TennisOne Lessons

Doubles Strategy

Playing Lefty/Righty Team, Part 2

Go to Part 1

By Monty Basnyat, TennisONE Associate Editor

Question

My partner and I struggle when playing a doubles team with one right handed, one left-handed player. In this case, the lefty is on the deuce side, allowing both players to cover the middle with their forehands. My favorite put-away is down the middle--rats. Help!

Answer

In Part 1 we discussed groundstroke tactics when playing a lefty/righty team where each player is covering the center with her respective forehand. Now we'll talk about serving.

Serving down the middle is common doubles tactic. It cuts down the angles for the returner and creates an opportunity for your net partner to cut off the return or poach. But when playing a lefty/righty team who cover the center with their forehands, serving down the T could be fatal, especially if both players have better forehands than backhands (usually the case). If this is type of team you are facing, an effective strategy is to serve wide, forcing your opponents to hit the more difficult angled cross court return. If your opponent cannot execute this shot effectively, this gives your net partner (Player #2 here) the opportunity to hit a winning volley. Player #2's volley can be placed down the center, forcing Player #3 to hit her next shot off balance, or, the shot can be hit down at Player #3's feet for the kill.

Conclusion

If you're playing a lefty/righty team, it's critical that you quickly assess whether lefty is playing the deuce court (left service court when facing your opponents) or add court. If lefty is playing the deuce court (as I've described above), your opponents' strength is probably down the center where they can cover with their forehands. Strategy? Attack the wings. If lefty is returning from the add court, their strength is on the wings, where they will again be covering with their forehands. Strategy? Attack down the middle.