Finding That Ideal Doubles Partner: Part II

In the March/April 2016 issue of New York Tennis Magazine, I discussed the ways in which the partner of the server can be instrumental in helping hold serve. Let’s talk about some other ways partners can be helpful to each other.

First and foremost is to be constantly supportive when shots are missed by your partner. Only positive comments should be made, remember you are going to miss shots, and nobody is trying to lose a point.

Next, try to cover your own overheads. Constantly saying “yours” to your partner causes your team to have to switch sides, taking the team out of position leaving gaps in the formation. Obviously, there will be times when a switch is better than losing the point immediately, but try to keep them at a minimum.

As covered in the last article, communication between partners is essential. When your team is receiving, let each other know where the return is going. If you are playing a serve and volley, partners can really help each other out. The return player wants to keep the return low and short, near the service line, to force the server to have to bend low and volley up allowing the partner to move in and cut that volley off. If you are the partner of the returner, be ready when you see that good low return, start to move in and toward the center strap right before the server hits that first volley.

When you both are up at net. move from side to side in tandem. When the ball is on the ad side of the net, slide right as a team. The partner on the deuce side moves toward the alley while the partner on the ad side moves toward the center service line, and vice-versa, if the ball is on the opponent’s deuce side–slide left. As it’s said, move as if you had a rope tied between yourselves.

Lastly, we all have had points of which both partners are scrambling to stay in the point. The partner in the rear now becomes the quarterback. That’s the player who can see where the other partner is. The partner in the front has no idea where the rear partner is on the court. So, if you’re in one of those points and in the back, you have to constantly tell your partner up front to switch or stay as only you can see the whole court.