Mary M. Hill & Martha Downing, Tennis Professionals

Offensive Doubles

In this brief article on doubles strategy, we will be sharing our thoughts on the offensive part of doubles. There are many other points which could be made about doubles: however, this article has been limited to cover only one aspect of the game.

Bill Tilden suggests in his writings that singles is a game of imagination, and doubles a game of angles. In order to hit angles, a player must be close to the net. As a matter of fact, the closer to the net that the ball can be played, the greater the angle. Doubles, therefore, is a game to be played at the net. A good doubles team should try to maintain this offensive net position.

A variety of skills are necessary to play good doubles, but the responses in doubles are more patterned than singles. A typical point should go like this: first serve in; the server follows the ball to the net; the receiver returns the ball low and crosscourt and moves to the net; the server volleys low and down the middle and moves closer to the net; the receiver volleys up and the server closes out the point by hitting an angle volley or a forceful volley to the open court. There will be, of course, some variation to this pattern. Perhaps a player can poach on a weak return or a high volley. Perhaps there will be a lob which forces the team off the net. But the basic pattern is to get to the net and volley low until your opponents hit high and allow you to put the ball away.

We have taught for years that doubles is a game of positioning, constant motion, and angles. Positioning means getting to the net before your opponent gets there. Positioning means shifting to the angle of the ball and being in the correct spot for each anticipated shot.

Constant motion means being physically ready and mentally expecting to hit each ball. It means keeping your feet moving and flowing with the point.

Angles means volleying crosscourt to the alleys. It means only hitting winning volleys that the physics of the game allow you to hit. To better understand this concept, try this demonstration: Stand on the service line (or first volley position) and look over the net. What part of the court can you see? If you are at least 5’6”, you should be able to see a few feet inside of the baseline. This means that volleys played from this service line position should be aimed deep to the baseline or hit softly at the opponent’s feet to force them to hit up. Now step up to second volley position, which is halfway between the net and the service line. Again, if you are 5’6” you can see the opposite service corners. This means you can now aim your volleys to the service line. When you move closer to the net to volley the softer balls, you can now aim your volleys in front of the service lines. Our goal as doubles players is to dominate the net to increase our angles. Don’t force angles that aren’t there. A good rule of thumb is to only hit angles (or that part of the court) that can be seen from looking over the net.

Doubles requires patience to set up the point. The following are general rules that we hope will help you when practicing. They should help in developing “percentage tennis” responses.

1. Get your first serve in. Talbert and Old (in The Game of Doubles in Tennis) say the serve is 30% of the game! A good server should vary the speed, spin, and placement of her serve while maintaining good depth. Strive to get 80% of your first serves in.

2. Return the ball to the person farthest from the net.

3. Get in volley position before your opponent hits the ball and do not be moving when your opponent hits her ball. This means you may often want to hit softer or finesse balls in order to have more time to move to position.

4. Force your opponent to hit up.

5. Play service line volleys and low balls down the middle. Patiently wait for an opening to put the ball away. A well-played point will often require 4-6 hits.

6. Doubles is a game of angles, but don’t hit for angles that you don’t see while looking over the net.