People! Here is an article to go hand in hand with my other one regarding doubles serving strategy. This one is all about basic return strategy in doubles.

When receiving in double make sure you are in good communication with your partner, you need to make sure that together you have made the decision to either attack or defend. If you choose to attack the player not receiving serve should take up a position just inside the service line this allows the possibility of a poach assuming the return is good or if the server stays back and a cross-court rally ensues.

The returner should be looking to join their partner at the net as soon as possible, either by coming to the net off the return or waiting for a short ball to approach. Just be sure to establish both players at the net as quickly as possible because should your opponents reach the net first, they will have a major advantage being able to hit tough volleys back to the baseline player and also have a target on easy balls when they can hit venomously at the exposed net player.

Having said that, the one up, one back formation can be effective so long as both teams are employing it. In those situations the point typically develops into a cross-court groundstroke exchange between the baseliners until one of the net players gambles and poaches, hitting a winner.

Make sure during these groundstroke rallies you are hitting deep and looking for the opportunity to join your partner at the net, wait for a short ball and follow that in with a solid approach shot. Another tactic worthy of employment in these situations is to hit a lob over the net player and either follow it in or give your partner the opportunity to poach, hitting through the opposing net player.

Should you be facing a strong serve and find it difficult to establish yourselves at the net then it is perfectly acceptable to both stay back on the baseline. This helps avoid the ‘sitting duck’ situation where by the receiving net player is a target, it also creates a wall which the serving team will have difficulty hitting through.

If you decide to use this formation I would suggest aiming most of your shots down the middle of the court between your opponents. This is the percentage play over the lowest part of the net, it gives your opponents no angles and can create a state of confusion as to who takes the shot – it also opens up the sidelines for passing opportunities.

Another great strategy I used to employ especially well in defensive situations when both myself, and my partner were camped on the baseline facing a quality server was the up the line return. This works especially well if employed on important points and used sparingly to keep the opponents guessing.

This worked especially well with one coach that I used to play with in club tennis, he had a world-class forehand but lacked self belief. By employing the down the line return occasionally and achieving success with it his confidence soared and we beat players that on paper were vastly superior.

I will add one final suggestion, make sure if you decide to come to the net that you do so with decisiveness, confidence and speed and avoid at all costs becoming stuck in no-man’s land between the baseline and service line, that is where you are vunerable.

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