Now that I understand Doubles, it's insanely fun!

[travlerajm]

Was told these (or something close to it) are the correct coverage zones by some coaches in Aus.

That’s conventional positioning how it is traditionally taught, and how most people play. But I would argue that the server’s partner in the photo is standing in the wrong position. She should be positioned closer to the net and and closer to the centerline. Highest level doubles is played almost universally with the default serving team using what most rec players would consider a hybrid halfway between ‘conventional’ positioning and ‘Aussie’ formation, making it much harder for the returner because there is no easy big target crosscourt. The returner must either thread the needle past the net person standing several feet from the net, or lob (in which case the server can usually hit an aggressive overhead or swinging volley).

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

What is an inside stroke and outside stroke?

Are you familiar with the Wardlaw Directionals? It is a high-percentage tennis singles strategy developed by Paul Wardlaw in the early 1990s. For the Directionals, shots are classified as Inside shots and Outside shots. These shot classifications can be used for double as well (even tho the Wardlaw Directionals were developed for singles strategy).

An Outside shot is an incoming shot that moves away from you. Outside shots are often x-court shots that cross in front of you. (But it is possible that a small number of outside shots don't cross in front of you). An Inside shot is an incoming ball that moves into your body or a ball that does not move away from you -- like a DTL shot. Inside shots Never cross your body.

When you run around your BH to hit a Fh stroke, you are often taking a ball that is intended to be an Outside shot to your BH but you run around it to make it an Inside shot on your Fh side.

 

[McGradey]

That’s conventional positioning how it is traditionally taught, and how most people play. But I would argue that the server’s partner in the photo is standing in the wrong position. She should be positioned closer to the net and and closer to the centerline. Highest level doubles is played almost universally with the default serving team using what most rec players would consider a hybrid halfway between ‘conventional’ positioning and ‘Aussie’ formation, making it much harder for the returner because there is no easy big target crosscourt. The returner must either thread the needle past the net person standing several feet from the net, or lob (in which case the server can usually hit an aggressive overhead or swinging volley).

Yeah, this was just the first image I could find showing the coverage zones, because lots of less-experienced players think of covering left/right rather than front triangle/back triangle.

 

[ratherlosethanpush]

If you have a slice-exclusive bh and are right-handed, you should play the deuce in order to have your sling wing on the inside. Your outside stroke needs to be able to hit with penetration and topspin in order to avoid getting poached.

Hseihs coach mcnamee who played a little bit of doubles might disagree with you on that.

I saw an interview he gave recently and whilst not talking about slice only bh specifically he expressed a preference for a weaker bh player to play it as an outside shot on return.

His reasoning was they may see this shot once on return but never again in the rally. I think iirc he preferred it himself as he considered his bh weaker.

Admittedly this is referring to people who can move and he was talking more pro level preferences.

Edit: the interview can be found on tennis tribes youtube channel on roles and strategies of doubles players.
Well worth a watch.

 

[Purestriker]

Hseihs coach mcnamee who played a little bit of doubles might disagree with you on that.

I saw an interview he gave recently and whilst not talking about slice only bh specifically he expressed a preference for a weaker bh player to play it as an outside shot on return.

His reasoning was they may see this shot once on return but never again in the rally. I think iirc he preferred it himself as he considered his bh weaker.

Admittedly this is referring to people who can move and he was talking more pro level preferences.

Edit: the interview can be found on tennis tribes youtube channel on roles and strategies of doubles players.
Well worth a watch.

The key is he is coaching pro players, specifically a pro player with a unique set of skills.

 

[travlerajm]

At the pro level, the majority of players have stronger fh in a rally, but are more solid on the return-of-serve on the 2hb wing due to the extra stability.

These players usually prefer to play with the fh on the inside and 2hb outside.

The players that prefer to return a bh having a 1hb chip slice or chip lob, they almost always prefer to have fh on outside wing.

In both cases, the primary determinant of side preference is to hide the weaker return wing from being exposed as easily. Very few doubles points extend longer than 1 ball beyond the the return.

It’s much easier to expose a weak return wing if it’s on the outside, because a return back toward the middle has to cover a longer distance and so is easier to poach if not struck with authority.

 

[sureshs]

The only thing to "understand" in doubles is that the usual return of serve or any other groundstroke should be crosscourt away from the poacher, with the occasional DTL (lob or otherwise) return/groundie to mix it up. You need to get used to hitting into narrower CC and DTL windows compared to singles.

