Me no Likey Doubs
- Thread starter SeekHeart
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Steady Eddy
Legend
Sounds like you'll be playing doubles whether you like it or not. But, bear in mind, that when you become a middle-aged guy, tennis = doubles. At the country club they can't stand to play singles. So learning doubles will pay off for your tennis enjoyment in the long run.
autumn_leaf
Hall of Fame
since you're coach won't let you switch why don't you ask them how you should play?
also i find doubles to be all about volleying, if you can volley and and the instincts to pouch then you'll do fine in dubs. if you can't volley then you're life is gonna be hell.
also i find doubles to be all about volleying, if you can volley and and the instincts to pouch then you'll do fine in dubs. if you can't volley then you're life is gonna be hell.
Steady Eddy
Legend
You know those high, hard shots that are the bread and butter of your singles game? Don't hit it, it's useless in doubles. The high volley is easy for your opponents, and by hitting hard, you just supply them with the pace they'll need to block off winners. You need to keep it low over the net, so that they'll have to volley it below the net, where all they can do is pop it back into play. Or hit is soft enough so it lands at their feet when they haven't really closed in on the net. Don't expect many rallys, the points in doubles are short.
You already have a guy at the net to help you win your serve, so don't so much go for aces as much as keep it in and let your partner finish off their return, (this is like a pitcher who lets his inflield get the outs, instead of just going for strikeouts). So serving isn't about trying to get an ace on first serve, then plopping it in on the second. You want to get your first serve in at least 70% of the time, not 50%. Give it a funky spin so your partner can jump all over it. You'll play the net more, and an overhead comes up alot more than it does in singles. If they see your smash is unreliable, they'll just lob you to death.
mtommer
Hall of Fame
Oh, I know, I HATE this. It's part of the reason why I hit on the wall so much. I can't stand doubles but that's all any of the 4.5/5.0 tournament guys want to play, and I'm older than some of those guys. (These are the guys I see around the courts a lot).
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Its hard to like doubles when you aren't good at it. I was a singles player for a long time and didn't really know how to play doubles (with any amount of proficiency) until maybe 2 years ago. Once you learn proper strategy and win a few matches, doubles definitely becomes more fun. One prob. with doubles is there is a lot of disagreement about what is good strategy. Another is if you get into competitive leagues, you will find that everyone wants to have a stronger partner than themselves, so you might find yourself always the stronger partner (somehow thats where I always find myself), and its frustrating when you lose because your partner doesn't hold their own. I can't say there aren't a thousand times that I was the cause of a loss, but its discouraging when your good play is negated by your partner.
jmjmkim
Semi-Pro
I am the worst doubles player, so I get tired of apologizing to my partner. That's why I only play singles, even though I am now middle aged.
But when I do play doubles, I just keep it simple. I play the zone, covering my area. I hit it cross court, return it cross court, work my way into the net and block anything that comes my way. Nothing fancy, just consistent cross court shots with decent pace. Avoid hitting to the net guy, unless there is a definite opening. Avoid hitting soft shots that goes more than 2-3 ft over the net. After that, have a good attitude, and sportsmanship because this is a team effort. Have fun.
On the serve, it is good to have a spin serve that goes in the first time, and placed well. If you try to blast it like in singles, with a first serve percentage of less than 50%, your partner gets off his rhythm. It motivates your team if most of your first serves go in, even if it's not 90mph+.
But when I do play doubles, I just keep it simple. I play the zone, covering my area. I hit it cross court, return it cross court, work my way into the net and block anything that comes my way. Nothing fancy, just consistent cross court shots with decent pace. Avoid hitting to the net guy, unless there is a definite opening. Avoid hitting soft shots that goes more than 2-3 ft over the net. After that, have a good attitude, and sportsmanship because this is a team effort. Have fun.
On the serve, it is good to have a spin serve that goes in the first time, and placed well. If you try to blast it like in singles, with a first serve percentage of less than 50%, your partner gets off his rhythm. It motivates your team if most of your first serves go in, even if it's not 90mph+.
Doubles is fun but I also kind of suck at it.
One huge problem is perfectly good singles plays suck in tennis. At the 3.5 level I find a not so beautiful slice approach followed by a volley can work great. In doubles that's a nightmare.
Also your classic almost a push high deep somewhat topspinny "rally ball" which is perfectly solid shot in singles is a recipe to get spanked in doubles..
Your basic DTL return off the second serve is a dangerous play in doubles unless you can really put some power on the ball..
