There's More Than One Way to Win a Doubles Match

Greg Moran

One of the things that make doubles so fascinating is the many formations and strategies that you can use to win matches.

Though most points begin with both teams in the one player up, one back formation, once the action begins your team has many options. You could stay in those positions, charge into the aggressive two players at the net formation or, if your find yourselves on the defensive, move both players back to the baseline.

In fact, during the course of a long point, you could easily move back and forth between all three of these formations–several times. Plus, as you continue to improve you’ll frequently find yourselves in another situation: all four players up at the net battling it out.

Learning to play confidently from all of these scenarios will go a long way towards helping you and your partner win matches at the higher levels.

Control the Net, Control the Point

If you ask Bob and Mike Bryan for advice on winning doubles, I’m willing to bet they’ll tell you to “get the net.” The brothers know that the team that controls the net controls the point. That being the case, high level doubles can best be described as a race–a race to the net.

If you and your partner can win that race, you’ll have several advantages over your opponents:

• From a visual standpoint, as you move forward, the net will seem lower and the court larger. The next time you step onto the court, stand on your baseline and look at your opponent’s court. You’ll find that the majority of their court appears below the net. Now, as you walk forward, you’ll see that the net, slowly but surely, moves below your line of vision and your opponent’s court becomes much clearer. Both can be huge psychological pump-ups.

• Technically, it’s much easier to hit a volley than it is a ground stroke. Groundstrokes require more preparation, longer swings and intense movement and timing. Volleys, for the most part only demand that, from the ready position, you turn your shoulders, move 1-2 steps and then push the racquet forward with little or no follow-through. If a high level baseliner and net player get into a groundstroke/volley exchange, more often than not the baseliner will miss first. They’re working harder to generate their groundstrokes than the net player is to execute their volleys.

• From a strategic standpoint, one of your primary goals is to force your opponents to pop the ball “up” so that you can then aggressively drive it back “down.” This means that, at the appropriate time, your team can end the point either by drilling a volley down at your opponent’s feet, hitting down the middle, or angling the ball off to the side. You can’t drive “down” from the baseline, only at the net.

• Each time your team takes the net, you put a tremendous amount of pressure on the opposing team. Your shots will appear to have more pace and your opponents will be forced to come up with a good return each time they strike the ball. If they don’t, your team is in position to end the point with one shot.

• Plus, winning doubles teams have mastered the art of positioning themselves so that they are able to cover the majority of the court. The only "open" spaces they leave their opponent’s are the areas of the court that are difficult to hit.

So, yes, the ultimate goal for your team is to control the net. However, there is a catch. To be effective up close, both you and your partner must be able to volley well, move properly, and anticipate and reply to lobs from your opponent. These are skills that take a while to develop and your current level of play will pretty much dictate how successful your forays to the net will be.

Play Defense and Win

When your opponents capture the net, all is not lost. Move both players to the baseline and play defense. By doing so, you take away the mid-court target (as well as the big space between you and your partner) that would be there in the one up, one back formation.

When playing from the both back formation, position yourselves 2-3 feet behind the baseline and stand just inside the singles sideline. Focus on hitting your shots low and high and driving down the middle. Hit low groundstrokes with topspin to force them to volley “up” and lobs to push them away from the net. Pick on a particular player and vary your shots: two low shots to draw him closer to the net and then a lob, or vice versa, two lobs to push him back and then drive one down at his feet.

By hitting high and low you’re hoping to break down your opponents and create one of the following situations:

• A short ball that you can move up and attack.
• An error by the net players.
• A lob over your opponent’s heads that will allow you and your partner to move forward and take control of the net.

Here are a two more situations where having both players at the baseline can be to your team’s advantage.

• If your opponents are excellent serve and volley players, the receiver’s partner can drop back to the baseline for the first serve.

• If you and your partner have extremely strong groundstrokes but weak net games.
  

Yes, this formation is defensive but I think you’ll be surprised at how, with patience and the right approach, your team can hang in (and even turn) around points you seemed destined to lose.

The One Up and One Back Formation

This formation is usually the favorite among teams at the 3.0 level and below. These players haven’t yet developed the movement, technical, and anticipation skills needed to be successful in the two up formation.

By having one player at the net to be aggressive and the other at the baseline to hit groundstrokes and handle lobs, they have the entire court covered. At this level, during competitive play, the one up and one back formation gives them the best chance to win.

Interestingly, we’re now frequently seeing teams on the pro tour elect to stay in this formation. These are teams where one or both of the players have such superb groundstrokes they’re able to sacrifice the advantage of controlling the net. One player stays at the baseline, ripping groundstrokes, while the other stays at the net, hoping to pick off the opponent’s shot.

