In tennis, the game of doubles has its own unique rules. Understanding and practicing your best options for all the different situations that you will encounter during a match will greatly improve your chances of success.
In this section, we will review the most important tactical concepts and strategies for doubles play.
When Returning Both Back Always Make the Return
If you decide to play both back to return, make sure you adjust your return accordingly. Playing both back and going for a huge return does not make sense. If you play both back, play a defensive return. Make the opponents play. ...
Planning to Poach in Advance of a Good Return can Really Pay off on Key Points
The same way that planning to poach when your partner serves helps you move across with more confidence, planning in advance to poach off a return minimizes the risk of the opponent surprising you and hitting behind you. To ge...
Help your Partner by Poaching after He/She Hits a Great Return
When your partner returns you will start the point in a defensive position around the service line and close to the center line. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, ...
When at the Net with your Partner Returning, Focus on the Net Player Across from you
It is very difficult to remain ready to intercept a shot when you constantly have to look back to see what kind of shot your partner is hitting. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here fo...
Cover the Middle of the Court When your Partner Returns
When your partner returns one of your jobs is to be ready to defend the middle should the server’s partner poach. Therefore it is important that you stand on the service line close to the centerline to start the point. To ge...
If Chipping and Charging Start Moving in as the Opponent Tosses and Use your Outside Stroke
Returning and charging the net is an excellent way to pressure the opponents. In order to do this more effectively start moving forwards as the opponent tosses to serve. To get access to the videos and premium media, just logi...
Use Different Formations when Serving
Although the doubles game has changed recently and more players are playing from the backcourt, it is still a volley game. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or bec...
Use Signals to Improve the Communication with your Partner
Although the doubles game has changed recently and more players are playing from the backcourt, it is still a volley game. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or bec...
Move Forwards and Catch the Ball Early to Lob Effectively off the Return
A lob return is a great way to destabilize the opponents. However, to be affective the returner needs to take time away from the opponents by catching the serve early and returning from way inside the court. To get access to t...
Hit Down the Line Often at the Beginning of the Match When Playing team that Love to Poach
When playing teams that like to poach go down the line often at the beginning of the match. This will send a clear message to them to be careful about poaching. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, ...
After the Return Play the Next Shot Safely Between the Opponents.
Many times the returner will miss the shot after the return because he/she is not very clear what to do. The opponents are at the net and it is very easy to panic or try a great shot to win the point. To get access to the vide...
Vary your Returns Between: Crosscourt, Down the Line, Lobs and Chip and Charge
When returning in doubles you always have 4 options: crosscourt, down the line, lob and chip and charge. Make sure you use all of them. Do not let the opponents get comfortable by using always the same return. To get access t...
Move in the Direction of your Partner’s Serve
When at the net and your partner serving be active. Move forwards in the direction of the serve as soon as you hear your partner’s racquet striking the ball. This will help you move faster to intercept the return and also cover the ang...
Play as Close to the Net as Possible until the Opponent Challenges you with Lobs
The closer you play at the net, the easier it is to volley. First, you are more likely to get high volleys that you can attack and secondly, it will be easier to cover the lateral shots because you are cutting off the angles. ...
Use Planned Crossing to Boost you Confidence as a Poacher
As the partner of the server it is sometimes difficult to build up the nerve to poach. Many players are so worried of a return down the alley that they never really poach, making the returner’s job much easier. To get access...
Be Aggressive at the Net when your Partner is Serving. Own the Middle
Your job when your partner is serving is to intimidate the returner. You need to try to cover a large area at the net. A good mentality at the net is to make sure you intercept all the shots through the middle of the court. “Own the Mi...
Serve to the Weakness Down the T or at the Body if you Know your Partner will try to Poach
If you are serving and you know your partner will look to poach, serve to the weakness. If your opponent does not have a glaring weakness, serve to the T or to the body. A wide serve will open angles and would make it more dangerous for ...
Volley Deep Cross Court Until you Get a Ball that You can Attack
Although the doubles game has changed recently and more players are playing from the backcourt, it is still a volley game. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or bec...
