You are saying exactly yhe damr thing as my coach, Colleen Cosgrove who taught @ PPRINCDTIN RAQUET CLUB, PRINCETON, NJ. she called it the "BALLSIDE SYSTEM. Thank you Meike!!
@@MeikeBabelTennis I have saved it as a favourite and will revisit it once a week until all of these tips become my learned behaviour!! Not saying I do all 10 poorly, but some great tips on how to improve!!
Very nice to teach to us mere mortals too many videos give advice for greatly advanced players not those of us at the club level,well done and explaiapned.
well, 3/4 position on the box might look nice. in fact most of the volleys contact points will be below the net line, which mean that each volley would have clear the net first. which means each is going low to high, not high to low
Thank you very much for these basic strategical insights and explanations. They will not only help me to make better adjustments on my own doubles play, but also help to analyse weaknesses of my opponents. I enjoy that theoretical content and prefer it a lot over pure technical issues in my current state of development. Thank you for you effort, Meike!
Thank you for making such a great video Coach. I have seen club players almost get their heads taken off because they are way too close to the net. Great job Coach on saving lives 😊
Doubles is a team sport like basketball. The objective to isolate one opponent and double team them by hitting a shot that will allow your partner to cut off and intercept the return and hit a placement to win the point. As an old high school tennis coach I have watched a lot of doubles players playing singles with two players on each side of the net. Also like other team sports you have to slide towards the side with the ball to cover your zone. Each partner should be constantly adjusting to ball locations during the point. Often one partner will stand in a fixed position and just keep turning their head from baseline to baseline watching their partner and opponent have a singles rally. Doubles is difficult because it requires a great variety of tennis skills to implement effective tactics. This requires practice and lots of drills. In every sport that I have played we practiced what to do in common situations. Doubles players need to practice situational tennis as well as skill development. Just some observations from an old coach and doubles player.
Great instruction (as usual). Question: I am a 4.0 who plays doubles exclusively. When I am returning serve, I sometimes get confused on ball place meant when both opponents are at , or are rushing, the net, and I am returning from the baseline.what are my options in this scenario. Thank you!
11. Volleyer looking back to, perhaps psychically, aid their partners groundstroke or approach. Usually not psychic enough to predict that ball in the face though. Focus on the movements of the nearest threat opponent, their reactions will tell more about the quality of a partner's stroke.
Thank you for this video! Very helpful. I am assuming this advice equally applies to juniors (U12, U14) as well. My son tends to stay back at the baseline and as a result suffered against better net players. Do you have drills to get comfortable with transitioning to net and poaching? Thanks
Make volleys a regular part of practice. Check out 12:30 Explanation for "Feed and attack" here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RxBqbS3pzyk.html
Video is geared to competitive league players. As a 3.5 rec pusher I can't lob too much. Or chip shot the ball too much. Chasing short balls and chasing down lobs wears down your opponents. But pullleeese, rec players, stop with the long lasting diagonal ground stroke rallys, unless you have Federer's forehand and Wawarinka's backhand. You're just pissing off your partner.
This was a really comprehensive overview about common doubles mistakes that I'm guilty of doing. I'll definitely try to stand back at net a little bit more while my partner is serving. Thanks for the great video!
I never learned this when I was a junior and now at 43 I watched this video and got all these tips and I completely can dominate the net. This is such a good instruction for anyone who wants to really understand how to play doubles. And when you know this stuff, the other team doesn’t have any idea how you’re able to do it, they just think you’re a net monster. This is great stuff.
This video deserves more views and more likes! If you want to play doubles better, come back time to time and re-evaluate yourself to see how much you have followed her points.
Whoa! I just learned a tonne about doubles. The camera angles while explaining were so helpful. This is high-level instruction from a high-level player with great tennis IQ. Wow, this was amazing. Thanks!
I’m just a 3.5 maybe on the cusp of 4.0. I’ve been more and more of a fan of starting a step back so I can get that forward momentum at net (even on returns). I find it also helps with my split step because I force myself to take that step and split right before opponent hits the ball. Instead of starting flat footed.
awesome video! I usually play singles and am just starting to get into double and been feeling a little lost, especially at the net. this is exactly what I needed. Very clear, easy to implement technical pointers. Going to level up my doubles game!
