to volley.

 

[Shroud]

Primarily a singles player and used to rallying etc and getting into the rhythm of my serve and forehand etc…

but I cannot for the life of me get into the rhythm in doubles. It’s to much stop and go, and then waiting to serve and then my forehand backhand just can’t seem to work and I’m sailing balls long and or hitting them into the net…

many tips on how to get into rhythm for doubles? Or should I just give it up and focus on what I’m good at- aka singles… because at this point standing around for 2 hours and not having a good game nor a good workout(standing around) is not worth my time.

What do you mean by rhythm anyhow? Serve is just you. Warm up is warm up. Are you net getting enough warm up?

 

[Fintft]

1. Use first strike weapons to take control of the point, those being serve and ROS. Tempt them to serve into your FH, that will get you going. Nail the net guy DTL.
2. Play two back once in a while, basically on the BL.
3. Poach a lot at the net, be aggresive and try to get your racquet on everything.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Don't just warm up from the baseline. Take some at the net, and ask for some practice on overheads. The net game is a bigger factor in doubles than it is in singles.

 

[AlexSV]

If you’re at the net then you should be watching the opposing net player when your partner is hitting. You prepare to defend a volley based on their movement or you push up to potentially poach their partner’s shot from the baseline. If not then shift back and repeat.

In doubles your position should be constantly changing based on the shots your partner hits and the movement on the other side of the net.

once you get active the rhythm is much better. As a singles player, if your calves aren’t a little sore from the movement at the net then your not moving enough.

 

[Jst21121]

Don't just warm up from the baseline. Take some at the net, and ask for some practice on overheads. The net game is a bigger factor in doubles than it is in singles.

No wonder I'm not good nor enjoying it...my net game is probably the weakest link in my game.

Hmm, I guess practice makes perfect.

What do you mean by rhythm anyhow? Serve is just you. Warm up is warm up. Are you net getting enough warm up?

Just the overall serve hit hit hit hit hit rhythm. I'm not used to serve, hit, hit poach, changover, wait at net wait at net wait at net, poach occasionaly, return serve, hit in.out, wait again, partners turn to serve, just wait wait wait at net while watching him hit crossovers.

Singles is serve rally rally rally, serve rally rally, rally, serve rally rally rally, return serve rally rally rally. It's just much easier to get into a rhythm of my strokes rather then stop go and not have that rhythm...and hitting unforced errors.

 

[Shroud]

No wonder I'm not good nor enjoying it...my net game is probably the weakest link in my game.

Hmm, I guess practice makes perfect.


Just the overall serve hit hit hit hit hit rhythm. I'm not used to serve, hit, hit poach, changover, wait at net wait at net wait at net, poach occasionaly, return serve, hit in.out, wait again, partners turn to serve, just wait wait wait at net while watching him hit crossovers.

Singles is serve rally rally rally, serve rally rally, rally, serve rally rally rally, return serve rally rally rally. It's just much easier to get into a rhythm of my strokes rather then stop go and not have that rhythm...and hitting unforced errors.

this sounds like singles players playing doubles. If you have a weak net game then yeah its probably not fun. Though the net is the funnest place to play for me and as a old slow guy getting to play alot of points up there is awesome for me at least.

If a break between strokes is messing with you, it looks like some work is in order to groove the strokes more...

 

[Steady Eddy]

No wonder I'm not good nor enjoying it...my net game is probably the weakest link in my game.

Hmm, I guess practice makes perfect.

But if you're like most of us, practice isn't much fun. Playing doubles is a good way to get better at your net game. And that will help your singles too. Even if you'd rather never go to the net in singles, sometimes you wind up there with an "easy" putaway. If you play doubles you'll put a way 98/% of these, instead of netting half of them.

Maybe you'll like it up there so much that you'll become a S & V player?

 

[LuckyR]

If you're standing around when your partner is hitting, you're not playing real doubles. Maybe I'm mistaken but your tone seems to have a bit of resentment in it. If so, stick to singles. If not, learn some doubles strategy and tactics, get a partner who knows how to play doubles, then you won't have that problem.

 

[Jst21121]

If you're standing around when your partner is hitting, you're not playing real doubles. Maybe I'm mistaken but your tone seems to have a bit of resentment in it. If so, stick to singles. If not, learn some doubles strategy and tactics, get a partner who knows how to play doubles, then you won't have that problem.

No resentment- I honestly dunno how to play doubles- and this post confirms it. I don't know how to play doubles.

I guess my frustration at being bad at doubles came out in the post. I'll stick with singles until my legs/body/arm start to give out... 34 I can still run around the court for a while.

 

[Fxanimator1]

No resentment- I honestly dunno how to play doubles- and this post confirms it. I don't know how to play doubles.

I guess my frustration at being bad at doubles came out in the post. I'll stick with singles until my legs/body/arm start to give out... 34 I can still run around the court for a while.

At 34 years of age, I wouldn't even mess with it. If you want net work, find a good hitting partner and trade off up at net for volleys and overheads. That way you're getting a good workout.

 

[nyta2]

any tips on how to get into rhythm for doubles?

read any book on dubs... too many "tips" to list.

Or should I just give it up and focus on what I’m good at- aka singles…

don't give up, it will help your singles game (specifically in handling short ball approach shots, volleys and lobs, and a more accurate return of serve)

because at this point standing around for 2 hours and not having a good game nor a good workout(standing around) is not worth my time.

could also google "louis cayer doubles"... and notice that the drills he's doing, have the net person constantly moving... there is no standing around.

 

[Slicehand]

Just wait till you are 60, then youll get warmed up with that... (i dont talk from experience)

 

[Traffic]

Primarily a singles player and used to rallying etc and getting into the rhythm of my serve and forehand etc…

but I cannot for the life of me get into the rhythm in doubles. It’s to much stop and go, and then waiting to serve and then my forehand backhand just can’t seem to work and I’m sailing balls long and or hitting them into the net…

many tips on how to get into rhythm for doubles? Or should I just give it up and focus on what I’m good at- aka singles… because at this point standing around for 2 hours and not having a good game nor a good workout(standing around) is not worth my time.

Start by reading the book, "The Art of Doubles". It covers a lot of the basics. Very important is court positioning and what your goal role is. Also, think about how to build the point as a team. Many fail in doubles because they think about how they can blast a winner from the baseline or they try to reach for every ball at the net. The goal is to set up your partner to put away an easy ball by applying pressure with depth and angles.

To practice doubles mechanics, include the following drills with a partner. Warm up with small tennis and then down the line using only half the court. Then move into cross-court rally; both deuce and ad using the alley as well. Practice serves setting up wider than singles and play out the point cross-court shots only. Then finish off with 20min of reflex volley.

 

[Shroud]

Start by reading the book, "The Art of Doubles". It covers a lot of the basics. Very important is court positioning and what your goal role is. Also, think about how to build the point as a team. Many fail in doubles because they think about how they can blast a winner from the baseline or they try to reach for every ball at the net. The goal is to set up your partner to put away an easy ball by applying pressure with depth and angles.

To practice doubles mechanics, include the following drills with a partner. Warm up with small tennis and then down the line using only half the court. Then move into cross-court rally; both deuce and ad using the alley as well. Practice serves setting up wider than singles and play out the point cross-court shots only. Then finish off with 20min of reflex volley.

good post. IMHO thats why I try to hit 80% of serves down the T to set up my partner. I look at doubles as T serve practice....