Singles or Doubles

[TeamOB]

What are you better at? What do you prefer to play? How do you adjust?

I prefer doubles. On an absolute scale I am probably better at singles, but since many of my fellow juniors are poor doubles players I have had more success in dubs. I hit flatter and obviously come to net a lot more in doubles. The main strategic change is hitting up the middle more in dubs, since angles are not as effective at moving your opponents.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Almost all my time on a tennis court has been playing doubles. I'm very comfortable at the net.

But, since I'm fat and slow, I don't like the running involved in singles. If I have to play singles I work on ways for getting near the net so I can intimidate my opponent into making errors and shortening the points.

 

[Team10]

Singles of course. For me, doubles can get a little boring at times barely having rallies and the points feel like they take forever to start. Plus, in doubles, fitness isn't really a factor like it is in singles and I rely upon my fitness for wearing down opponents if need be.

Also I find the whole 1 on 1 in singles fun and more competitive. It's just you vs 1 other person. What I don't like about dubs sometimes is when you have a lower level partner and they bring you down (in competitive matches, for fun it's fine). In singles, you have no one to blame but yourself.

I do like doubles too don't get me wrong. The social aspect of it is nice, more people=more fun. But for matches that count I'd rather play singles 100% of the time.

 

[Maximagq]

I'm better at singles but prefer doubles. I don't poach well b/c my anticipation at the net is pretty bad.

 

[Attila_the_gorilla]

I much prefer doubles. I'm not a bad singles player but don't enjoy all that running around. Doubles is less physical, which suits me.

 

[winstonlim8]

Singles because -
1.I don't have to worry about someone behind me sending up a quarter court lob (and me getting smashed in the face).

2.I don't have to worry about accidentally whacking some idiot in the back of the head because he insists he doesn't cross over to cover the other side of our court as that's not the way he plays doubles.

3.I don't have to stand in one corner like a naughty brat while my partner dingdingpingpongs until he exposes the middle so much, running round his nonexistent backhand, that our opponents have an open target for a pittypat winner.

4.I don't have to worry about moving cross court to volley and leaving my side of the court exposed because my partner doesn't cross over behind me.

5.I don't have to worry that I am going to run to the net and then find that my partner has decided to run back to the baseline because he insists one-up one-down is the only way to play doubles.

6.I don't have to worry that a sudden drop in my blood sugar level is going to affect anyone's game but my own.

Unfortunately, that's how doubles is often played at all the clubs I've been playing at. Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy playing doubles but only with proper doubles players who understand that doubles is not singles played on half a court.

 

[rkelley]

Pretty much only play singles. I want to hit all the balls on my side. However, my game is well suited to doubles.

 

[Topspin Shot]

I haven't played much doubles in a while, but with the right partner, I find it more fun than singles in a way. There's a lot more variety, and taking the initiative from the first ball works a lot better than it does in singles. I feel like in singles, I have to work the point for a while and be selective as far as what I'm going to attack on whereas in doubles, I feel like I can just jump on anything near me when I'm at net.

 

[pkil]

Interesting to see so many players say they prefer doubles.

My doubles used to be horrendous when I started college but its much better now granted its still not near my singles game.

I find a high quality doubles match much more fun than singles, some of the points in doubles are crazy with all sorts of angles and fast paced volley exchanges and with a partner it is a nice change up as you can bounce off each other and enjoy yourself a but more I find.

 

[mightyrick]

I'm better at singles but enjoying playing both equally. They require different skills.

Doubles requires much more shot precision and a good returning game. Singles requires less precision, but you have to be more consistent, cover more court, and you need to have a decent backhand to advance.

I really like both.

 

[janm]

Love singles but can't stand doubles. Just feel restricted to do what I want in case i make a mistake.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Singles because -
1.I don't have to worry about someone behind me sending up a quarter court lob (and me getting smashed in the face).

2.I don't have to worry about accidentally whacking some idiot in the back of the head because he insists he doesn't cross over to cover the other side of our court as that's not the way he plays doubles.

