Club Doubles
by Nick Ring
You many not have picture perfect technique but you can still be a pretty hot doubles player if you observe the golden rules, so says coach to thousands of British club players, Nick Ring.
When I begin a doubles session with a new group I often quote the great Bill Tilden who once said that singles is a game of the imagination whereas doubles is an exact science.
By this he meant that in singles you need technique and the ability to explore different ways of winning by being creative. In doubles, however, technique and creativity aren't so important. If you just follow certain good rules and tactics you'll be a better player.
Often people who have taken up the game in later life, who've never had any coaching and perhaps use one grip for every shot can't or won't consider changing the way they hit the ball. They may have had injuries in the past which makes them play a certain way and if they tried to change their strokes old injuries would come back or new ones created.
So what does a coach do with a group that won't or can't change their less than perfect technique? The answer is to teach good doubles positioning, rules and tactics.
Over the years I have taught literally thousands of club players to play better doubles - not by altering how they hit the ball, but by showing them how to position themselves better on the court and teaching them some of the game's golden rules and tactics.
The server
Wrong: When serving players often stand too close to the centre mark as if they are playing singles. They may have a strong forehand grip and so find it easier to serve down the middle from this position. They may also be trying to prevent the return coming anywhere near their backhand. The problem with standing here is that they are leaving their half of the court wide open for the returner to hit a cross court winner into plus they are running the risk of hitting their partner on the back of the head! This in turner forces the server's partner to cower away in the tramlines thus preventing them from covering their half properly by trying to intercept the return.
Right: The best position to serve is half way between the outside tramline and the centre mark so that the server is in the middle of the returner's options if they return cross court. The server can now properly cover his half of the court, he can get the wide returns plus he allows his partner to get more involved in the game. Even with a forehand grip, with practice he can learn to direct the ball down the middle from this position.
Server's partner:
Wrong: Players in this position tend to stand too close to the net and tramlines. Traditionally, players were taught to stand a racket length and a step away from the net, leaving them very close to the net and vulnerable to the lob and with little reaction time to deal with fast shots. As previously mentioned, they often stand too close to the tramlines for fear of getting struck on the head by the serve. Also, they're afraid of getting passed down the line, feeling they have to guard it with their life! In fact, people tend to think the tramline is wider than it actually is. Often in mixed doubles you hear the bloke saying to the girl 'you stand in the tramlines', which doesn't help the situation!
Right: The best position is in the middle of the service box - at least a racket length and two steps back from the net. From here the server's partner has a better chance of covering the lob and buys himself more reaction time if the ball is returned down the line or straight at him. Most important, he is now in a better position to cover the middle and intercept. Remember that in doubles you want to get points over quickly and the way to do that is to intercept. Ideally, the server needs to serve down the middle to set the net player up for an interception (it's quite hard for the returner to hit the tramline off a middle serve). But if the serve goes wide, the net player needs to shift over a little before the ball bounces to cover the line.
Returner
Wrong: Players make the mistake of standing in the same position for the first and second serve plus they sometimes stand too far over to the left or right to protect a weak forehand or backhand.
Right: The best position on a fast first serve is to stand back a few feet to buy some reaction time, and then take a few steps in for a softer second serve. If a player has a weak backhand, for example, and he's playing on the right, he may want to stand over a little to the left to favour his forehand, but not too far over so as to expose him to a wide serve.
Returner's partner
Wrong: Players often stand too close to the net mirroring the server's partner's position. This leaves a huge gap down the middle for the server's partner to volley into should he decide to intercept the return. Alternatively, players who are afraid of the net will stand too far back - often on a level with the returner. This leaves them exposed to a short or angled volley by the server's partner.
Right: The best position is on the service line towards the middle of the court. This way he's protecting the middle of the court should the server's partner decide to intercept plus he's in a better position to reach shorter and angled shorts. However, it's key to remember that this player does not stay in this position for the duration of the rally. If his partner hits a good deep return he should move forward a little to try and intercept a weak reply. By moving forwards he is giving the opponents less court to hit into and makes himself look bigger at the net. Conversely, if his partner hits a weak return he might want to take a step back so that he stands a better chance of defending himself against an interception. During the rally he always wants to be taking a step backwards or forwards depending on whether he or the opposing net player can or cannot intercept. As he's moving he needs to keep watching his opponents rather than turning right round looking at his partner hitting the ball. He can glance at what his partner is doing but his main focus should be on what's going on in front of him.