 

[LOBALOT]

Hseihs coach mcnamee who played a little bit of doubles might disagree with you on that.

I saw an interview he gave recently and whilst not talking about slice only bh specifically he expressed a preference for a weaker bh player to play it as an outside shot on return.

His reasoning was they may see this shot once on return but never again in the rally. I think iirc he preferred it himself as he considered his bh weaker.

Admittedly this is referring to people who can move and he was talking more pro level preferences.

Edit: the interview can be found on tennis tribes youtube channel on roles and strategies of doubles players.
Well worth a watch.

There is some debate on that and I am not sure I agree. I think you put the stronger returner/player regardless of bh ability in the ad court.

If the weaker player is constantly sending ad in to his partner at least you have a better shot to get it back to deuce. If that player happens to flip it to Ad out you have a better shot for the break. You do it the other way and if the stronger player makes an error on the deuce return (we all do at times) your goose is cooked.

In addition at the rec level most servers take the approach of "hit it to their backhand" and I think you see a lot of serves down the T to the backhand in the deuce court as it is an easier spot for a rec player to place the serve then to the backhand out wide over the high part of the net in the ad court. I even try to cheat a bit wide when returning in the ad court daring the server to go up the middle to my forehand and to force opponent serving errors trying to serve to my backhand in a box that I have squeezed a little.

All in all I think it points to weaker player in the deuce court but I know others may disagree and this is simply my reasoning.

 

[Shroud]

There is some debate on that and I am not sure I agree. I think you put the stronger returner/player regardless of bh ability in the ad court.

If the weaker player is constantly sending ad in to his partner at least you have a better shot to get it back to deuce. If that player happens to flip it to Ad out you have a better shot for the break. You do it the other way and if the stronger player makes an error on the deuce return (we all do at times) your goose is cooked.

In addition at the rec level most servers take the approach of "hit it to their backhand" and I think you see a lot of serves down the T to the backhand in the deuce court as it is an easier spot for a rec player to place the serve then to the backhand out wide over the high part of the net in the ad court. I even try to cheat a bit wide when returning in the ad court daring the server to go up the middle to my forehand and to force opponent serving errors trying to serve to my backhand in a box that I have squeezed a little.

All in all I think it points to weaker player in the deuce court but I know others may disagree and this is simply my reasoning.

Do you hit a kick serve?

 

[LOBALOT]

Do you hit a kick serve?

Me yes I can hit a kicker and I know what you are driving at but that is why I talked about squeezing the box a little in the ad. Moreover, that same kicker is a heck of a lot easier in the deuce court.

 

[Shroud]

Me yes I can hit a kicker and I know what you are driving at but that is why I talked about squeezing the box a little in the ad. Moreover, that same kicker is a heck of a lot easier in the deuce court.

hmm. I find it easier to get it out wide in the ad. And there you can look like you are hitting a kick and hit a t slice serve. I have done it but its something I need to practice to keep you squeezers in line. I find the deuce kick t serve harder than the ad kick wide. Sure there are some days when no matter what serve I try it finds the guys forehand...

 

[ey039524]

Watching doubles can be way more dramatic than singles, too:

It's a totally different game. Watched my son play a singles tournament the other weekend, and it was so boring watching kids hit from the baseline. Luckily, there were a couple that closed the net.

 

[GN-001]

@GN-001 You seem to have been, a couple of years ago, where I am now. I haven't played much doubles in my life and now, if I play a doubles match at the level of my singles rating, it's overwhelming because I didn't learn doubles at a slower pace when I was lower rated. Hearing your story gives me hope that I can get there one day.

Yeah I can understand that it’s overwhelming. You can find some players to play doubles with that are at a more comfortable level so you can practice things. Even if your partner doesn’t know what they are doing it won’t stop you from practicing things like poaching or moving towards the service line when the ball is on your side (defense) and close the net when it’s on your opponents side (offense). You can also find a partner and practice doubles together half court. For example, you feed cross court as you come in and volley into the open court at the feet of where the net player would be.

Another thing to do is when you play singles, learn to get comfortable transitioning to the net and being proactive there. I started off as an aggressive baseliner but in the last few years I’ve gotten super comfortable at the net, I mix in serve and volley and play a lot of touch shots so after learning what to do in doubles, it’s been quite an easy transition as I’ve realised that I never had a problem with poaching/volleys I just didn’t read the doubles game well enough or positioning myself well enough to move quickly enough to be able to do those things.

