DOUBLES
Doubles is more than just 2 v 2! You are not playing singles... you are playing a more dynamic, fast-paced and energetic version of the game! Below are some general principles that we must follow to become the best doubles partner/team we can be!
- ENERGY! You and your partner need to have a focused, positive, UNITED, energetic way about you at all times! When you or your partner make mistakes, let. it. go! Move on! Touch racquets, give high fives... something to connect with your partner after each point! If you can't do this yet, work on it. It's THE most important thing in doubles.
- 2 TICKETS INTO THE POINT: The two items below are the key to getting into points. You do not need to win the point on either of these shots... you are simply setting up the point for your team.
- If you're serving: Having a high first-serve percentage is more important than a "big serve". If you can serve to a location (opponent's backhand, for example), you will be a HUGE asset to your team!
- If you're returning: Getting your return of serve deep and away from the opponents net player is crucial to setting your net person up to end points!
- Know where to stand at the start of each point! There are 4 positions...
- Server (S): Stand somewhere between center hash mark and doubles sideline. Don't serve from the singles position unless you are crossing over because you and your partner have planned a poach. Serve and be ready for the return!
- Server's partner (SP): Stand around round the center of the service box, in front of the receiver. Have an attacking mindset!!! The "R" should be thinking about you! Your presence should make them nervous! If it's not, you're doing it wrong. YOUR JOB is to be aggressive, get to weak returns and put them away!
- Returner (R): Move in for second serves or weak first serves. Your job is to keep the ball away from "SP" and set up your net person ("RP")! Most likely, that's with a deep, cross-court return. Steady, consistent groundstrokes are needed here. Your net person will eventually get the shot they've been looking for and put it away!
- Returner's Partner(RP):
- Straddle the service line, facing the "SP". Help make the call on the serve.
- Then immediately focus all of your attention on the "SP"! Be ready for a defensive shot! If your partner makes a mistake, SP will be hitting the ball back at you! If your partner does their job and hits the ball away from "SP", you must then shift your focus...
- ... to the S at the baseline. Move up into the ideal volley position (not too close to the net though!) and be ready to attack a ball. If the "S" does their job and keeps it away from you, simply repeat the cycle... pop back into the first position near the service line. Repeat this cycle of movement until you see your opportunity. Then take it!
- HAVE AMAZING FOOTWORK! Having great footwork (the ability to get to balls) is a weapon that pays off each and every match. It's totally within your control so get to work on this! You should come into the HS tennis season with this ability already in place.
- NEVER COACH YOUR PARTNER. Doing this promotes an "I'm better than you" "you're probably the reason we're losing" energy on your team. Avoid it at all costs. It's ok to talk about things you as a team could do better, but do NOT place blame. (See the first bullet point in this list!)
- ALWAYS LOOK TO GET OFFENSIVE BEFORE THE OTHER TEAM! Stay aggressive!
The Importance of Doubles: by Tracy Austin
As children play more singles tournaments and face tougher competition, doubles can become an afterthought. I understand the temptation to dismiss doubles. There are only so many hours in a week and so much to already work on, so why concentrate on anything other than singles?
To me, this is a big mistake. Doubles is an incredibly valuable part of our sport, it can teach children many lessons—and also make them much better singles players. I would encourage any child to keep playing doubles. It will add to their skill set and make them more complete tennis players. Doubles reinforces fundamentals, helps players understand strategy, and teaches leadership and emotional control.
Let’s look at tennis skills first. No matter how well you hit from the baseline, at some point in a singles career you’re going to have to become more comfortable in the forecourt. Doubles forces you to hit a wider variety of shots than you would hit in singles, such as half volleys, drop volleys, reflex volleys, overheads and lobs. Your improvisation skills will improve dramatically.
Doubles stresses different and important aspects of the shots you use most often in singles. Serving—and especially serve placement—is at a premium in doubles. A big serve is not always best, because you’re trying to follow it to the net and need time to do it. Each return of serve is important because it’s difficult to break serve against two opponents.
Doubles returns must also be precise and purposeful. There are no opportunities to float a return back into play to start a rally. If opponents start to poach, you need to be able to return to different sides of the court effectively.
Footwork will also improve with regular doubles play, especially forward-and-backward footwork, which isn’t used as frequently in singles. That comes in handy when it’s time to attack an unexpected short ball or chase down a drop shot. It’s also a mind-set: You’re trying to be aggressive and looking for transition shots to get to the net. This will transfer to your singles play and help you identify opportunities to attack.
Doubles is more three-dimensional than singles. When you play doubles, you’ll learn a lot about strategy. Having two opponents forces you to use the whole court, and understand which angles to hit and when to hit them. You need to learn which shots will separate your opponents to create an opening, whether it’s a shot up the middle, or angles or lobs that get them off the net.
Besides those tennis skills, you’ll also learn a lot about teamwork and friendship from doubles. Tennis is an individual sport and you often don’t build close relationships. The pressure is always on for you to perform. In doubles, you have a partner who can ease that burden and make the game more relaxed and fun. It’s a nice break to have someone there to pump you up or carry you on a bad day—and it feels great when you get to return the favor.
Doubles is a change of pace, a great workout and a wonderful teacher. It can be eye-opening. You’ll realize that not everyone sees the court, the sport or the world the way you do. You can learn from those different perspectives. That’s incredibly valuable, not just in tennis, but in life.
To me, this is a big mistake. Doubles is an incredibly valuable part of our sport, it can teach children many lessons—and also make them much better singles players. I would encourage any child to keep playing doubles. It will add to their skill set and make them more complete tennis players. Doubles reinforces fundamentals, helps players understand strategy, and teaches leadership and emotional control.
Let’s look at tennis skills first. No matter how well you hit from the baseline, at some point in a singles career you’re going to have to become more comfortable in the forecourt. Doubles forces you to hit a wider variety of shots than you would hit in singles, such as half volleys, drop volleys, reflex volleys, overheads and lobs. Your improvisation skills will improve dramatically.
Doubles stresses different and important aspects of the shots you use most often in singles. Serving—and especially serve placement—is at a premium in doubles. A big serve is not always best, because you’re trying to follow it to the net and need time to do it. Each return of serve is important because it’s difficult to break serve against two opponents.
Doubles returns must also be precise and purposeful. There are no opportunities to float a return back into play to start a rally. If opponents start to poach, you need to be able to return to different sides of the court effectively.
Footwork will also improve with regular doubles play, especially forward-and-backward footwork, which isn’t used as frequently in singles. That comes in handy when it’s time to attack an unexpected short ball or chase down a drop shot. It’s also a mind-set: You’re trying to be aggressive and looking for transition shots to get to the net. This will transfer to your singles play and help you identify opportunities to attack.
Doubles is more three-dimensional than singles. When you play doubles, you’ll learn a lot about strategy. Having two opponents forces you to use the whole court, and understand which angles to hit and when to hit them. You need to learn which shots will separate your opponents to create an opening, whether it’s a shot up the middle, or angles or lobs that get them off the net.
Besides those tennis skills, you’ll also learn a lot about teamwork and friendship from doubles. Tennis is an individual sport and you often don’t build close relationships. The pressure is always on for you to perform. In doubles, you have a partner who can ease that burden and make the game more relaxed and fun. It’s a nice break to have someone there to pump you up or carry you on a bad day—and it feels great when you get to return the favor.
Doubles is a change of pace, a great workout and a wonderful teacher. It can be eye-opening. You’ll realize that not everyone sees the court, the sport or the world the way you do. You can learn from those different perspectives. That’s incredibly valuable, not just in tennis, but in life.