You have to learn to keep the ball low and over the net - and hit with alot of power or spin. It's a really tough transition. Also even though I can volley in singles some in doubles the net person to net person volley is really tough.. I find myself really slow to react to that ball.. It's like I don't see it coming..
Strategy wise I find that people are WAY to0 plugged into the one up and one back formation. I have the hardest time getting people to try I-Formation or Australian or two back which is helpful if your playing mixed with a person that doesn't like to volley at all..
Pete
One huge problem is perfectly good singles plays suck in tennis. At the 3.5 level I find a not so beautiful slice approach followed by a volley can work great. In doubles that's a nightmare.
Also your classic almost a push high deep somewhat topspinny "rally ball" which is perfectly solid shot in singles is a recipe to get spanked in doubles..
Your basic DTL return off the second serve is a dangerous play in doubles unless you can really put some power on the ball..
You have to learn to keep the ball low and over the net - and hit with alot of power or spin. It's a really tough transition. Also even though I can volley in singles some in doubles the net person to net person volley is really tough.. I find myself really slow to react to that ball.. It's like I don't see it coming..
Strategy wise I find that people are WAY to0 plugged into the one up and one back formation. I have the hardest time getting people to try I-Formation or Australian or two back which is helpful if your playing mixed with a person that doesn't like to volley at all..
Pete
Caloi
Semi-Pro
Hang in there! I now LOVE doubles! Last year was my first real introduction to doubles after playing recreational singles for a long time. I was flustered at first but really began to enjoy it. I like the challenges of not having an open court to hit into. I also like the volley pratice I get. It certainly made me have quicker hands at net! Also, you are 50% of your team. Not only are you able to blame your partner, but you're there to be blamed, which makes me play harder.
I just found out our ladder/drop-in doubles starts this Saturday, which is the reason I've busted my butt all winter; conditioning and playing tennis in absolute **** weather...only to find out I can't make it! AHHHHHH!!!!!
I just found out our ladder/drop-in doubles starts this Saturday, which is the reason I've busted my butt all winter; conditioning and playing tennis in absolute **** weather...only to find out I can't make it! AHHHHHH!!!!!
fuzz nation
G.O.A.T.
I feel your pain, mister.
I coach both varsity and JV players and for singles, you can be a rock solid player with not much more than a solid serve and strokes. Doubles? Now you also need to be able to volley with a little authority which means that you also need to learn how to transition to net well - deep volleys and half-volleys take some guidance to get right.
Let's not forget overheads, returning serve accurately, developing the instincts to cover the width of the court with a partner who will help you cut down the angles that an opposing team can go after. If they're up at net together, you can hit over them, at them, between them, maybe up the alley around them, and most importantly, down low around their feet. As a coach, I always have more work to do with relative newcomers that will be playing only doubles.
Get hip to the role you have to fill, not just as the server or receiver, but also as the partner of each one of those players at the start of any point. That can help you recognize opportunities and maintain better positioning more often. Hopefully your coach has some constructive input for you, but you might also pick up a book on doubles strategy. If you see any at the bookstore, flip through them and see if one has any good ideas to help with your general understanding of things. Singles can reward patience, but successful doubles usually demands a degree of constant aggression and smart net crashing.
SeekHeart
Rookie
yea that's the thing, in my current position, I usually hold most of the weight with my double partners. My coach doesn't have any doubles experience so he is trying to cram the jvs and 1st and 2nd doubs with the info. The ironic thing is that whenever I play doubs I feel like it is just me vs two opponents cause my partner is flat footed the entire time and I really get moved around. Also my entire team doesn't know the other formations like I or aussie. We just use both up or one up and one down. Sad...
Headshotterer
Professional
a main tactic of the game is to control the net
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJpPUFfDXsw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJpPUFfDXsw&feature=related
Are you serious, is it because of the number of court or because peopla are lazy. There a reason why they don't ever bother showing double on TV, it is a completely different game and IMO it is boring. Think i'm gonna find a new sport for my middle-age.
LuckyR
Legend
Read a book. Seriously...
Steady Eddy
Legend
It's probably because of a combination of things: they don't like to run, they want a partner to blame losing on, and it's more fun once you get used to it. After we break off into fours, the leftover guys who have to play singles are not happy about it, and want to get into a doubles set asap.
BTW, I wish they showed more doubles on tv. I think it's exciting, esp the high level the pros play.