 

[GN-001]

One of my favourite videos

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

There is some debate on that and I am not sure I agree. I think you put the stronger returner/player regardless of bh ability in the ad court.

If the weaker player is constantly sending ad in to his partner at least you have a better shot to get it back to deuce. If that player happens to flip it to Ad out you have a better shot for the break. You do it the other way and if the stronger player makes an error on the deuce return (we all do at times) your goose is cooked.

In addition at the rec level most servers take the approach of "hit it to their backhand" and I think you see a lot of serves down the T to the backhand in the deuce court as it is an easier spot for a rec player to place the serve then to the backhand out wide over the high part of the net in the ad court. I even try to cheat a bit wide when returning in the ad court daring the server to go up the middle to my forehand and to force opponent serving errors trying to serve to my backhand in a box that I have squeezed a little.

All in all I think it points to weaker player in the deuce court but I know others may disagree and this is simply my reasoning.

I'll throw a wrinkle into this, as a lefty, if I have a righty partner (almost always do) I play deuce, they play ad, regardless of which groundstroke side they prefer. Forehands down the middle at the net is the goal (even the non returner on the recieving side will have the FH at the net to poach whatever happens after the partner returns, the advantage is immediate) . The return is just one shot, hopefully they can hit a return with their backhand, but even if they can't if they were to play deuce to "hide" the backhand the server can still serve to the BH and if they can't hit a backhand we have bigger problems anyway.

Slice BH is not a liability on return if the slice is precise , at least mine aren't poached that often.

 

[TennisCJC]

I don’t like serving less often. I don’t like not being in action watching others hit. I don’t hate it but never enjoy it as much as I enjoy singles. It gets less audience, it gets paid much less. No one cares who’s top 10 or 100 in doubles. No one remembers who won the last grand slam etc. Why?

I have played a lot of DOUBLES league tennis over last 47 years and been fortunate enough to win several city championships at various levels including at USTA 4.5 and local ALTA A3 levels. Winning in playoffs and city finals has been a very satisfying experience. It fun to have a partner on court and doubles requires more variety and precision in your game. I play singles competitively too and enjoy it too, but doubles can be a blast. As far as pro tennis, then watching the singles at big tournaments is more enjoyable to me but I like to watch some of the doubles too.

Final comment: as rec players and especially older rec players, singles can be turned into a game of running but with doubles, it is almost always a game of tactics and strokes. A good athlete can beat a better tennis player more frequently in singles than in doubles. I beat a lot of younger players in doubles because I have better strokes and tactics and doubles prevents them from turning it into a game of running.

 

[TennisCJC]

Was told these (or something close to it) are the correct coverage zones by some coaches in Aus.

This makes sense. The player closest to the net has rights to anything they can reach while the deep player should cover CC shots the net player cannot reach and lobs over the net player.

If both players go to net, do you favor side by side position with shifting L or R as a team or a staggered depth for the net players? Even in 2 up, if you can make contact closer to the net, you have rights to the ball.

 

[TennisCJC]

I'll throw a wrinkle into this, as a lefty, if I have a righty partner (almost always do) I play deuce, they play ad, regardless of which groundstroke side they prefer. Forehands down the middle at the net is the goal (even the non returner on the recieving side will have the FH at the net to poach whatever happens after the partner returns, the advantage is immediate) . The return is just one shot, hopefully they can hit a return with their backhand, but even if they can't if they were to play deuce to "hide" the backhand the server can still serve to the BH and if they can't hit a backhand we have bigger problems anyway.

Slice BH is not a liability on return if the slice is precise , at least mine aren't poached that often.

I am righty and have had lefty partners many times. We've done it both ways. I've reached the conclusion that the players strengths and weaknesses on return should determine if FHs in the middle or outside. A lefty I currently play with just returns a lot better from the ad side so we normally put him there as he gets to hit CC forehands. Normally, I like to play the ad side as my BH is decent but I let him take it. The serve is the most important shot and the return is the second most important shot in singles and doubles. I think you want to picks sides based on which positioning strengthens your returns. Volleys and overheads are only going to happen if you can make the return and preferably make a decent return.

