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BASIC STARTING POSITION IN DOUBLES

Basic Doubles Starting Position

What you see here is the basic starting position for doubles as it is used by millions of tennis players around the world.

It’s my experience that a lot of players don’t know WHY they are supposed to take this position.

First of all there’s the position of the player who’s going to serve. (S)

I recommend you stand about as far from the center-mark as from the doubles side-line. This way you have a pretty good chance to serve either to the forehand or to the backhand; and from this position you will have little trouble getting to any return hit to ‘your’ side of the court. Whereas when you serve from close to the center-mark you might have trouble to get to a sharply angled return.

The position of the partner of the person serving (x)

X should stand about as far from the middle line as he/she stands from the doubles side-line. What I see a lot of people do is that they stand too close to the alley (side-lines) or even IN it. This leaves a big gap in the middle especially when the serve goes down the middle. Sometimes people are afraid to take position near the middle of the service box, because they are scared they will be hit (by the person serving). If this is the case for you, make sure the person serving is in the right position and if he/she lacks control, move BACK a bit (closer to the service line). Then, when the serve reaches the net you move a bit forward again. This will give you a better chance of hitting a good volley than moving sideways (or camping in the alley).

The position of the person hitting the return (R)

A lot of players will stand too close to the center-mark when they are about to hit a return. This is especially true for right-handed people when they are on the ‘deuce side’ (the right side) and left-handed players when they are on the ‘ad side’ (left side). The reason for this is simple: they are favoring their forehand. As long as you have an opponent who can’t really aim with his serve that’s alright. Otherwise: move to the side! In fact, the more your opponent (who is serving) moves to the side, the more should you! In general: set up your base-camp at the (singles) side-line.

The position of the partner of the player hitting the return (O)

This is a very interesting position to analyze especially because a lot of players don’t have any idea WHY they are standing there. They think it’s because it’s easy to call a ball (‘in’ or ‘out’) from that position. Whereas that’s certainly convenient, it’s not the main reason to take position close to the ‘T’ (where the service line meets the middle line).

Let’s have a look at the next illustration where O has taken position closer to the alley and R has hit a bad return to x.

Doubles Court Player Gap

Notice this HUGE gap in the middle (the white piece). Makes it kind of easy to score for x, wouldn’t you say?

So why shouldn’t O take position at the net? Let’s have a look. First of all: O is blocking R’s return a bit especially when the serve goes down the middle. R can’t hit the ball to the white spot without risking hitting O. So O is limiting R’s options.

Doubles Court Positions

Furthermore, when X manages to get to the ball and plays a volley O is standing much too close to react. This can even be dangerous.

Does that mean O has to stay on the service line the entire point? NO! But let’s discuss that another time.

Now you know the WHY of the basic doubles starting position.

Go play doubles and HAVE FUN!

Mark Luyk 18 Tennis Tips

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