10 Best Tennis Strategy Doubles

Playing doubles tennis is a unique experience compared to singles. It presents greater challenges and complexities as you cover the entire court, focus on volleys, and maintain constant communication with your partner. To enhance your performance and make the game more enjoyable, mastering key tennis strategy doubles is crucial.

In this guide, we provide comprehensive information on playing doubles tennis, including main strategies, positions, and useful tricks to excel on the court and become a winning team. Read on for valuable insights!

All doubles players should familiarize themselves with these fundamental tennis doubles strategies to score more points and win matches. We have broken down the information in-depth and simplified the explanations. Keep in mind that the order is random, and each tip is equally important.

#1 Optimize your court positioning

Correct court positioning from the start is essential. Many beginner doubles players make the mistake of positioning themselves poorly, putting themselves at a disadvantage. When serving, stand slightly inside the single lines, which is the ideal position for most situations.

Avoid standing too far out wide, as it leaves the middle court vulnerable. If you are the server’s partner, imagine a large X drawn on the service box (or even physically mark it with chalk until you become familiar) and position yourself in the middle. As for the returner, standing further back at the baseline is usually best, especially against fast serves.

Doubles positions may initially feel uncomfortable for beginners, but with practice, you will find yourself in winning positions simply by assuming the correct position.

#2 Track your opponents

Similar to singles, doubles players should aim for accuracy when hitting the ball. To prevent aimless shots that cost valuable points, it is crucial for you and your partner to track your opponents. This strategy is straightforward: hit the ball towards the opponent positioned similarly to you. If you are on the baseline, target the other baseliner, thereby extending the point, which is advantageous.

This strategy is highly effective and succeeds around 80% of the time. To make it work, keep track of your opponent’s movement and hit the ball with precision. It’s that simple!

#3 Move with the ball

Proper movement on the court is vital for all tennis players, even when you don’t have the ball. In doubles, you have limited time and opportunities to make your shots since you share the court with a partner. This is not a time to rest or remain stationary, waiting for your turn to hit.

A straightforward yet effective strategy is to imagine the ball as a magnet that pulls you towards it. This strategy primarily applies to volleyers who frequently transition between offensive and defensive positions.

Here’s how it works: when your baseline partner hits the ball behind you, move back to the end of the service box. When the ball is with the other baseliner (as mentioned in the previous strategy), move forward, closer to the net.

By doing so, you will cover your side of the court more effectively and have more time to react if your opponent engages in fast exchanges to close the point. If the returner hits the ball near the server’s partner, poach the ball and aim for the opponent in the same position as you.

#4 React quickly

When the ball is behind you, pay attention to the net opponent! This allows you more time to react promptly and prevents the opponent’s attack from catching you off guard.

While it’s okay to glance back at your baseline partner to check if they are lobbing, switching grips, or facing difficulties, as soon as they hit the ball, focus your attention fully on the opponent positioned similarly to you. This opponent will likely be the one challenging you throughout the game.

If your baseline partner accidentally hits the volleyer, move farther away and keep your eyes on the opponent to react swiftly, as you become the target. This strategy aligns with tracking the ball and your opponent, leading to improved performance and ease on the court.

#5 Use the windshield wiper strategy

The windshield wiper strategy is a positional scheme that ensures you and your partner cover the entire court during the game. Typically, you will cover 50% of the court, and your partner will cover the other 50%, ensuring no glaring gaps for the opponent.

However, in certain situations, this balance may be disrupted. For instance, if the opponent returns the ball far off the court after a serve, your partner may need to leave their area to retrieve it. It is unlikely that your partner will return to their position in time.

To address this, as you move with the ball and track the opponent, adjust your position to compensate. If your partner is far off the court, move towards the middle to ensure the entire court remains covered, even if you have to do it alone. Just like a windshield on a car, you and your partner should move in harmony.

#6 Utilize the lob

Lobbing requires advanced skills and is one of the most effective doubles tennis strategies. Executing a powerful lob, especially during the first serve, can change the game’s pace and create chaos on the opponent’s side. It forces them to switch positions, retreat, and quickly rush back to the net.

To maximize the advantage of a successful lob, position both you and your partner at the service line to form an offensive wall. The returner will likely hit an overhead shot in response, so aim the ball towards the person closer to the net for a better chance of closing the point and maintaining the advantage.

If you or your partner are the ones being lobbed, adjust your position by moving diagonally far back, reaching the “no man’s land” or even to the baseline with your partner to improve your defensive stance.

#7 Employ the poach

Poaching is an advanced and aggressive tennis strategy doubles  where the player near the net moves in towards the middle of the court and volleys the ball in the air.

Essentially, you force the opponent to make an error, leading to a point in your favor. To successfully execute this strategy, you need to constantly track the opponent and the ball’s direction, as explained earlier.

For a successful poach:

• Poach on low balls: This makes it harder for your opponent to react or change the ball’s direction for a quick net exchange.
• Master your skills: Proper technique is essential for successful poaching.
• Poach before a swing: Particularly effective when your partner serves a powerful shot. It frustrates your opponent, and often catches them off guard.
• Poach after a swing: Forces your opponent to change direction, which is challenging to do mid-swing.

#8 Exploit your opponents’ weaknesses

Aim for your opponents’ weaknesses or target the weakest player. While this may seem obvious, it’s crucial to be proactive if you want to win. For more experienced and aggressive team players, you can play both defensively and offensively.

Targeting the volleyer’s feet when returning a shot has proven successful. This forces your opponent to rush towards the net, leaving them with less time to react and reach difficult angles.

#9 Pay attention to your opponent’s body movement

This strategy is suitable for more advanced players who possess the skills and experience to execute it. Pay close attention to your opponent’s body movements to predict the direction of their shots and successfully poach.

Generally, the ball travels across the court in an X pattern, and players often unconsciously determine the shot’s direction based on which side of their body they are moving. By observing their movements, body patterns, and the ball’s spin and trajectory, you can accurately predict where your opponent will hit. However, achieving this level of prediction requires years of practice and patience.

#10 Communicate with your partner

During the brief moments between points, take the opportunity to communicate with your partner. This is a common practice among professional doubles players, and it yields significant benefits. Discuss which serves work best against specific opponents, where you plan to aim your returns, whether a poach or lob is appropriate, and evaluate what aspects of your game strategy can be improved.

Similar to huddling in a football game, this brief five-second conversation instills confidence and clarity, enabling both of you to perform better and increase your chances of winning the game.