 

[TennisCJC]

If you are inactive all the time when others are hitting, you are doing it wrong. Many rec players play the game too statically (especially when they’re at the net). You should be executing a split step nearly every time your opponents hit the ball — whether you play the next shot or not. A majority of the time you should be making position adjustments — even when your partner is playing the ball.

I don't want this to sound arrogant but I see so many rec doubles players that will not shift L or R when both are at the net it is comical. I've had coaches lecture for 15 minutes on shifting L and R as a team and do drills to enforce it. Then as soon as we start playing, I watch as the off net player (guy away from opponents contact) just stands there and doesn't shift to the middle. It's even worse when the net player in front of the ball shifts to cover the line and the off net player doesn't shift to middle, as it opens a big hole down the middle for your opponents. Look for this in doubles teams you play against because if the off net player doesn't move to the middle, your easiest pass is down the middle as it is over the low part of the net, into the long diagonal court and into the gaping hole your opponents are leaving. And, hitting down the middle can cause confusion too.

 

[TennisCJC]

At the pro level, the majority of players have stronger fh in a rally, but are more solid on the return-of-serve on the 2hb wing due to the extra stability.

These players usually prefer to play with the fh on the inside and 2hb outside.

The players that prefer to return a bh having a 1hb chip slice or chip lob, they almost always prefer to have fh on outside wing.

In both cases, the primary determinant of side preference is to hide the weaker return wing from being exposed as easily. Very few doubles points extend longer than 1 ball beyond the the return.

It’s much easier to expose a weak return wing if it’s on the outside, because a return back toward the middle has to cover a longer distance and so is easier to poach if not struck with authority.

Yep, I posted something similar above. Even when lefty and righty partners, you want to determine sides that optimize your chances of hitting more quality returns. The quality of the 3rd or 4th shot in a point doesn't matter as much if you cannot get past the 2nd shot in a point. I sometimes play with a lefty whose FH CC is much better than his 1HBH and we put him on the add side so he can hit the CC FH return more often. I normally play the ad side with other partners as my 2HBH is pretty decent but I move to deuce when playing with him.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

I am righty and have had lefty partners many times. We've done it both ways. I've reached the conclusion that the players strengths and weaknesses on return should determine if FHs in the middle or outside. A lefty I currently play with just returns a lot better from the ad side so we normally put him there as he gets to hit CC forehands. Normally, I like to play the ad side as my BH is decent but I let him take it. The serve is the most important shot and the return is the second most important shot in singles and doubles. I think you want to picks sides based on which positioning strengthens your returns. Volleys and overheads are only going to happen if you can make the return and preferably make a decent return.

I am sorry you played with a lefty that has shamed us lefties, my apologies.

 

[Shroud]

I am sorry you played with a lefty that has shames us lefties, my apologies.

Lefties should be illegal. The nuns beat my grandma so bad she writes right handed. Does everything else lefthanded

 

[socallefty]

Lefties should be illegal. The nuns beat my grandma so bad she writes right handed. Does everything else lefthanded

Beating kids should be illegal and is in many countries.

PS: I learned to write left handed in kindergarten in a secular school. Then circumstances forced us to change the town where we lived and since the best elementary school was run by nuns, I was enrolled there. Sure enough, they forced me to learn to write again with my right hand. Also the cricket coach refused to let me bat (equivalent of hitting in baseball) with my left hand and I had to learn to bat right handed while I threw left handed. I do everything else in life left handed except writing and batting in cricket.

 

[Connor35]

I am odd duck as I have always hated singles and love the fast action and teamwork of dubs.

I am also told I see the court/anticipate well in dubs.

Agree. I came to tennis in my late 40s after a life in team sports (hockey and baseball/softball; other things where you hit things with sticks).

So I enjoy singles, but I love doubles.

 

[Connor35]

Good point about mixed being yet a third sport, especially when the skill gap between partners is large.

I know guys who are great doubles players in men’s doubles, but they suck at mixed. Totally different skill set required.

Ive played much doubles, including USTA leagues, but I'm curious: what are the big difference for mixed (as the male player).

 

[travlerajm]

Ive played much doubles, including USTA leagues, but I'm curious: what are the big difference for mixed (as the male player).

In men’s doubles, it’s important to land your returns cross court, have a solid serve, and semi-decent volleys.

In mixed, these things matter a lot less than other important skills.