Commit to Serving and Volleying to Improve your Doubles Game
Although the doubles game has changed recently and more players are playing from the backcourt, it is still a volley game. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or bec...
Attacking the net on the Second Shot
If you are having a hard time serving and volleying every time you can keep the same the same aggressive mentality but adjust slightly by approaching the net on the second shot instead. To get access to the videos and premium ...
Make it a Habit to Serve and Volley as Much as Possible
Serving and volleying is still the most effective way to play doubles, so get into the habit of serving and volleying as much as possible. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a fr...
Shoot for 70% of First Serves
An opponent returning second serves will always be more aggressive. Making a high percentage of first serves will keep the opponent’s on the defensive. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, registe...
If your Partner Gets Lobbed it May be Easier for you to Play the Next Shot
When one of the players gets lobbed, the ideal outcome is for that player to hit an overhead. However, if the lob is too deep, the player reacting first should probably get it. To get access to the videos and premium media, ju...
Angle Short Lobs and Hit Deep Lobs Through the Middle
When at the net in doubles angle the short lobs and hit deep lobs through the middle or at the opponent’s feet. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a mem...
When at the Net with your Partner Back Find a Comfortable Balance Between Never Looking Back and Always Looking Back
When at the net with your partner back there are two schools of though: Some coaches think players should never look back, other coaches think players should look back. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login...
When at the Net Move with the Ball
When playing one up and one back against the same formation, both net players need to be constantly moving up and back from offense to defense as the ball moves from one side of the net to the other. To get access to the video...
Play a High defensive Lob if you get Passed by a Lob
If you get passed by a lob, both you and your partner need to run back and play defense. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of „Tennis2Brain“...
When Returning Both Back, Make the Return!
If you decide to play both back to return, make sure you adjust your return accordingly. Playing both back and going for a huge return does not make sense. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, regis...
When at the Net and Playing Against two Players in the Back Keep the volleys deep Until you Can Put the Ball Away
A frequent mistake when playing two at the net against two at the back is for the players at the net to try to hit forcing shots like drop shots or angles too early allowing the opponents at the baseline to attack the net or use angles. ...
Take Advantage of Teams Returning with Both Players at the Baseline
When you face two players at the baseline when serving, take advantage of the situation and make sure you get the first serve in. A situation like that really benefits the server. To get access to the videos and premium media,...
Do not Forget to Communicate with your Partner During the Point
Most players know the importance of communicating with their partners after every point. However, most players do not do as good of a job communicating during the points. To get access to the videos and premium media, just log...
On Going Communication is the Key to a Good Doubles Team
Great doubles teams are always communicating – during points, between points and on the change-overs. Make sure you are constantly communicating with your partners. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login ...
Take Some Pace off When Facing a Low Volley Against two Players at the Net
Many players make the mistake of trying to hit through two players at the net when facing a low volley. This usually results in an easy high volley for the opponents. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login ...
Use the Shot Down the Middle Often When at the Baseline Playing Against Two Players at the Net
When at the baseline it is very tempting to try to hit “bullets” against two players at the net. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of „Ten...
The Player Diagonal to the Shot Covers the Middle
A common misconception in doubles is that the player with the forehand volley takes the shots through the middle. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a mem...
Hit Low Volleys Back to the Opponent at the Baseline, High Volleys Hard at the Feet of the Opponent at the Net
When at the net hit the low volleys back to the opponent at the baseline. Only hit to the opponent at the net when you can hurt him/her. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free...
Play as Close to the Net as Possible, While Still Being able to Cover the Lob
The closer you are to the net, the easier it is to volley. Be aggressive, move forwards and play as close to the net as the opponent will let you. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here ...
Fight to Catch all the Lobs in the Air
One of the main strategies in doubles is to control the net. Fight to catch the lobs in the air. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of „Tennis2...
Take the Net away from the Opponent
Although the doubles game has changed recently and more players are playing from the backcourt, it is still a volley game. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or bec...
Serve to the Returners Weakness
There is a big difference between playing against the returner’s strength or playing against the returner’s weakness. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or beco...
Be Consistent as you Start the Point
Doubles is a game of percentages. The winning team is not the one hitting the best shots but the one hitting the solid shots over and over. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a ...