3.I don't have to stand in one corner like a naughty brat while my partner dingdingpingpongs until he exposes the middle so much, running round his nonexistent backhand, that our opponents have an open target for a pittypat winner.

4.I don't have to worry about moving cross court to volley and leaving my side of the court exposed because my partner doesn't cross over behind me.

5.I don't have to worry that I am going to run to the net and then find that my partner has decided to run back to the baseline because he insists one-up one-down is the only way to play doubles.

6.I don't have to worry that a sudden drop in my blood sugar level is going to affect anyone's game but my own.

Unfortunately, that's how doubles is often played at all the clubs I've been playing at. Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy playing doubles but only with proper doubles players who understand that doubles is not singles played on half a court.

Yeah, but...

In doubles you get to lots of winning volleys, and, even better, crush overheads. While singles is mostly about waiting for the other guy to make a mistake. It's nice to win points, but it's really nice to get to whap the ball as hard as you can while your opponents cower. :twisted:

 

[5263]

I prefer doubles for the angles, volleys, overheads, and quickness involved. Singles is such an endurance sport in a quality match. Liking singles more and more though, to depend on myself and get in better shape.

 

[tlm]

Singles all the way doubles is not for me, I play some mixed doubles with my wife once in a while but thats about it for my doubles play.

 

[tlm]

Yeah, but...

In doubles you get to lots of winning volleys, and, even better, crush overheads. While singles is mostly about waiting for the other guy to make a mistake. It's nice to win points, but it's really nice to get to whap the ball as hard as you can while your opponents cower. :twisted:

You can hit the ball hard in singles anytime you want to, but you have to have good enough ground strokes to set up putaway shots.

Or go to the net where you will get plenty of chances to hit overheads in singles. Again if you have good enough ground strokes to force the weak lob. But not as easy as hanging around by the net like in doubles and getting a easy overhead. I can't understand the thrill in that.

 

[RajS]

I play both singles and doubles, and enjoy both. I sometimes play doubles with a singles mentality, that's my biggest problem. I would like to serve and volley in doubles as a matter of course, even with a somewhat weak serve. I need to do more squats to improve my quad power for lunging at the passing shots and mishits, lol.

 

[movdqa]

I play both and like both but I play less singles because of the extra scheduling work of getting four players instead of two. It takes me a little time to get into doubles mode if I haven't played for a while.

 

[ericwong]

I think those that prefer doubles are those that are skillful at their volleys and touch game. Feel the shot and the challenge of making it a close shot to win the point at the net is exhilarating.

 

[GoudX]

Here is how you win doubles until you get to 4.5 level.
(This isn't to say I don't like doubles, it is just a bit one dimensional at low levels)

An interactive guide to doubles:

If you are serving start on 1., if you are returning start on 2., if you are at the net start on 4.

1. Serve excessively knowing that your partner will put away floaters. The opponent will either a) give your partner an easy put away, or b) hit back cross court.

If a) get ready for the next point if b) go on to 2.

2. The ball has come cross court to you, is it a) deep or b) short.

If a) hit a deep forcing shot back cross court and wait. If b) go on to 3.

3. The ball is short, hit an approach and cover the net. Continue to 4.

4. Stand at the net and wait for your turn to volley.

 

[anubis]

If you asked me last year, I was better at singles. My w/l ratio was almost 0.70 at singles. At doubles, it was about 0.30.

Now it's the complete opposite. My w/l ratio at singles is 0.14 and doubles is 0.58.

I prefer singles, but am much better at doubles now.

 

[sjoerdklarenbeek]

Can't choose. They're different games.

Singles gives me the chance to get rid of more energy and put in some hard work. Also, there's more room for shot placement. It has the charm of man-to-man combat.

Doubles gives me a better chance to enjoy some net play and to work in some special doubles tactics. Also, it's more social (the more the merrier) and can be played when you're not so fit (anymore). It's also pretty attractive to watch.

This is also why I love playing in a team in the competition series. We play both singles and doubles. The perfect tennis day.

 

[torpantennis]

I suk at volleying, but still have had better results in doubles. Maybe it's due to my great passing shots, lobs, and returns.