Tennis doubles basics: positioning, communication and formations

Court and rules

• Doubles uses the wider court, including the tramlines, or alleys, for rallies. The serve still lands in the normal service box.
• Each team decides at the start of each set which partner serves first, and the order then stays the same for that set.
• The receiving team likewise decides who receives in the right-hand court and who receives in the left-hand court, and keeps it for the set.
• Some social and competition formats use no-ad scoring or a deciding match tie-break. Check the format before you play.

Starting positions

• Server: stands behind the baseline, often a little wider than in singles to open up the angle.
• Server's partner: at the net, roughly in the middle of the service box on their side, ready to volley.
• Receiver: around the baseline, positioned to return the serve.
• Receiver's partner: often around the service line on their side, watching for the server's partner volleying.

Moving as a team

• Move together. If the ball goes wide on one side, both shift that way to cover the angle and the middle.
• The middle is the key area. Many points are won down the middle, so decide who takes balls there. A common agreement is that the player with the forehand in the middle takes it, or whoever hit the previous shot.
• Cover lobs. If a lob goes over the net player, the partner may need to switch sides. Call it.

Formations

1. One up, one back: the standard starting formation. The net player looks for volleys; the baseline player keeps the ball in play.
2. Both up: the attacking formation. Most strong doubles teams try to get both players to the net, where they can volley at angles.
3. Both back: a defensive formation useful when opponents are dominating at the net or the serve is strong.
4. I formation: the server's partner crouches near the centre line and moves to one side after the serve, keeping the receiver guessing.
5. Australian formation: the server's partner stands on the same side as the server, forcing the receiver to change their usual return.

Communication

• Before the point: agree the serve target and whether the net player will move, or poach, across to intercept.
• During the point: call "mine", "yours" or "switch" clearly.
• Between points: encourage your partner and keep things short. Avoid analysis after every miss.
• Hand signals behind the back are a simple way for the net player to tell the server what to do.

Tactics for beginners

• Return crosscourt, away from the net player.
• Keep the ball low to opponents at the net, so they have to volley upwards.
• Lob over a net player if they are too close.
• Aim at the feet of an opponent coming to the net.
• Get your first serve in. A reliable serve that lets your partner attack is often more effective than a fast one that misses.

Etiquette