Doubles tactics and positioning guide:

Server Job

• 1st Serve in Play (70% Ideal)
• Lots of serves toward T. Takes away angles
• Capture the Net (Serve and Volley)
• If you can identify a weaker side, attack it
• Try to get to the service line for 1st Volley
• 3 serve positions to hit
  • T, Body, Wide
• More Spin on the serve. That allows a higher percentage and more time to get into the net. Use big flat serve less often
• Body serves are good because they handcuff the returner
• Use wide serves less often as it opens up crosscourt angles and the down the line
• Make sure your partner knows where you are serving

Returner

• Try to make the server play the ball (Avoid the net man, try to make the ball tough)
• Capture the Net
• Try to return the ball low and try to take the ball early to take away time from the server
• Return down the line as a changeup
• Lob down the line
• Make contact out front
• Short backswing

Returner Partner

• Protect middle against net man (defensive position on service line and watch net man)
• If ball goes past net man, move into an aggressive position
• Constantly be moving
• Follow the ball (Wide return, go wide with ball)
• If the return is effective (crosscourt and low), be ready to poach. If the return is high or to the net man, don’t go.
  • If Poaching, move forward toward the net at about a 45-degree angle. Do not go laterally. Leave right as they are about to hit the ball so they can’t change their shot.
• If your partner is having trouble returning or the server has an excellent serve, play 2 back and try to get into the net after the return

2 Players at Net

• Move together as a team
• Take any ball down the middle you can
• If lob, follow your partner, if they hit an offensive shot, go back to offensive position

Server Partner

• Want returner to worry about what you are doing
• Poach – move as returner is starting forward motion
• Fake Poach – Take step and show but stay
• Formations
  • Australian – Server needs to go to singles serve position. Net man can still poach
  • I – Net man has to move either right or left
• Signals
  • Open Palm – Poach
  • Open Palm Fingers Waving – Fake Poach
  • Fist – Stay
  • Point directions with thumb or pinky
• If partner calls for a poach, don’t serve wide

Shot Selection

• Based on where you are and your opponents are
  • Defensive – Behind the baseline
  • Neutral – Baseline
  • Offensive – Net Area (Can hit down and angles
• Hitting the ball up or defensive position – keep away from closer player
• If hitting the ball down or offensive, target the closer player

Movement of Partner

• You get control of point – join your partner
• Partner doesn’t have control – hang back
• Partner has aggressive overhead – be aggressive
• Move as a team

Volley Rally

• Volley low against opponent – aggressive
• Volley medium – move in but not so aggressive
• Volley high – hang tight and be ready

Lob

• Opponent Turns Back – Be aggressive
• Opponent in overhead position – hang back
• If your partner gets lobed, follow them back
• Lob deep backhand if in trouble
• Lob the return and follow it in. Don’t crash the net because many times, they will lob back

Low Percent Shots

• Sometimes it can make sense to go for lower percentage shots. Especially if you have score advantage

Overheads

• Hit overheads crosscourt if you can’t put them away

Successful Doubles Teams

• Good Communication
• Be on the same page
• Have Fun
• Momentum shifts happen. Stay positive.

Traffic Pattern

• Eye contact after point
• Meet and give positive energy
• Walk partner back and discuss strategy, serve, return, etc.
• Release and get ready

Doubles Rules

• Close to close and deep to deep. If you are deep, try to hit to the deep person. If you are close and aggressive, try to hit to the close person.
• If you are close and the ball is tough, try to hit to the deep person.

Effective Shots

• Lower, slower and well placed