The Lesson Lounge - Tennis Warrior

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A Plan for Doubles

Welcome to the Tom's Online Tennis Lesson, sponsored by TennisWarrior.com, "your link to professional thinking."

Over the years I have seen many players complicate the game of doubles. As a result, I have designed a basic doubles plan and labeled it Plan "A". It is amazing how many good players violate the simple principles in Plan "A". Mainly because players do not keep track of where the ball they hit is going. Most players just hit the most comfortable and best shot they have in their repertoire, regardless of whether it was the correct shot or not. Let’s see if Plan "A" can help you become more aware of where your ball is being hit.

Use Plan "A" when you are up at the net by yourself or preferably with your partner. Plan "A" dictates that you hit all low balls and all high short balls (a high short ball is a high ball in front of the service line) to a specific spot on the court. When you are up at the net your opponents can be positioned in three different formations.

Formation 1. One up, one back

Formation 2. Both back

Formation 3. Both up

In this lesson we will only discuss the formation that occurs the most, formation 1. When your opponents are in a one up, one back formation you should hit high short balls to the net persons feet or somewhere on their side. You could also angle or hit to the middle, but at first you should keep it simple and hit to the net persons feet. It still amazes me to see how many players hit the high short ball to the player on the baseline. They finally get the opportunity to win the point and they choose to it the ball to the person on the baseline. Who in turn lobs over their head! Never give your opponent more chances than necessary to lob over your head. When you are hit a high short ball, go for it! If you miss, it does not matter, you were hitting the right shot at the right time. All high short balls should be hit to the net persons feet - it is that simple!

All low balls should be hit to the player on the baseline. Again, it is amazing to watch players consistently hit the low ball to the player at the net. When you have one opponent on the baseline and one up at the net, do not hit the low ball to the player at the net! This simple does not make sense. The low ball you are hitting will be rising upward nice and high for the net person to blast it at you or your partner. To hit a low ball back to the net person and keep it low at their feet is very difficult. Especially in the heat of battle. Besides why even attempt to do this when you can hit the ball to the opponent on the baseline. I call the opponent on the baseline the safety valve. When you are in trouble play it safe and hit to the player on the baseline. A low ball is just such a situation. Play it safe and look for something better to hit for a winner.

Plan "A" is actually simple, but players unknowingly violate the principles all the time. High balls should be hit to the net persons feet, and low balls to the player on the baseline. Test yourself when you play and see if you are guilty of any of these simple infractions. If you are, stop!