I’m going to use the classic 8.0 usta mixed example of a 4.5M player playing with a 3.5F partner, a sport I’ve been playing for 20 years. This means the male is essentially 3 ntrp levels stronger than his partner, creating an extreme imbalance. The key to mixed is knowing how to use that extreme imbalance to your advantage while hiding the fact that your team has the weakest player on the court. These are not the only strategies (more than one way to skin a cat), but these are tried and true formulas. I currently have an active 14-match usta win streak going with 3.5F partners who I’ve played with at least once already (partners who have learned my system).

Here are what’s most important in mixed:

1. You need to be a good team captain. The #1 most important skill is to be able to coach up your 3.5F partner to always be in the right position, and do it in a positive way so that she appreciates your help and enjoys playing with you.

You need to be a stickler for how close she is to the net. Ladies 3.5 doubles is played from the service line to protect against lobs. 8.0 mixed requires her to wall off her space from 3 feet from the net without backing up. If she can’t play as a net hugger , you either need to spend time drilling balls at her, or have her practice choking up to have quicker hands. If she stands 10 feet from the net, or even 6 feet from the net, it’s going to be difficult to win consistently.

2. You need enough mobility to be able to cover all lobs, both sides, out of the air. When the ball goes up over your partner’s alley and is going to land near service line, thats your ball, either overhead or swinging volley. It’s not hers. Her job is to cross over to the net strap into the ‘cleanup’ position.

3. You need to have the anticipation skills to span the entire net on your partner’s serve. If half the returns are getting past you on her serve without you intercepting them, you are not going to hold her serve. I-formation is your best friend - understand it, know how to use it and how to huddle with your partner so that she covers the side you leave more exposed. If your partner only has one serviceable wing off the ground, make sure she ends up playing that side of the court in the event the return gets by you.

4. Takeover the point skills. You need to understand how to play the isolation game. When it’s your return, you need your partner to start the point in net hugger position. If you lose a single return point your side, you probably lose the game, so you can’t take risk. Chip or lob the return past the net person, move forward inside the service line, then use a stagger to channel balls to your side, then take over the point.

5. The isolation game also applies on your service points. You don’t need a great serve to hold in mixed as long as you can kick it in reliably and back it up with your forecourt isolation skills. Sometimes this means baiting the other team into lobbing your partner, anticipating the roll-across overhead to finish. I always play Aussie on deuce points on my serve as my default (to make sure any lob return is an overhead rather than a bh overhead, and partner starts already at center net strap in cleanup position).

6. Takeover skills from D (partner’s return). She’s probably going to hit a weak return, and opponents will hit it back to her side. You need to be good at starting from a defensive spot in the backcourt (I start halfway between baseline and service line, a step away from center). You need to pressure the opponent and squeeze your partner’s side of the court by pinching middle on the opponent’s poach. If by some miracle your partner gets return past net person, then you need to charge the net and pressure the next ball, and not let it get past you.

As long as you do these things well, you can win at mixed at a high clip even with a crappy serve, ugly groundies, and minimal power.

 

[ey039524]

My son is lefty and plays the deuce side, w the sole advantage being FH in the middle. He asked Bob Bryan for some pointers at IW, and Bob said he had to shoot a short video, came back, and gave him a thoughtful response (something about cheating towards the alley to open up the FH, when playing back).

Agree about serve/return being paramount. Returning in dubs has to be more precise in placement, if the net opponent is halfway decent.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

My son is lefty and plays the deuce side, w the sole advantage being FH in the middle. He asked Bob Bryan for some pointers at IW, and Bob said he had to shoot a short video, came back, and gave him a thoughtful response (something about cheating towards the alley to open up the FH, when playing back).

Agree about serve/return being paramount. Returning in dubs has to be more precise in placement, if the net opponent is halfway decent.

Interesting to note the Bryan brothers changed their preferred positions several times during their time on the ATP tour

As a lefty, I always hated playing the deuce side when returning serve in doubs. Much less success hitting decent returns on that side. A bit less of a issue in singles. In doubs, cuz of the presence on a net man, I felt my return options were a lot more limited -- especially with serves that jammed me on my Fh side. Often felt awkward having to rotate a lot more in order to hit a Fh return back x-court on the deuce side.

 

[LOBALOT]

My son is lefty and plays the deuce side, w the sole advantage being FH in the middle. He asked Bob Bryan for some pointers at IW, and Bob said he had to shoot a short video, came back, and gave him a thoughtful response (something about cheating towards the alley to open up the FH, when playing back).

