Doubles Tennis Mastery: Strategies, Secrets, and Silly Mistakes You’ll Never Make Again

 

 

Doubles tennis. It’s like singles but with twice the players, twice the chaos, and—if you’re doing it right—twice the fun! 

But let’s be honest … most doubles matches look like four people awkwardly running around, or standing still, hoping the ball magically lands in the other team’s court and doesn’t come back.

If that sounds familiar, don’t worry. By the end of this blog, you’ll know how to dominate the net, poach like a pro, and finally stop letting your partner glare at you after every missed volley.

Whether you’re a club-level player, a weekend warrior, or someone who’s just trying to survive without being hit in the face, this is for you.

Rule #1: The Net Is Your Best Friend

You want to win more doubles points? Simple—get to the net.

Seriously. According to tennis stats, 70–80% of doubles points are won at the net. That means volleys and overheads, not endless baseline rallies, decide most matches.

Why?

Because the net:

• Takes away time. Your opponents have less time to react. Panic mode, activated.
• Cuts down angles. With two people covering 36 feet of court, there’s not much room to pass.
• Applies pressure. No one wants to hit a short ball when two players are hovering like sharks at the net.

Pro Tip for Net Play:

Even if you’re not the best volleyer yet, just being there makes your opponent nervous. And let’s face it—nervous opponents hit bad shots.

Drill to Practice:
Stand at the net while your partner slams balls at you. Your only job? Block them. Bonus points if you practice keeping your racket up like it’s your face’s personal bodyguard.

The Roles You Need to Know in Doubles

Let’s clear up one big misunderstanding—doubles isn’t just singles with a friend. Each player has a role, and if you play it well, you’ll win more points (and avoid those awkward post-match silences with your partner).

1. The Server (aka Captain Assist)

Your job isn’t to hit aces. Sorry.

It’s to set up your partner at the net to finish the point. Think of yourself as the opening act—your partner’s the headliner.

Key Goals:

• Focus on placement, not power.
• Serve to the body or down the T to keep returns predictable.
• Crash the net after your serve—unless your volleys make you break out in hives.

Drill to Practice:
Work on serving and immediately taking two steps forward. Then hit a half-volley. It’ll get you used to closing the net quickly.

2. The Server’s Partner (aka Net Shark)

You’re the one who’s supposed to finish points and scare returners.

Your Mission:

• Be aggressive. Move like you mean it.
• Fake poaches—just the sound of your shoes squeaking can cause errors.
• If the ball’s floating—attack it. If it’s low, keep it deep and let your partner reset the point.

Drill to Practice:
Stand at the net and practice poaching. Start with easy feeds and gradually speed it up. Bonus challenge—fake a poach, then recover to hit a volley.

3. The Returner (aka Captain Consistent)

Your job is survival. Avoid the net player like they’re holding a taser.

Key Moves:

• Go cross-court—it's the safest shot.
• Lob over the net player if they’re crowding.
• Hit to the server’s feet to jam them up.

Pro Tip:
Visualize the target before you swing. Pick a spot (like the singles sideline near the service box) and aim there.

Drill to Practice:
Place cones or markers on the court and aim for them during practice returns.

4. The Returner’s Partner (aka Wildcard #4)

You’re the wild card. 

You could be on defense, taking a poach away, or, you could go on offense and poach on the 4th shot. 

The goal? Finish points at the net.

Your To-Do List:

• Be ready to react to volleys that come your way
• Be ready to poach or cover lobs.
• Fake out your opponents

Drill to Practice:
Practice split-stepping as the ball crosses the net. This keeps you balanced and ready to move in any direction.

Afraid at the Net? Take Massive Action!

We get it. Being at the net can feel like standing in traffic during rush hour. But the truth is, fear and action can’t live in the same room.

How to Beat Net Fear:

1. Get Your Racket Up. Seriously. If your racket’s below the net, you’re asking for trouble.
2. Crouch Low. Use the net as a shield. If your head’s at net height, the ball can’t hit you—it’ll hit the net first.

Move to the ball. Yes, you read that right. If you’re afraid of the ball, you need to counter that fear with action. The action is to get on your toes and move to the ball, because taking action will reduce your fear.

1. Drill Fear Out of You. Get someone, or a ball machine, to fire shots at you while you focus on blocking and volleying the ball. THe more you do it, the more comfortable you will be at the net.

…and remember—a tennis ball isn’t a brick. If you get hit, you’ll live.

Communication Is Your Secret Weapon

You ever watch pros play doubles? They’re not just talented—they’re always talking.

Before every point, discuss:

1. Serve placement. (Wide, body, or T?)
2. Net player movement. (Stay, poach, or pinch the middle?)
3. Backup plans. (If the lob comes, who’s taking it?)

Hand Signals Simplified:

• Fist = Stay.
• Open Hand = Poach.
• Rock On (two fingers) = Pinch the middle …. which means the net player will stay on the side that they are starting but will position themselves near the center line

If you’re not sure what these mean, don’t worry. Half of your opponents won’t either.

Where to Hit Your Volleys (Without Overthinking)

You finally got the ball at the net—now what?

Rule of Thumb:

• High Ball? Attack the Net Player.
• Low Ball? Hit to the baseline player
• Not Sure? Aim down the middle

Drill to Practice:
Feed yourself high balls and focus on hitting volleys to the service line. It’s safe, deep, and keeps your opponent on defense.

The Cheat Code—Play Simple Tennis

When Grant won Nationals, his doubles strategy wasn’t rocket science. It was:

1. Hit good cross-court shots.
2. Let the net player poach whenever possible.

That’s it. No fancy signals. No overly complicated plays. Just stick to the fundamentals and let the stats work in your favor.

Final Thoughts: How to Win More Doubles Matches

Doubles tennis doesn’t have to feel like a chaotic mess. With the right strategies, drills, and mindset, you can:

• Win more points at the net.
• Use communication and signals like the pros.
• Stop panicking every time the ball comes at you.

Key Takeaway?
Doubles is about confidence, movement, and smart positioning. If you focus on getting to the net, keeping your racket up, and working with your partner, you’ll start winning more—and having more fun—immediately.

And remember—fake it ‘til you make it (literally).

Now go grab a partner and hit the courts! Or better yet, share this with them and make sure they know the plan before your next match.