doubles varsity needing advice

[nopiforyou]

Ok I'm gonna be a freshman in my highschool starting in September 5. Tennis season starts at late February I was told. Anyway, I'm pretty sure our school doesn't have a JV team or anything below that because its so caught up in football and basketball. Me being the clueless freshman, especially on sports had no idea that theres like a 90% chance I'm gonna have to play doubles. Since only the top 4 in the team can play singles. I think I'll do fine and be at least in the mid 10s out of a team bout 24. Anyway, my groundstrokes are pretty nice I'd say, especially my forehand (my pride and joy). Thats it though. My serve is now less then mediocre now and I have no net game. Any advice is to help me out? whether it be technical stuff like net game or more bout highschool varsity I should know about.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

Singles can be physically demanding, but doubles is technically demanding.

Doubles really requires that you "have it all"-- spin serves, half-volleys, solid volleys, lobs, topspin lobs, overheads, return of serve, topspin drives, chips, slice, dropshots, angles, placements-- and everything else I left off the list.

It's not really for players who are "less good".

I would advise, if you have the time, to get outside coaching if you want to climb the ladder. Working on doubles will help your overall game and help work you up into the top four.

Good luck,

B

 

[tennishack1]

Singles can be physically demanding, but doubles is technically demanding.

Doubles really requires that you "have it all"-- spin serves, half-volleys, solid volleys, lobs, topspin lobs, overheads, return of serve, topspin drives, chips, slice, dropshots, angles, placements-- and everything else I left off the list.

It's not really for players who are "less good".

I would advise, if you have the time, to get outside coaching if you want to climb the ladder. Working on doubles will help your overall game and help work you up into the top four.

Good luck,

B

Great post!

Technically demanding is right! Spend lots of time practicing volleys, racket in front, pushing towards the target etc. Lots of time on return! Return is crucial for dubs. Have someone serve at you from the service line. be super aggresive in your practice matches, try to control the middle!:mrgreen:

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

Focus on taking your serves and return of serves to the highest level possible especially with consistency.

Everything else won't matter if you burden your partner with getting lit up at the net, double faults, and easy poaches by the opposition's net player.

Focus on these aspects of footwork:

Also, do everything you can to get to the service line or net. So, do the work to explode forward and burn an excellent split step into muscle memory with the ability to explode in either direction.

And of course, once you get there, work on softening and quieting those hands while developing a consistent net game.

Don't forget to work on your singles game too, but groundstrokes aren't what doubles is about.

solid serves and returns, explosive legs, and quiet soft stable hands. These things will serve you well in doubles.

 

[Zets147]

Serving and Returning are the two most crucial things for dubs. (also for singles as a matter of fact). If I were you, I would work to make sure that I have a second serve that I can always rely on. (Double Faults are the worst in dubs.. for me anyways). Also practice your returns with your partner and coach if available.

 

[LuckyR]

Serving and Returning are the two most crucial things for dubs. (also for singles as a matter of fact). If I were you, I would work to make sure that I have a second serve that I can always rely on. (Double Faults are the worst in dubs.. for me anyways). Also practice your returns with your partner and coach if available.

That's only half of it. The server/returner needs to think consistency, not winners. The netman needs to aggressive and put balls away. Too often singles-oriented players will try to go for too much on the serve or return and end up blowing the point. They should just start the point, the netman should finish it.

 

[patrick922]

well i did play for my high school team. i played #2 singles and #2 doubles. at first i had no confidence on my net game. but found out that being aggressive at net is important. so i worked on it and now i dont play doubles from the baseline anymore. so i would say get that serve up so your partner will have easy put aways at net and work on you net skill and improve your hand eye coordination