Vary direction and height of returns: Most returns will be cross court. It's the easiest return because it doesn't involve changing the direction of the ball plus it's over the lowest part of the net. However, if players hit the same return every time, their opponents will soon pick up on this and look to intercept as often they can. The returner therefore needs to vary his return to keep the net player (server's partner) on his toes. He can try passing down the line. Another option is to lob over the net player's head. This will cause a "yours", "mine" situation that's likely to confuse the opposition. What's more, club players generally aren't very good at smashing because they don't practice it enough plus as mentioned earlier, they tend to stand too close to the net. Another option is the short angled return, useful if opponents don't move very well. Even if the opponent gets to the ball, there's a good chance he will hit it up giving the returning team a chance to hit down.
Vary pace and spins of returns: Another tactic is to take some pace off the return. Players at this level don't like softer shots. The more time people have the more likely they are to make mistakes! When returning a very soft second serve, I tend to encourage people to hit a drop shot. If they try to hit it hard they tend to over shoot or hit in bottom of the net. A soft low one with a little bit of angle and a bit of top spin or slice for control is often all it needs.
Intercept when you can hit down: Ideally you want to intercept when the ball is above the height of the net and you can hit down on it. However, sometimes intercepting is going to be something of a gamble. If you're playing against someone who whacks the ball you may have to make your move before or just as they're hitting it. If they're not a big hitter you can afford to wait until he has made contact. When you move is dependent on the pace of play.
Avoid confusion down the middle: I like to say the last person who hit the ball takes the one down the middle.
Communicate with your partner: Doubles is a team effort so it's important to talk with each other between points - discuss tactics, encourage and console. Communicate during points too with calls such as "me", "mine", "yours" or "switch".
Switch sides after the lob: If the lob goes over the net player's head, ideally he should get it on the smash. If he has a partner at the back of the court and can't reach it himself, he should call "yours" and then "switch". This tells his partner he is going to move to cover the other side. If he doesn't move over they'll be left with both covering the same side of the court! He should move over and back if the opponents have moved to net after their lob. He should move over and forwards if the opponents haven't.
Take pace off the serve: On the serve direction, depth and getting the first serve in are far more important than pace in doubles. Having two serves of similar pace is an advantage. A three quarter pace serve is better than having a big first serve that rarely goes in followed by a push dolly second serve, which you see mainly with the blokes!
Change tactics if necessary: Don't be afraid to change tactics if you're losing. For example, even if you're not great at volleying, try coming in as it will force your opponents to do something different.
Move with the ball: As a pair you should move with the ball especially at the net. For example, if you hit the ball goes wide move over to cover the line. It's also important to realise that you and your partner can only cover two thirds of the court - you can't do it all. Always try to leave the hardest third of the court for your opponents to hit.
Don't stand still - move! Don't stand in the same position for the whole of the rally. Even if you move the wrong way, move. Change the scenery. Give your opponents something to think about so that they take their eye off the ball.
You many not have picture perfect technique but you can still be a pretty hot doubles player if you observe the golden rules, so says coach to thousands of British club players, Nick Ring.
When I begin a doubles session with a new group I often quote the great Bill Tilden who once said that singles is a game of the imagination whereas doubles is an exact science.
By this he meant that in singles you need technique and the ability to explore different ways of winning by being creative. In doubles, however, technique and creativity aren't so important. If you just follow certain good rules and tactics you'll be a better player.
Often people who have taken up the game in later life, who've never had any coaching and perhaps use one grip for every shot can't or won't consider changing the way they hit the ball. They may have had injuries in the past which makes them play a certain way and if they tried to change their strokes old injuries would come back or new ones created.
So what does a coach do with a group that won't or can't change their less than perfect technique? The answer is to teach good doubles positioning, rules and tactics.
