Clay vs. Hard Court Doubles Strategy

[PigPen]

Play mostly doubles on a hard court. On this surface, I feel that players get rewarded when they hit a good paced serve, forehand, volley or overhead. The reward is a set up for the next shot.

As I get older, more and more of my peers are playing clay court tennis. However, clay court tennis seems to be a completely different game. Shots that work well on a hard court are ineffective on clay. I obviously need to hit many more shots to win a point and therefore change my strategy / mindset.

Does anyone know of a good resource on clay court doubles strategies?

 

[austintennis2005]

hit the ball over the net once more than opponents.... same as on a hard court.....very simple

 

[socallefty]

I don’t know of any specific resource. Since the surface is slow, opponents have more time to pass/lob. So, it is more common to see 1-back formations by the serving team and 2-back formations by receiving team if their net play has been ineffective. Also, since it is a high-bouncing surface, kick serves are more effective than slice serves and topspin ground strokes work well compared to slice even as a approach shot. Dropshots become more effective than on hard courts also.

Also, the timing of poaches changes a bit as you have to leave a little later to cross since opponents have more time to adjust their shot. Teams usually call intentional poaches with signals more rather than instinctive poaching. You should also experiment more with Australian and I-formations if opponents get into a good groove with crosscourt returns.

 

[Bud]

Play mostly doubles on a hard court. On this surface, I feel that players get rewarded when they hit a good paced serve, forehand, volley or overhead. The reward is a set up for the next shot.

As I get older, more and more of my peers are playing clay court tennis. However, clay court tennis seems to be a completely different game. Shots that work well on a hard court are ineffective on clay. I obviously need to hit many more shots to win a point and therefore change my strategy / mindset.

Does anyone know of a good resource on clay court doubles strategies?

Are you fit enough to play clay court singles?

That will teach you how to interact with the surface and construct points which will carry over to your doubles game.

Otherwise, check out the later rounds of the French Open doubles matches and observe the strategies.

Sometimes, it can take twice as many shots to win a point.

 

[toth]

Do you play one up one back or two up?
(I play usually on clay, here play everyone one up one back; we are 3,5 - 4 level players)

 

[Fintft]

hit the ball over the net once more than opponents.... same as on a hard court.....very simple

Or hard enough.

 

[eah123]

I’ve never seen anything written doubles that is specific to the surface. The main thing I think about is that I need to work harder to keep the ball low on hardcourts by using more backspin. On clay, usually a dink will not sit up, so you have to be extra quick on your feet to pick one up.

 

[Dragy]

I have been playing a lot of doubles on clay with/against seniors. The biggest struggle is reduced consistency when hitting on the rise, which pushes players back and forces more lobs.

Net play is still very efficient if you are ok with overheads and high volleys.

You may also choose to hit more approach drives rather than rushing the net as soon as possible: most short balls won’t skid/penetrate, which allows you to step in, prepare a solid drive, and follow it to net. Serve+1, then net, rather than serve and volley

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

It's similar enough to not impact who will win or lose a match at the rec level.

 

[ptuanminh]

Deep spinny balls work well for setting up the next shot.

 

[PigPen]

I don’t know of any specific resource. Since the surface is slow, opponents have more time to pass/lob. So, it is more common to see 1-back formations by the serving team and 2-back formations by receiving team if their net play has been ineffective. Also, since it is a high-bouncing surface, kick serves are more effective than slice serves and topspin ground strokes work well compared to slice even as a approach shot. Dropshots become more effective than on hard courts also.

Also, the timing of poaches changes a bit as you have to leave a little later to cross since opponents have more time to adjust their shot. Teams usually call intentional poaches with signals more rather than instinctive poaching. You should also experiment more with Australian and I-formations if opponents get into a good groove with crosscourt returns.

I prefer to play serve and volley. I have a kick serve, but it does not bounce as high as I would like. Also, I tend not to hit with a lot of topspin. Maybe I need to work on these strokes.

 

[PigPen]

Are you fit enough to play clay court singles?

That will teach you how to interact with the surface and construct points which will carry over to your doubles game.

Otherwise, check out the later rounds of the French Open doubles matches and observe the strategies.

Sometimes, it can take twice as many shots to win a point.

I am fit, but have had many surgeries which prevents me from playing singles. I will watch the French for some tendencies. However, the player's skill level is obviously quite a bit higher than mine.

 

[PigPen]

Do you play one up one back or two up?
(I play usually on clay, here play everyone one up one back; we are 3,5 - 4 level players)

We never play that formation as we like top close at the net. I play at the 4.5-5.0 level and have never seen players stay back too often.

 

[PigPen]

I have been playing a lot of doubles on clay with/against seniors. The biggest struggle is reduced consistency when hitting on the rise, which pushes players back and forces more lobs.

Net play is still very efficient if you are ok with overheads and high volleys.

You may also choose to hit more approach drives rather than rushing the net as soon as possible: most short balls won’t skid/penetrate, which allows you to step in, prepare a solid drive, and follow it to net. Serve+1, then net, rather than serve and volley

Very interesting about hitting on the rise. I have grown used to doing that to take time away from my opponent. I prefer to be at the net, so high volleys and overheads are not an issue. Maybe I am too impatient and have to work my ay to the net more as you say.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

Seriously, if you go away from your strengths on non-clay to somehow game the system and win on clay, that's a bad approach. Play your brand of winning tennis on clay just the same way you would on hard court. Unless you never drop shot people on hard court, BUT you are amazing at it, then maybe do that on clay, but really, changing for the surface is overthinking things in rec tennis.

 

[J011yroger]

I think doubles is most fun on clay or grass.

I don't think the strategy is very different but the frequency of certain plays varies.

J