Doubles Strategy and Tactics
I.
Doubles 101
A.
Pick the right partner
B.
Screeching shoes (more noise=better doubles team)
C.
Play percentages
D.
Convert first break point (serving team wins more than
78 percent of the points)
E.
Top 10 reasons to go to the net
1.
Maximum of 2 steps to cover court
2.
Time and distance
3.
Attacking the opponents is easier
4.
You can hit down on the ball
5.
Cut the ball off
6.
Create openings
7. You get more angles to volley
8.
Net becomes less of an obstacle
9.
You see opponents better
10. Closer to chair on changeovers
II.
How you win and lose points
A.
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Win the point before you play it
1.
Plot it out
2.
Know what to look for
3.
Recognize what you are looking for
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III.
B.
Make every point the same
C.
Playing patterns
Doubles strategy and tactics
A.
Doubles musts
1. First serve
2. Return
3. First volley
B.
Basic formations and movement
1. Serving team
2. Receiving team
3. Giving different looks
C.
Tandem formations and movement
1. "I"
2. Aussie
D.
Poaching
E.
Shot selection
1. What you receive will tell you where to hit the ball;
where your team hits the ball will tell you where to
move
2.
No risky shots (loose points) early in the game
3.
Court position
4.
Body position
5.
Speed of opponents shot
6.
Spin
7.
Strength or weakness
8.
Generic vs. personal percentages
9.
Serve to middle in deuce court (with a right-handed
returner); at the returner's body in ad court
10. Try to hit first volley down the middle
IV. Job descriptions for doubles
A.
B.
Server
1.
Plan the speed and spin: serve and volley or stay back
2.
Get first serve in (get 70 percent to 75 percent of first
serves in. Only 18% of first serves result in outright
winners, 1% of second serves result in outright
winners)
3.
Server is responsible for making first volley
4.
Force play to the middle and force opponents to play
the ball up
Receiver
1.
Ball in play, never wide or in the net
2.
Always attack weak serves
3.
Receivers get to the net more often on second serves
than first serves
4.
Use outside stroke on any ball at the body
5.
Try to keep ball low to allow your partner to poach and
threaten
6.
Off-speed ball is a very, very good play (doesn't have
to be fast and furious to get the job done)
7.
High-percentage returns
8.
Force play to the middle and force opponents to play
the ball up
C.
Partner of server
1. Always in motion - either fake, poach, close or back up
for lob
D.
I
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2.
Poacher wiii win the point majority of times
3.
Majority of all points are earned from the net position
4.
Adjust with serve placement
5.
Know your targets if the ball is played to your area
6.
Play net aggressively, poach on all floating returns
7.
Always talk with server after each and every service
point and then initiate nonverbal communication with
hand signals
8.
Spacing with partner at the net
Partner of the receiver (off man)
1.
Help make the line calls
2.
Keep eye on net man after serve goes in
3.
If opponents' net man makes a play on the return, the
off man is responsible for the middle of the court
4.
Watch to see if return is at server's feet (watch the
opponent's racquet) and be ready to cut off server's
first volley
5.
Always in motion - close following direction of return
6.
Overtake net at first opportunity - player closest to net
is responsible for covering majority of the net
7.
Communicate as did when partner of server
8.
Spacing with partner at the net