Category: Strategy

My partner makes a lot of volley errors causing us to lose service games?

Did you know that if you serve wide there is a higher probability that the return will be wide, mid court and back to the server. If as the server you would prefer to have the return hit back to you rather than have your partner try and volley; serve mid pace and wide.

My opponents like to lob incessantly. What can we do?

Lobs are easiest to hit from the baseline. A lob can only be successful if an overhead cannot be hit off it. Play both up just inside the service line to reduce the lobbers target area and increase the overhead opportunities. Hit short balls so your lobbing opponents have to move up making them play from a position they are less comfortable in.

I play with one partner and we lose points down the middle of the court all the time. I am to the point I’d rather play with someone else.

Before giving up, explain to your partner that 80% of balls hit in doubles travel through the middle of the court. Psychologically, your partner may be so worried about your reaction to them getting passed that they are covering the statistically wrong area of the court. In your next set, offer to give them a quarter, for every time they are passed for a winner when as a team you are both up. You won’t go broke and may save your partnership.

In 2017, look for our doubles strategy clinics throughout the season.

When playing club level doubles we often see one player up and one player back on both teams. If you experience this then keep in mind that the deep player should always hit to the deeper opponent. If the short player is given the ball then they want to hit it at the opponent closer to the net.

A common mistake made is hitting from the baseline to the opponent’s net player. This is often a fatal mistake resulting in the loss of the point.