The main thing that bothers me about doubles is poaching. Maybe I'm poaching incorrectly, but it feels like you're giving up angles in order to put away the point. Let me clarify:
In singles, after you hit a ball, normally, you want to return the center of the angles that your opponent can hit. When I play doubles, I have this same instinct. I play the angles on my half of the court, and leave the other half of the court for my partner. So, we cover everything. But I often get criticized for this, for being too passive. I'm supposed to rush to the other half of the angles, and my partner is supposed to cover the half I'm leaving. It just feels like we're leaving ourselves terribly vulnerable, so much so, that the other team has an equal chance of winning the point. I could see this being effective if you think the other team is better than you, and by poaching, you change your odds of winning the point to 50%. But if you're better, you're already going to win the point more than 50% of the time. Why reduce it to 50% by poaching?
It's hard to get used to because in singles, you only guess which way a guy is hitting when he's about to smash it past you.
In singles, after you hit a ball, normally, you want to return the center of the angles that your opponent can hit. When I play doubles, I have this same instinct. I play the angles on my half of the court, and leave the other half of the court for my partner. So, we cover everything. But I often get criticized for this, for being too passive. I'm supposed to rush to the other half of the angles, and my partner is supposed to cover the half I'm leaving. It just feels like we're leaving ourselves terribly vulnerable, so much so, that the other team has an equal chance of winning the point. I could see this being effective if you think the other team is better than you, and by poaching, you change your odds of winning the point to 50%. But if you're better, you're already going to win the point more than 50% of the time. Why reduce it to 50% by poaching?
It's hard to get used to because in singles, you only guess which way a guy is hitting when he's about to smash it past you.
Rui
Semi-Pro
Don't poach just to be poaching. It's a disruptive tactic that keeps the returners from relaxing and teeing off on serve returns.
In your case, you can shut the critics up by volleying away a few returns that pass over or close to the center of the net. You partner doesn't have to cover behind you.
What you are describing sounds like planned poaches. In planned poaches it is up to your partner to cover your alley. I agree with you that planned poaches are more risky, and personally I never use them. I think that planned poaches are only worth the risk if you have a regular doubles partner who you can practice this with and have a really good server. I usually find myself playing with a new partner with a mediocre serve so I don't bother.
Opportunistic poaches are safer because you only poach when the ball is obviously poachable, so you are not giving up your alley (unless you jump the gun on the poach or your opponent hits a lucky shot). For instance you are more inclined to poach if the ball is served down the middle instead of when it is served wide. But this type of poaching is necessary to play effective doubles.
BullDogTennis
Hall of Fame
i find doubles to be extremely fun in a social play. you find 3 other friends to play and its a blast. even funner if you have friends and play mixed doubles.
but i myself really dont enjoy playing competitive doubles its just not very fun. but playing with friends is a blast.
but i myself really dont enjoy playing competitive doubles its just not very fun. but playing with friends is a blast.
I definitely agree. My statement was made towards competitive doubles.
Competitive double is more about communication and net skills. I've actually learn to appreciate and understand double after joining a mixed league. There is a lot of strategies (poaching for example) but how well you can execute depends not only your skills but trust in your partner's as well. But for most beginners and single specialist doubles is more like four player singles where there are more people getting in the way.
fuzz nation
G.O.A.T.
The good news is that this isn't rocket science. Here are a few things to work on.
Get used to communicating with anyone you're partnered with out there. If you can quickly say "yours" or "mine" on any questionable ball like a lob or a drive up the middle, both of you know what to do right away. You can also try planning the start of some points - talk things over between some points. This talking should also include keeping your partner light and upbeat - be positive.
Try to be at the same depth in the court as your partner. If one of you can't get to net right away after a serve or a return, the other one of you has the option of starting back at the baseline so that you're together. When one of you gets a short ball, you can move forward together. If you're the server's partner and the opponents are crushing returns at you, that's another case where you can start the point standing back at the baseline.
Hit away from the opponent that's up at net. This usually means hitting crosscourt. Returns of serve? Yep, crosscourt. You can occasionally lob over the net person, too (then move forward!) and you might even pop your return up the alley if you have a sitter and the lane is open.
Don't go for a rock star shot, well... just don't! This includes serves. Too easy to donate a point by going for a low percentage winner too often. Land lots of first serves. In your rallies, hit low, controlled shots that force your opponents to hit up. Don't panic if you have to deal with a low ball of your own. Take it easy and send it low back across the net. If you can learn to stay patient like this, you can force opponents to eventually hit up into that kill zone where you can put the ball away without much effort.
You can raise more hell and earn more points in doubles if you can volley well - basic geometry. Spend extra time on this in your practice sessions so that you're more comfortable up front during points.
