Doubles Positioning

The following article was prompted by a question posted on our Coaches Discussion Board by John Brooks, a member who is the Head Boys and Girls Coach at Briarcliffe High School in Briarcliffe Manor, NY, who has players who prefer to playing doubles in a two-back position.

Most experts agree that staying back in doubles is a no-win situation against anyone who knows how to play doubles.

The obvious disadvantages to staying back are: 1) You can't cover the short angles of your opponents; and 2) You can't put the ball away with the high-percentage angles that closing the net allows.

One proponent of the two-back system, however, coached his daughter and her partner to win this way at the pro level, even a Grand Slam, and wrote a book (difficult to find) on it. Additionally, if your players are playing at a more recreational level and not playing top opponents, they might be able to win if they have solid passing shots and lobs.

All things being equal, however, most experienced coaches agree that at competitive levels of tennis, the team that gets to the net first, wins.

At the high school level, where many players may still not feel comfortable at the net, you may need to convince your players that they are still better off at the net.

Show, Don't Tell
The best way to get kids to agree with you is to never simply TELL them what to do, but instead SHOW them what you want them to do.

Teach Taking the Net Before Playing the Net
At the beginning of every point, at least one player on each doubles team starts back. Before you teach your players how to play when they're both at the net, you'll have to teach them how to successfully get to the net first. Simply running to the net behind weak or short approach shots is suicidal at competitive levels of play.

After the return
What happens after your player has successfully returned serve low and crosscourt?

Serve and Volley
The route to the net for the server is a simple, three-step progression.

Approaching
Players need to learn how to approach, whether they are the returner or a server who has stayed back, and this means using a stroke that is different than the traditional, baseline groundstroke.

Once They're at the Net
Because of the increased speed of the game at both the recreational and professional levels, a new style for playing doubles has developed based on the player's increased ability to hit deep, accurate lobs and passing shots.

Why Not Take Your Own Lobs?
At recreational and even fairly competitive levels of play, a player moving backwards to take a lob usually hits with his or her weight moving backward, decreasing the chance of an offensive overhead. Almost universally, good coaches recommend...