Playing Doubles to Win in Tennis

Doubles play in tennis is not at all the same game as singles. Your goal with every single stroke is to play with a specific plan in mind, avoiding at all costs any move that would put your partner in a bad spot. It's all about teamwork, not brilliant play by two different individuals. As a symphony with all instruments blending together to form a masterpiece, so too is the doubles game of tennis.

The critical key in doubles tennis is to be sure you are always putting the ball in play. Never, never, never double fault when playing doubles. To do so is absolutely inexcusable. Your return of any serve must be accurate and confident, not risky and uncertain. Keep your return low and directed at the server who may be approaching the net.

Doubles tennis play is a game of patience. You have to wait to smash in the ace hit. Rare will be the successful pass of both of your opponents on the other side of the net. You'll need to be prepared for longer rallies, more intense exchanges with the opposing team, and waiting for the clear opening before taking the slam shot that wins the point.

Your goal as a member of a partnership is to always be attacking the ball. You'll want to always play at the net and go for the kill when the opening is there. You can "poach," or steal a shot that would ordinarily be your partner's, but only when you've got the clear opportunity to kill the shot, or go for the obvious score. When you "poach" a shot from your partner, you've got a winning opportunity or you've got nothing. Don't ever hesitate to "poach" the shot if you're confident in your opportunity to make it.

Because your opponents, and your partner, are also thinking of the advantage to playing at the net you can be confident they will be working just as hard to attain the coveted net position as you are. With that in mind, you should first consider every shot to be either a volley or a smash. Use the less-effective defensive shots only when there is no opening for a smash, or a volley.

Of course, throughout the doubles game you and your partner must work in concert, like a well-oiled machine. You'll always want to move back and towards center court any time your partner is forced to the sideline to cover a well-placed return from your opponents. You basically need to consider court coverage like a triangle. The base of this triangle runs along the net and the two sides are drawn from the sidelines to a central point near the back of the court to form the apex of the triangle. As long as you and your partner are covering the area within this triangle, your chances for successfully returning your opponents' shots increase exponentially.

If the ball goes over your head, it's your responsibility to recover and make the return yourself. Ideally, you'll return this overhead shot with a return in your own that is made before the ball ever bounces. If you allow an overhead shot aimed at you to bounce then you give your opponents time to gain the net position against you.

Your use of the lob shot is merely a defensive weapon in your arsenal. You'll use it to give yourself, or your partner, more time to recover from a precarious position. It should be used sparingly and only as a last resort to help regain a better court position.

A strong serve will allow you to take hold of the coveted net position. Thus, you want your service to be fast and low, directed at your opponents' feet. Any serve that floats too long, or comes across the net at shoulder height will be easily returned, usually as a smash and kill against you.

While playing the rally remember to strive for a volley that's down and strong. You'll want to use the center court shot toward your opponent to disrupt their teamwork, but use shots aimed for the sidelines as your most effective ace. You'll want every shot you take to be made so that it opens up the court, spreading your opponents apart, and giving you more opportunities for an ace.

Any time you sense a weakness in one of your opponents, focus your attack directly at the weakness. Be relentless in your attack against the discovered weakness. Don't ever let up and capitalize on it and exploit it.

Of course there is a chemistry and a fluidity to playing with someone else as your partner. You'll want someone who does not have a similar style of play as your own. This will allow you to expand the number of choices your partnership will be able to use during your matches. And, typically, it will provide you with an ability to cover each others' weaknesses.

Your partnership will be most dramatically affected by the friendship and comraderie that forms between you. Minimize the harsh criticism and maximize the positive reinforcement. When you berate your partner you'll merely upset the cooperative spirit that needs to exist for maximum performance. Sure, it's okay to make suggestions and offer alternative ideas about the way you'll want to play the game. But don't require your partner to accept every suggestion you make.

You'll always be better off sticking with a single opponent for a longer time. So, pick someone you'll enjoy playing with. Identify a partner that will complement your style of play, not mimic it. Then, spend enough time together both on and off the court to get to know one another. Learn how your partner thinks and reacts and your chances for scoring more in the win column will increase.