Doubles tennis is the dominant format for most recreational players in Singapore. Whether you play at your condominium court, at a club, or in a league, understanding the principles of good doubles play will help you win more points, have more fun, and impress your partners and opponents. These strategic principles come from the coaching expertise of our ATP Tour-experienced coaches at Sanwa X Tennis Academy.
The Most Important Doubles Principle: Control the Net
Doubles tennis is won at the net. The team that controls the net most effectively wins the vast majority of points. Every tactical decision in doubles should be oriented towards getting your team to the net safely and denying the net to your opponents. This principle shapes everything from how you serve and return to how you position yourself between points.
Serving in Doubles: Targets and Tactics
The serve in doubles should open up the court for your partner at the net to poach. The most effective serving targets in doubles are: wide to the deuce court (to pull the receiver off court); into the body (to jam the receiver and force a weak return); and down the T in the advantage court (to prevent the sharp crosscourt angle return). After serving, move forward quickly — serve and volley in doubles is a highly effective pattern that many recreational players avoid unnecessarily.
The Return of Serve in Doubles
The return of serve should be directed crosscourt, low over the lowest part of the net, and angled away from the net player if possible. The goal is to keep the return away from the server’s partner and prevent them from poaching. After the return, advance to the net yourself — both players at the net is always the strongest formation in doubles.
Communication Between Partners
Effective doubles pairs communicate constantly. Before each point: discuss server positioning, any signals for poaching, and specific targeting strategy. During the point: call clearly for balls in the middle (traditionally called by the player with the forehand), communicate switches when one player crosses. After the point: brief constructive feedback, not lengthy analysis.
When to Poach
Poaching — crossing to intercept the opponent’s return at the net — is one of doubles’ most powerful weapons. Good times to poach include: when your partner has served a good first serve down the T; when the return is floating high in the air; on a predetermined signal after noticing the returner’s pattern; when the score is in your favour and the risk is justified.
The I-Formation and Australian Formation
The I-Formation has both players starting in the middle of the court to disguise the server’s movement direction. It is excellent for disrupting opponents who have developed a comfortable return pattern. The Australian Formation has the net player starting on the same side as the server to prevent the crosscourt return. Both are used by competitive doubles pairs and can be developed in our doubles tennis lessons at Sanwa X.
Develop Your Doubles Game at Sanwa X
Our coaches teach doubles tactics in all Intermediate, Advanced, and Tournament group classes, and private sessions for doubles pairs are available on request. Book a Doubles Coaching Session →
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