Many doubles tennis strategies center on being aggressive and playing close to the net. Doing this can help you score points by surprising opponents with unexpected volleys or groundstrokes.
Players at the net should position themselves near the service line and be ready to pounce on any returns, which is known as attacking doubles.
Serve
An effective serve is key in doubles tennis; it enables you to set up your partner at the net and gives you a chance at scoring points, as well as taking advantage of any weaknesses your opponent might possess, such as their lack of power on returns.
Ideally when playing doubles it is ideal to serve up to your partner’s backhand side; this will enable them to achieve quick volleys on returns and force errors from your opponents. When serving it is also essential to employ various strategies; one such is Australian or “I” formation – standing close to a T in the service box and crouched close against the center court can cause disruption among opponents and force errors from them.
An effective strategy for serving up the “T” is reducing the angle of return and providing your partner with more opportunities to hit volleys – this tactic is frequently employed by doubles players like the Bryan brothers. You could also try using body jam serves, which prevent your opponent from attacking the ball directly.
As a strong doubles player, you should attempt to serve up the T as often as possible. This will force opponents to hit weaker returns that are easier for you to ace. Serving up to your partner’s backhand volley allows them to play into their weakness while also giving you an opportunity to hit high lobs – an effective strategy for earning easy points when facing large opponents.
Groundstrokes
Deep groundstrokes can be an incredible asset when playing doubles. By making your opponent uneasy and providing opportunities for attacks with volleys or smashes, deep groundstrokes become a significant advantage for doubles players. To develop deep groundstrokes more effectively and focus on placements during practice sessions with your partner. In order to understand how your opponents move on the court it’s also vitally important that you watch their feet as they hit or listen for sounds associated with hits; this information will allow you to predict where their return might come from and allow you to prepare accordingly when returning the serve is returned by you ace player!
When serving, it’s best to remain between the doubles alley and center line when serving to make it difficult for opponents to return their serve in time, forcing them to hit low volleys that can easily be returned by your teammate at the net. This also increases chances that their return serves will result in low volleys that your teammates at the net can intercept easily.
If your opponent tends to lob the ball, try hitting it high and with speed – this will make it difficult for them to control the depth of their volleys, forcing them into short and wide shots.
Deep crosscourt shots can also be an effective technique, preventing opponents from getting in position for lobs while giving you a quick point.
Finally, it is key to practice angled volleys. This strategy can be an excellent way of surprising opponents and quickly winning points while also helping you avoid hitting defensive volleys. To master it effectively, try hitting short volleys from an angled position that force opponents forward or wide – it takes practice but is essential in doubles!
Volleys
Volleying in doubles tennis is an integral part of the game, requiring quick reaction times and great agility from its participants. There are various tactics and strategies available at the net that you can employ; but optimizing use of team strengths by employing short and high volleys with an attack down the middle will enable them to score more points than their counterparts.
Hitting volleys to the side of your opponent will cut away their angles, making it harder for them to return the ball successfully, and leaving them more susceptible to your team’s attack on subsequent balls. Meanwhile, hitting them to their backhand will force them into hitting weaker groundstrokes, making it easier for your teammates to get into position quickly.
Fake poaches can be an effective way to prevent opponents from returning down the line, particularly if your opponent attempts to hit long volleys close to the net. To pull off this strategy, move laterally as they prepare to hit their volley and then jump towards the center when it is about time for them to strike the ball.
An Australian formation can also help you secure more points. Doing this forces your opponent to hit a low, slow lob that’s more likely to mishit, giving you an opportunity to put a volley at the bottom of the net and win more points at the net. Professional players regularly utilize this strategy for winning more at net play.
Court positioning
When playing doubles, it’s essential for both players to remain on the same wavelength and position the court correctly. Doing this will prevent their opponent from hitting his strongest shots, leading to more points won.
Usually, one player serves at the net while the other stands on the baseline. Both should clearly define their roles before beginning a match and work to stay within those boundaries during points – an ideal way to do this is through communicating before each point begins and agreeing on who will take what shots.
Reducing distance between players is another essential aspect of court positioning, enabling net players to quickly respond and volley balls as needed during points. To maximize speed of response and poach on return shots more easily.
As doubles points are won and lost on short balls, it is wise to position your court so as to force opponents to hit low lobs or angle shots and prevent them from hitting winners, thus making it easier for your team to hit winning volleys.
As a general guideline, it is always a good idea to play the ball through the center of the court as often as possible. This will limit opponent angles for attack while increasing defensive pressure on both teams. Hitting net strap or lower will create confusion which makes returning difficult.
Teamwork
When playing doubles, teams must work collaboratively to develop a game plan tailored specifically to their strengths and their opponents’ weaknesses. This involves selecting formations, serve placements and court movements during points as well as whether an I formation (one person at net) or Aussie formation (two people back) would best suit their style of play – key decisions in winning doubles matches!
Doubles tennis teams should strive to have their first serve land as cleanly and unmissed as possible in order to give themselves the best chance at clinching points and setting the tone for future matches.
At point changeovers, teams should also strive to remain in sync. This allows them to discuss their overall strategy and any necessary adjustments. They should also discuss roles and responsibilities during points, which will help them play smarter and win more matches.
Over this article, we have explored some of the fundamental strategies every doubles player should master to improve their game and win more games. By taking time to understand these tips and implement them into your matches, your doubles game can quickly improve – practice makes perfect! Just keep in mind that as soon as they become second nature for you.