2 on 1 Serve/Return Game

By Monty Basnyat

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It’s the usual Tuesday night tennis at the Racquet Club for you and your gang. You're all warmed up and ready to go but it's 15 past and your fourth has not shown up. He's stuck in traffic and still 20 minutes away.

Ok, so you and the boys have 20 minutes to kill Australian doubles?

"NOT!"

So, here is a fun 2 on 1 singles game I learned from my buddies to cover just this situation. It’s called the 2 on 1 Serve Return Game and it goes like this.

All three players spin racquets to decide who gets to return. The odd man (or woman) is the receiver.

Player A serves to the receiver on the deuce court and plays out the point (player B stands behind watching). Player A does the same thing on the add side. The server is responsible to keep track of the scoring. After two points the score between Player A and the receiver could be 15 all, 0 - 30, or 30 - 0.

After serving two points Player B steps in and serves ( in the deuce court) and plays out the point while player A steps out and watches from behind. Player B will also serve two points and keep track of his own scoring with the receiver. Once again the score could be 15 all, 0 - 30, or 30 - 0. Players A and B are playing separate games with the receiver.

Play continues until Player A or Player B beats the receiver. Then the player who beats the receiver becomes the new receiver and the cycle stars over again.

The only way player A or B will get a chance to be the receiver is by beating the receiver in the game.

If the receiver beats Player A but the score with Player B is at deuce, the receiver begins a new game with player A but continues on with player B still at deuce until the game is concluded.

The advantage with this game versus playing Australian Doubles is that:

1. Everyone gets a great workout (especially the receiver).
2. It’s a great equalizer more closely simulates normal match conditions.
3. It’s is a fun game and a great way to pass those 20 minutes until your fourth shows up.

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Your comments are welcome. Let us know what you thank about the Offense/Defense drill by emailing us here at TennisONE. 

Special Thanks to Dr. Paul Falvey for his help with this video.

Last Updated 11/15/00. To contact us, please email to: webmaster@tennisone.com

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