3 Secrets to Winning Doubles, pt 2

This is the second post of three consecutive posts on the secrets to winning doubles in tennis.

Secret #2 “Tennis Dance” Where to move & when to move there!

Dance of the server’s partner:

• Find the middle of the service box, half way between the net and the service line, the center service line and the singles side line. When the server serves, move forward toward the direction of served the ball to be in the best position to poach the return of serve.
• Be ready to poach by going forward at a diagonal toward the net and center service lie or to defend your alley on a wide serve.
• If the ball is returned past you, slide back diagonally toward the service line and the center service line while facing the opponent at the net diagonally across from you.
• If the return by your partner passes the opponent at the net, move back toward the net in the direction of the returned ball and be prepared to distract or poach again.
• Repeat this part of the dance until you can poach to win the point or the opponents lose the point.

Dance of the receiver’s partner:

• The receiver stands near the service line and near the center service line to intercept any poach volleys up the middle by the opposing poaching net player and to call the service line for their partner.
• If the serve is in and is returned past the opposing net player – cross court, move up and forward toward the middle of the service box to put pressure on the server’s return of your partners shot.
• If the server returns back cross court to your partner, slide back on defense toward the service line and center service line depending upon the speed and direction of the return by the server.
• Repeat the dance until you can poach or one team wins the point.

Dance of the Receiver:

• The receiver should select a position to return serve that allow them to take advantage of their best return shot as well as selecting a position that forces the serve to serve where they do not want serve rather than allowing the server to dictate the play.
• Start well back behind the baseline in a sprinters stance with one foot forward, when the ball is tossed, begin to move forward, split step or do adjusting steps as the ball is about to be contacted.  This will allow you to move toward the direction of the serve to make a stronger return.
• The receiver can also change their starting position as the server’s toss goes up to get better position to make the return or influence the server’s choice of serves.

Dance of the Circle:

• Once the ball is put in play, keep the feet in motion as if you were moving around a cone on the ground.  The small circular motion enables the player to have a feel for “being in motion” and to change directions quickly.

Photo Credits: 1

Related Posts

• Ken DeHart Presents "Strategy and Tactics of Tennis" at Missouri Valley USPTA USPTA Master Professional, Ken DeHart was the kick-off speaker at the 2009 Missouri Valley USPTA Conference at the Homestead Country Club in Kansas City, Missouri. Ken presented a 4 hour continuing education course on Strategy and Tactics to more than 80 tennis teaching professionals and high school coaches attending......
• 5 Winning Keys to Lobbing, pt 2 Welcome to part two of 5 Winning Keys to Lobbing. Below are tips three and four. 3. 5 Tips on where to Lob 1. Always aim lobs  over the opponents backhand side (notice if they are left handed) 2. Few players have the strength or timing to power a backhand......
• Winning in Practice, pt 2 This is part two in a two part set. Doubles Situations The receiving team must lob the return of serve and try to take the net at least twice in each game. This is especially effective when the serving team is serving into the sun. The serving team must play......
• 3 Secrets to Winning Doubles, pt 3 [/caption] This is the last post in our series for tips to win doubles tennis. Secret #3 "Tennis Targets" Where to hit & when to go there! Serving as Simple as A-B-C: When serving, tell your partner where you plan to serve - both serves.  For example A-B, B-C or......
• "Underspin" the "Otherspin" Develop a Competitive Game with more Weapons In today's game "topspin" gets all the press.  Everyone focuses how big the shots are, how much the pros use it and so most all the juniors and club players want to be like the pros. When you listen to the talk about......

Related Websites

• Tennis Glossary Continued Here is a continuation of the tennis glossary of terms that we have been working on for some time now. Sidespin - Sidespin is imparted to a ball by drawing the strings of the racket along the ball horizontally as the ball makes contact, this creates a spin around the......
• First Aid Training for Poisons More than 90 percent of all poison incidents occur in the house. And while anyone can become a victim, children are the most vulnerable since they are smaller, have faster metabolic rate, and their body are less able to handle toxic material. Causes of Poisoning Since the majority of poison......
• More Tennis Tips pt 1 This is another installment of tennis tips that will improve all aspects of your game. Armed with the right tennis playing tips, you really can improve all aspects of game play from serves to returns and back again. 1 - When Hitting Forehand, Lay Wrist Back Where the ball......
• Additional Tennis Serving Tips Here are some helpful tennis tips that will give you some perspective on improving your serve. Remember that different tennis tips are going to help different players in unique ways. The true key is going to lie in your ability to try out different tips and techniques until you......
• Tennis Glossary pt3 Ace - This is a serve that the opponent is incapable of returning, to serve an ace. Ad - This is a shortened version of Advantage. Advantage - The player that scores the very first point after deuce is said to have had the advantage, because winning the next point......

This post involves:

tennis, winning doubles

... and focuses on:

Doubles, Tennis Tips

Posted by Ken DeHart on February 5, 2009 in Doubles, Tennis Tips. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.