Over the years I have taught literally thousands of club players to play better doubles - not by altering how they hit the ball, but by showing them how to position themselves better on the court and teaching them some of the game's golden rules and tactics.
Let's start by looking at the four positions on the doubles court:
The server
Wrong: When serving players often stand too close to the centre mark as if they are playing singles. They may have a strong forehand grip and so find it easier to serve down the middle from this position. They may also be trying to prevent the return coming anywhere near their backhand. The problem with standing here is that they are leaving their half of the court wide open for the returner to hit a cross court winner into plus they are running the risk of hitting their partner on the back of the head! This in turner forces the server's partner to cower away in the tramlines thus preventing them from covering their half properly by trying to intercept the return.
Right: The best position to serve is half way between the outside tramline and the centre mark so that the server is in the middle of the returner's options if they return cross court. The server can now properly cover his half of the court, he can get the wide returns plus he allows his partner to get more involved in the game. Even with a forehand grip, with practice he can learn to direct the ball down the middle from this position.
Server's partner:
Wrong: Players in this position tend to stand too close to the net and tramlines. Traditionally, players were taught to stand a racket length and a step away from the net, leaving them very close to the net and vulnerable to the lob and with little reaction time to deal with fast shots. As previously mentioned, they often stand too close to the tramlines for fear of getting struck on the head by the serve. Also, they're afraid of getting passed down the line, feeling they have to guard it with their life! In fact, people tend to think the tramline is wider than it actually is. Often in mixed doubles you hear the bloke saying to the girl 'you stand in the tramlines', which doesn't help the situation!
Right: The best position is in the middle of the service box - at least a racket length and two steps back from the net. From here the server's partner has a better chance of covering the lob and buys himself more reaction time if the ball is returned down the line or straight at him. Most important, he is now in a better position to cover the middle and intercept. Remember that in doubles you want to get points over quickly and the way to do that is to intercept. Ideally, the server needs to serve down the middle to set the net player up for an interception (it's quite hard for the returner to hit the tramline off a middle serve). But if the serve goes wide, the net player needs to shift over a little before the ball bounces to cover the line.
Returner
Wrong: Players make the mistake of standing in the same position for the first and second serve plus they sometimes stand too far over to the left or right to protect a weak forehand or backhand.
Right: The best position on a fast first serve is to stand back a few feet to buy some reaction time, and then take a few steps in for a softer second serve. If a player has a weak backhand, for example, and he's playing on the right, he may want to stand over a little to the left to favour his forehand, but not too far over so as to expose him to a wide serve.
Returner's partner
Wrong: Players often stand too close to the net mirroring the server's partner's position. This leaves a huge gap down the middle for the server's partner to volley into should he decide to intercept the return. Alternatively, players who are afraid of the net will stand too far back - often on a level with the returner. This leaves them exposed to a short or angled volley by the server's partner.
Right: The best position is on the service line towards the middle of the court. This way he's protecting the middle of the court should the server's partner decide to intercept plus he's in a better position to reach shorter and angled shorts. However, it's key to remember that this player does not stay in this position for the duration of the rally. If his partner hits a good deep return he should move forward a little to try and intercept a weak reply. By moving forwards he is giving the opponents less court to hit into and makes himself look bigger at the net. Conversely, if his partner hits a weak return he might want to take a step back so that he stands a better chance of defending himself against an interception. During the rally he always wants to be taking a step backwards or forwards depending on whether he or the opposing net player can or cannot intercept. As he's moving he needs to keep watching his opponents rather than turning right round looking at his partner hitting the ball. He can glance at what his partner is doing but his main focus should be on what's going on in front of him.
Other useful doubles rules and tactics
Nick Ring was talking to ACE Coaching Editor Heather Purchase. Nick spent 12 years as a pro, four of which as head pro at Windmill Hill Tennis and Golf Academy, East Sussex, where he taught 3,000-4,000 club players to play doubles every year. He now runs tennis and activity holidays and camps for adults and children in the UK and abroad through his East Sussex based company, Nick Ring Leisure.