Agree about serve/return being paramount. Returning in dubs has to be more precise in placement, if the net opponent is halfway decent.

My son is a lefty and he too prefers the deuce side. As a lot of lefties he actually favors his backhand so doesn't mind a righty server trying to attack it by serving out wide.

 

[LOBALOT]

I'll throw a wrinkle into this, as a lefty, if I have a righty partner (almost always do) I play deuce, they play ad, regardless of which groundstroke side they prefer. Forehands down the middle at the net is the goal (even the non returner on the recieving side will have the FH at the net to poach whatever happens after the partner returns, the advantage is immediate) . The return is just one shot, hopefully they can hit a return with their backhand, but even if they can't if they were to play deuce to "hide" the backhand the server can still serve to the BH and if they can't hit a backhand we have bigger problems anyway.

Slice BH is not a liability on return if the slice is precise , at least mine aren't poached that often.

I think you raise a very good point I didn't take into account. While there is also debate on the side for right/lefty combo I do know a lot of lefties that prefer to play forehands up the middle.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

This might be obvious to some , but maybe not to all. I think, but maybe I am wrong , feel free to debate, that doubles is a game of setup and to play the % you must be setting up your partner for a winner at the net, ideally. This % style wins in tournaments as you must play and win even when your "game" isn't "on" and you must win 2 or 3 matches in 1 day or 5 in 3 days (post season).

This is for doubles where no one has a weakness, all 4 can place serves, everyone is high level.

The drill for it, to learn it is this.....(I've mentioned this before on other threads) , play some doubles practice games or to the score of 10 or whatever, however you want to do it. No team gets any points UNLESS the return or the serve sets that team up for a winner at the net. No points for trying to blast a return or hit an ace, that works but is that really a reliable strategy day after day in a tournament for non professionals?

The mindset shift if you aren't a doubles person is, try to get 1st serves in, with placement, at 70% power, then get the net position and you are at a much higher advantage than the returners, you can do this strategy over and over more often than trying to hit a serve that blasts people off the court. Same on returns , just consistent good crosscourt returns, come in, be setup at an advantage.

That's where the lefty returning deuce side comes into play, trying to finish all points at the net with FH in the middle.

Of course there are 20 year olds with power rackets that like to play both back in doubles and it works, (5.0 usually or sandbagging 4.5) and they better be really really out of level to beat people with the same skill set that will come into the net.

 

[Jono123]

I often see doubles players park themselves near the tram lines for the entire match. Totally out of the game and ineffective.

Going down the line is a challenging shot, so let them, especially on a 1st serve. I'll take the 3:1 ratio any day. So get involved and get central

 

[socallefty]

I liked doubles yesterday and didn’t like it today. Yesterday I had great chemistry with my partner and we had a lot of fun together including communicating constantly on tactical adjustments. Today I played with a guy who had a 10% first serve % and kept making unforced errors on returns and groundstrokes. Due to ash from wildfires destroying the fluff on the balls early, it was hard to serve/hit hard without the ball flying out due to less spin from the lack of fluff. Everyone else adjusted to hit slower with more shape on their shots except my partner and it was frustrating as he said he doesn’t like changing his game because of conditions when I commented on what adjustment I was making to adapt to the low-fluff balls.

 

[nyta2]

Doubles get alot of hate, alot of people say they hate doubles. I was one of those people, at least I was someone that would always choose to play singles over doubles. I've been playing tennis for 22 years, and in 21 of those years (excluding when I was a beginner), I considered myself a singles specialist and didn't see the appeal of doubles that much. My singles is probably a 4.5 and my doubles is still ranked at like a 3.5 as I hardly played it.

2 years ago, I was playing a tournament and entered in doubles with a good friend of mine, and I missed so many shots at the net because either I was reacting to shots (instead of proactive) or poaching too late which led to a lot of volley errors that my friend got so annoyed and frustrated with me and I felt terrible. However, this didn't push me to get better at doubles...

This year, due to multiple injuries, I've started playing more doubles, maybe once every two weeks (injured but itching to play) and started learning and reading everything I could find on doubles and putting it into practice. In the last few months I found myself steadily getting better at positioning, reading the opponents, volleys and poaching.