Hallo, als ein ganz alter Fan von Dir (noch aus der aktiven Zeit...;-)) kann ich nur sagen: ALLERHÖCHSTEN RESPEKT. Die "essentials" für den klassischen "Club Level Player" toll runtergebrochen, mit einem Augenzwinkern erklärt (kultig: "They are world class"...;-)) und super Kameraführung. Richtig, richtig gut. Authentisch und praktiker-mäßig ohne diese häufig bei anderen zu sehende "Überheblichkeit" und das "Sendungsbewußtsein". Eher so ein "On court with Meike for some real hitting!". Geil. Weiter so.
Thank you for being so clear. I am so amazed that the average doubles player does not see such a basic issue. A lot of points are lost because of wrong positions
I actually disagree about standing that far back when partner is serving, unless you're very quick you're gonna be hitting alot of low volleys and the court actually looks bigger when you that far back A few steps forward is about right to me
Also I think it depends on the opponents. I think if you are getting passed down the middle a lot or lobbed a lot when your opponent is receiving , you should play back 2/3 and on service line if you are getting lobbed. If you are too far back 2/3 of the way seems like a lot -- you can get passed down the line on both returning and receiving
Seems to be basic introductory information but winning involves using the brain and making adjustments. For example, fully agree that server's partner should not normally hug alley, but how close partner starts out to the net should depend on quality of server's serving and how good returner is. If partner's serve is a lolly-pop second serve and you are too far from net but still in box then you may get topspin returns at your feet and may then even want to play way back. Have to be flexible and adjust to your partner's serve and also read opponents. Or, to the other extreme, if you have the reflexes with a good serving partner, you can be tight to net like pros. Sometimes Australian is a good call and mixing it up may throw off opponents. Don't be rigid.
Terrific video! I've been actively studying how to play doubles for several years and this summarizes pretty much everything I've learned. My one question would be if you're playing on the duece side and the ball is hit between the partners, who should take the ball. I was always taught to let the forehand player take the middle shot when both players are up. I took a lesson from a pro but he wanted me to take the middle of the court shots on my backhand. I've never felt comfortable with doing that and when playing, still let the forehand player take the ball. I asked another coach about that and he said that if you're the stronger player, yes, use your backhand on the shot. I play recreational tennis these days at 74 and tend to not try and dominate having started playing at 15 and generally play better than most at my age. Should I go ahead and take the middle shots with my backhand or allow my partner to use his forehand even if they are not as good as I am?
I saw again your video and I noted that the partner of the guy serving is standing too far back in your system. The thing is that from this position is very difficult to poach when the ball comes cross. I need two more steps to get this ball. Most coaches will indeed say that you have to stay in the middle of the box. Yes, you are inviting the opponent to try to lob, but this is not easy if the serve is good. If my partner has a weak service, I can even decide to go to the baseline instead of standing at the net, going to the net at the first best opportunity. There is another problem. If I stand too far back the opponent can play a short topspin, forcing me to play a difficult low volley, and I am already on a lot of pressure. Thanks for the video!
At our level, 3.5, 4, if i stay 3 quarters from the net i get a lot of difficult balls coming fast under the net as they have little clearance from the net.
I am about 4.0 in age of middle 40s, I took less unnecessary lobs and loose down the speed of first serve a bit, it help saving energy and win more games. This is a very helpful especailly when I face weaker opponents I can clearly observate their position to made pool timing judgement. I think this is one of the best videos of double tennis I will deliver to my player partners. Many Thanks coach !
Good and important points for doubles. Regarding front to back positioning of the doubles team, I think the staggered formation makes a lot of sense. When both players are at net, the player on the same side of the ball is around 4-6 feet closer to the net than the player cross court from the ball. This gives much better protection against the lob and makes it harder to pass the team through the middle. This is described in the wonderful doubles book, The Art of Doubles, by Pat Blaskower.
With poaching what if your opponent is pulled out wide and off balance stretching for the ball on a good shot from your partner. Should you stay and cover the line or poach? You said to not try to go down the line if you have a good net player and your in trouble at the baseline on the run, so wouldn't that be a good time to poach?