If you find yourself in a match where both teams prefer the one up, one back, formation keep these tips in mind:

Once you begin to get the feel of the slice forehand, here are six situations where it can be useful:

When you’re on the baseline

As you exchange groundstrokes with your opponent, focus on keeping the ball away from the opposing net man. He’ll undoubtedly be active, faking and poaching, hoping to force you into nervous errors. Ignore him.

Many players' barks are worse than their bites. Your opponent may be moving all over the court but to actually poach takes guts. If he takes the plunge and picks off a few of your shots, you can keep him honest by hitting the occasional ball down his alley, right at him or lobbing over his head. You’ll be surprised how often an active net player will retreat into a shell after having the ball driven down his alley once or twice.

Develop tunnel vision and focus solely on hitting your shots cross court and deep. This will keep your opponent pinned to the baseline and give your partner a chance to end the point with a volley.

When you’re at the net

At the net, you’re the one who can end the point with one strong volley or overhead. As the baseline players exchange groundstrokes, follow the ball. When it moves deep to your opponent, move forward and think offensively. If the shot is wide, follow it to protect your alley. If it’s towards the center, shift towards the middle and look to poach.

Watch your opponent’s body and racquet face to anticipate his shot. If he's leaning forward, think drive, move closer to the net and try to pick off the volley. If he’s leaning back and his racquet face opens up (strings facing the sky) he’s likely to lob so back up a few steps.

When the lob comes, you have three options.

• Move back and try to end the point with an overhead either between your opponents or at the feet of the opposing net player.

• If you can’t get back quickly enough to hit a strong overhead, bunt it deep to the baseline player and move back towards the net.

• If the lob is too deep for you to hit in the air, have no fear, your baseline partner is there to back you up. Quickly yell “yours,” switch sides and move to the opposite service line. If your partner returns the lob with a strong shot you can then move back to the net. If his return is weak, he should then yell “back” and you then quickly back-peddle to join him at the baseline.

As the baseline players exchange groundstrokes, when your opponent’s shot moves past you, shift into defensive mode. Follow the ball and move back to your service line. If the ball has gone wide to your partner, move a bit more towards the center.

As your partner prepares to hit his shot, fight the urge to look back at him. Instead, focus on the opposing net player. Look in his eyes and he’ll tell you what type of shot your partner has hit. When you hear your partner strike the ball and see the net player stay still, it probably means that he has no play on the shot. Immediately begin to move forward.

If his eyes widen, most likely he’s going after your partner’s shot. If he raises his racquet, he’s probably going to try to end the point with an aggressive volley. Quickly jump to the center of the court as the space between you and your partner is his likely target. You may be able to hit a reflex volley and keep your team in the point. If possible, try to return it to the player at the baseline and then advance forward to the net.

If he begins to bend and looks as though he’ll have to play his shot from below the height of the net, move forward, towards him. He’ll have to volley “up” and by moving forward, you may be able to pick off his shot. Plus, once he sees you coming at him he’ll feel tremendous pressure and might even commit an error. Both of these moves have to be made very quickly which is another reason you want to keep your head forward and your feet active when your partner is hitting. It buys you vital extra time!

Note: If your partner has hit a short, floating ball and your opponent is foaming at the mouth, consider abandoning ship. Take a crossover step and move off the court. Yes, you’re conceding the point but sometimes it’s best to do that and live to play the next one.

As you’re moving forward and back, following the ball, bounce on your toes, fake and every now and then poach. By being active you’ll take your opponents out of their comfort zone and find that you can often force nervous errors. In the one up, one back formation an active net player can virtually control the point without ever touching the ball.

If your team currently favors the one up, one back formation, you can be successful but it’s a tougher road to victory, particularly against a team that plays both up. During your lessons and practice sessions, work on your approaching and net skills. You’ll find that, as you continue to practice and improve, you’ll begin to reap the benefits of the two up formation.

Don’t Be Surprised If It Gets Hot and Heavy

As you and your partner begin to compete at the higher levels, you’ll begin to appreciate the importance of controlling the net, as will your opponents. That being the case, you’ll frequently find yourselves face to face with your opponents. Tennis at the 4.0 level and above is usually a battle for the net as both the server and receiver do all they can to join their partners up close.

When you find yourselves in this high intensity situation, you and your partner should focus on keeping your shots low and trying to move forward. Nine times out of ten, it will be the team that is better able to keep their heads together and shots low, while at the same time moving forward, that will be able to finish off the point.

When played at its best, doubles is a game of fast paced exchanges, exciting strategies, and lots of movement. By understanding and being comfortable in these formations you and your partner will be well on your way to wining matches against the elite teams.

Your comments are welcome. Let us know what you think about Greg Moran's article by emailing us here at TennisOne.

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