Tonight I played doubles at the 4.5 level and I couldn't believe how well I was reading the doubles game and how proactive I moved around at the net. I'm now so comfortable reading the opponents shots and when to poach that my opponents thought I could read their minds. With this new power of anticipation, I now poach anywhere at the net, punch through volleys and also hit so many drop volleys that dip just over the net that I feel I've got hands like Johnny Mac! Just because I can get there so early and quickly. It's super satisfying to do a successful poach and do fakes to influence their shot selections like they are a puppet. Also the different formations can really mess with the returner! It's so fun.

For those that struggle with doubles, give it more chances and really learn how to play better doubles. I literally did a 180 on doubles, from not liking it to loving it.

The two youtube/instagram channels that I really recommend are Tennis Tribe and StokkeTennis, and also 2minutetennis (singles and doubles). They give such awesome doubles advice for free.

read anything/everything from louis cayer (doubles coach of the top dubs players in england)

Here are some of the things that I've learnt that can really supercharge your doubles!

• Learn which is the inside and outside stroke, inside strokes tend to pull towards the tram lines so be careful poaching, outside strokes tend to go crosscourt so it's good to poach.
• Mix it up, don't let your opponent read your movements. Sometimes poach, sometimes fake, throw some lobs, chip and charge, serve and volley, etc.
• Dont worry about the tram lines too much, let them pass you down the line. I’d rather win 10 points in the middle and get passed 2 times down the line.
• If your backhand sucks, Australian formation on the ad side (if you're right handed) so that your partner is there if your opponent hits towards your backhand and you can run to your forehand side if your opponent goes down the line
• Communicate with your partner either with hand signals or verbally before the serve so you guys are on the same page
• Communicate to your partner your opponent's style of play at the net. For example, if you see that the net player is super aggressive and tight to the net or the server likes to serve and volley, tell your partner you’ll do both back position and feed them some lobs over their heads.

There's lots more I can say but I recommend to just watch their videos. They talk about all of these. I'm not sponsored by them in any way, their videos have really transformed my doubles in the last few months.

I can't believe I'm saying this but I now find doubles more fun than singles.. especially if you have partners that know what they are doing too

biggest mindshift IMO is going from the guy that needs to win the point himself (eg. singles mindset), to the guy that sets up his partner to win the point (doubles mindset) and derives satisfaction from his partner putting away balls...

Also, not sure why but I find 18x20 better for doubles? I used the Angell TC95 18x20 and I played so well. Perhaps it's less springy unlike 16x19 so my volleys seem to be better and low and drop volleys seems to be much easier to control.

i find open string pattern racquets tend to let the ball sit up a bit more... in dubs, unless lobbing, the game is about keeping the ball low, and getting the opponent to pop a ball up for an easy volley/overhead, so the 18x20 patterns tend to work better for me (current yonex percept 100d)... that said, i do love playing with the rf97 in dubs because of heft/plough through - especially on veolleys & returns (but too heavy for singles for me)...

Edit: corrected some grammar, tried to word it a bit better so there’s less confusion of what I mean.

 

[nyta2]

For those that don’t move at the net in doubles and just watch their partner hitting the ball, maybe these tips will help.

to simplify your tips (which are all good), i tell my hs kids to pretend like you're a magnet attracted to ball at it's moving back and forth...
if you're doing it right it, the movement resembles a triangle (or oval) at the net...

 

[GN-001]

I can understand for those that sometimes don’t find doubles fun. My injuries has been flaring up lately so I haven’t played doubles in a month. Came back feeling very rusty, was down 1-6 as I was missing on almost every shot. It was very frustrating and I felt like I was letting my partner down and he probably didn’t think it was fun playing with me at that time.

However we managed to make a few small adjustments such as going 2 back, mixing shots up e.g lobs and eventually won in the super tie.

There are always days like in singles that you just don’t play well, there are also times when your partner doesn’t play well, just got to figure out a way to win.

 

[ey039524]

If you don't like the net and prefer to bash at the baseline, you're going to hate dubs.

Also, if you're afraid of the ball, you're going to hate the net, and thus, dubs.

Funny, my son was asking all these lefty pros for advice, and Taylor Townsend told him, "don't be afraid of the ball." He's not, but watching her in the wta finals this week, she's been outstanding in reflex volleys, getting poached on, just staying in (instead of turning her back and bailing out), and digging out reflex volleys. She got pegged yesterday in the semis, and didn't even acknowledge it.