On the pro tour the net player in the servers side takes one huge step to get very very close to the net once the server serves a good serve. That's how they create ridiculous angles at net. Jack sock is famous for it. But of course they move back warda quickly I they don't poach the ball
Yes, the pros are doing all kinds of things that rec players just can't do. I can't do a ton of the things anymore I used to be able so you have to adjust.
I was with ya for a minute - however I have to translate all of this to lefty! LOL! Great tips though...my partners keep telling me to move so I won't get hit when I'm standing in middle of service box!
As the returner's partner, I am still trying to master the rapid focus switching of line judge, quick glance at partner's shot, goalkeeper, net monster dance. After the ball has passed the net person, you appear to plant closer to the net. Why not the same 3/4ths position as the server's partner?
Great question! Once the ball goes by my opposite net player, I'm coming in a bit closer because I feel I have more time to read my opposite baseline player and can be a lot more aggressive. I did play closer up on my partner's serve when I played but for rec players I recommend the deeper position for mentioned reasons. At lower levels (I like to say levels of newer players :-), often times the serve is not quite as much of a weapon to set the net player up as it obviously is for higher players. The 3/4th position allows me to move up into a split step without then being too close to net as I would be if I started halfway and then move up. Does that make sense?
I am rated 5.0 by USTA currently transitioning from single to double and most of my matches is against 4 to 5 rating players, I found difficultly to beat against the 5.0 unless I am very aggressive at the net. I think your tips will help for next match. Thanks
The problem with these (yours and from other coaches) videos is the variety of "consumers" . We can be new players, new double players, intermediate players, old players and so on. Some strategic tips can be good for one segment but not for others. I am 69 yo but still moving well and with good reflexes. I begun to play five years and half ago, playing doubles ocasionally and my experience says one different thing about net positioning. I play +65 and the average opponents have not the skills you assume, mainly lobs and volleys. As some coaches say, tennis (and other sports) is a game of percentages. The most of times I am one meter from the net and I make much more winners here than two or three meters behind. It is quite easy to understand why. As I am so close to the net I am able to put the balls at right and left with angles impossible to counteract (I am not a skilled player). Every meter behind, the volley is more difficult and the angle is bigger, so more possibilities the opponent to respond. As you say at the video, the opponents can make a lob over a guy so close the net but almost 90%, at my country and at this age segment, make balloons which is a quite different thing from a lob and in this case It it quite easy to my partner to get there and return these slow balls. I am giving my experience but I sinceresly believe that this will work with the most of players of my age. The most of other mistakes you mention make sense to me. Thks
Good lesson Mieke just have to say one thing , we are not just mere mortals maybe we weren’t lucky enough to have a rich parent or a parent coach when we were young . Thanks for your help though I really like your way of coaching also your backhand is wonderful 😊
Great tips, unfortunately where I play social doubles, it doesn't matter where my partner stands because the minute I serve or return the ball, he or she is going to start back pedalling up to at least three feet behind the baseline. And I am a serve and volley player by instinct LOL
Great stuff. Welcome to YT. Do you think some of the advice may vary by skill level. Most rec players belly up to the net because they are expecting to swat down easy ball with a frying pan grip. Poaching from the 3/4 position takes some advance anticipation and reaction times.
Yes, you are absolutely right that a lot of newer players stay close so they get the easy put away. Actually just saw that yesterday again :-) But they're getting beaten more often with easy lobs than they win points so I'd like to think that by moving back they won't limit themselves as much. And hopefully be motivated to go out and work on those things! And with your input you just gave my an idea for another video :-) I need to show the movement better. Thank you Jawad!
Mistake #1: opponent standing as adviced here will get all the return balls on his feet, second his volley return will be very difficult because of low hitspot and a net that is relatively far away, third problem is if the serve is not very big the returner can easy pass the net player at the tramline.
@@MeikeBabelTennis I wanted you to answer that! I am not a fan, but I am old school biased. My daughter HS team plays several teams that utilize it and I don't see any 'winning' virtues for it. But I have a limited perspective. Thanks for the great videos!
@@MeikeBabelTennis Dn't you worry going to work my way through your videos. I play a mix. Play for the bottom mens team in my club and we were talking about how we need to improve our doubles, video has been shared around group.