 

[WYK]

I think one of the things that hinders many folks from developing into good doubles players is that it’s often taught in a way that stymies progression.

People are taught to divide the court left-right, but high-level doubles is often played with the court divided more front-back, with a “dunker” near the center net strap and “safety” backing him up, usually covering the DTL and the lob.

There is also an instinct when it comes to doubles, especially when you are familiar team members, that singles simply can not teach.
There is a reason why you often see the top ten ranked players beaten in doubles by 'doubles specialists'. It's the team work.

 

[WYK]

Watching doubles can be way more dramatic than singles, too:

It's a totally different game. Watched my son play a singles tournament the other weekend, and it was so boring watching kids hit from the baseline. Luckily, there were a couple that closed the net.

Right off the bat in that video you see strategy that many singles players won't often use. Even if you have a clear shot and can easily hammer a serve back, sometimes it is better to simply bunt it back and neutralise a good net man and force the other team to deal with yours instead.

 

[WYK]

 

[ichaseballs]

tennis is fun when everyone is similar level. harder to get 4 than 2 on the same court.
but when it works it is more social and more tactical

 

[socallefty]

I wonder at what age I’ll like doubles better than singles. Not yet at 56 anyway.

 

[10sbeast888]

I wonder at what age I’ll like doubles better than singles. Not yet at 56 anyway.

have a couple of friends at 70 and 75 still battling out there everyday 1v1... if you see them play you'd not believe that's their age... them going after each other real hard even trying to out drop-shot each other lol...

one thing funny and a bit sad a the same time is that as people age gravity plays a heavier role (maybe pun intended) and players tend to swing high to low more and more lol

btw your handle says lefty.... both subjects above are lefties.

 

[johnmccabe]

I played doubles with a highschooler last week. It was a casual 40-50 year old men's doubles. He subbed for a guy and paired with me. Never seen him before. The kid didn't want conversation before the match. I couldn't get any answer longer than yes/no. His serve motion was beyond weird and he can hit both wings with one hand or two hand!? When I missed couple balls long, he looked at me and said:" oh no your partner hitting with way too much power". When he ripped a winner, he looked at me and said what a rip. He went to flip score card after each game which we never do for this group. Then I finally realized he is autistic. The kid effective plays like a high 4.5 ntrp. His shot selection and consistency is way better than mine. My string bagged out and I was double faulting and UE like crazy. We won and he was happy. His mom was watching and she was happy too. Very humbling experience for me.

 

[Hit 'em clean]

I was a long time singles player and looked down on doubles. I didn't mind playing doubles, but usually only did so to get more time on the court. I was always that singles player playing doubles. Like the original poster I was always reacting to things on the doubles court, but never understood or took the time to really understand the correct court positioning, tactics, etc. With injuries and age had to start playing more doubles and that's when I started to take it seriously. A lot of the doubles movement and strategy felt initially to me like Wyle E Coyote when he steps off a cliff and is in midair for a second. Like moving to the middle at net to cover the cross court rather than guarding the line... I felt exposed leaving court wide open, but then the ball would magically come to me and I'd be in the perfect place. Singles strategies in doubles will leave players reacting to the action instead of anticipating and being where you really should be. It takes some convincing to get singles players to stand in a different spot or cover different parts of the court, but once you do... generally the light goes on.

For anyone that struggles with doubles take the time to really learn some basic rules, positioning and strategies on how to play doubles... then trust them. It will feel uncomfortable. You don't need to stand in the alley at the net when your partner is serving, lol. Doing the right things will bring success and the success makes it fun. Once you're no longer reacting, but rather anticipating... you will have a much deeper appreciation for playing and watching doubles matches.

 

[ey039524]

Agree, positioning/movement away from the ball is paramount to being a good dubs player. Lots of nuance from experience that singles players don't have. But throw a singles player w good serve/return, and they'll suffice. Few shots feel as good as a well timed poach going through the net opponent, though.

 

[user92626]

I wonder at what age I’ll like doubles better than singles. Not yet at 56 anyway.

Hmm..I always thought you were in 40s.

If you like singles, you're already better than 9 out 10 men at citi courts.

I dunno why most men are so lazy and too prideful for singles. They cannot take losses.

I play singles whenever my knees feel ok. I just ignore most of the bs noise over wins, losses.