Although tennis spectators are discouraged from speaking during a point, the best doubles teams never shut up. Communication is one of the most vital, yet under-practiced, qualities of a successful doubles duo. This guide outlines communication strategies that will help you stay in points and become a more formidable team.
Communication goes beyond verbal interaction. The rest of this guide identifies ways to improve communication on the court:
Speak candidly.
First, you and your partner need to be open with one another. If you normally play with the same partner, you’ll spend a great deal of your time on and even off the court with her. Some teammates even joke that only their spouses rival their relationship with their doubles partner. Communication is necessary for any serious bond, so address your strengths and weaknesses — both as a doubles team and individually — early on.
If your partner has a more dominant serve, make sure she serves first in the rotation. Similarly, discuss your strengths from the baseline and net. If your partner is confident up at net and has the better volleys, you’ll know to set her up for those shots whenever possible. And if you have more solid groundstrokes, then you should receive on the ad side and use that stroke to keep the ball in play until your partner can put it away.
Call the shot.
You and your partner need to be vocal throughout your match. Most shots won’t necessitate a call, but make your voice heard with a “Mine!” or “Yours!” if it’s even close to questionable. You can’t afford to lose points as both of you foolishly stare at a ball that bounces three times in the middle of the court — assuming the other partner had it.
You’ll commonly hear a “clanking” sound in league doubles matches, as both partners swing at a ball down the middle and clash racquets mid-stroke. Generally, one player ends up making contact and the ball ends up in the net or as an easy sitter for the opponent to close out. Simply calling the shot can save you from losing silly points, which can add up over the course of a match and cost you critical opportunities.
Use your signals.
Aside from verbal interaction, hand signals are a great way to improve on-court communication. Mostly used for net play on service, hand signals tell the server if the net player is going to stay on her side of the court or poach on the return. To use hand signals, the net player puts one hand behind her back and flashes a predetermined sign (an open/closed fist, one finger or two, etc.). The server then knows where her teammate plans on moving after the serve, and where she should move in response.
Here’s a fantastic video from tennis coach, Claire Carter, demonstrating the different hand signals and how they work. And couldn’t you just listen to that accent all day long? Yaaaaasssss!!
Anywho… using hand signals, the net player can also tell the server where she wants him to place the ball on the serve — down the T or out wide. If she signals for a serve down the T, the net player will likely poach on the return, and the server will cross over to the vacant side of the court. On an out-wide serve, however, both players normally stay on their original sides and shift in the direction of the ball.
Use this form of communication in your matches and you will intimidate the crap out of your opponents!
Talk between points, changeovers, and sets.
You and your partner should communicate after every single point, even if it’s just a high five. As the match goes on, you’ll figure out and talk about your opponents’ vulnerabilities, strong points, and tendencies. Likewise, certain areas of your game (or your partner’s game) might be “off”, so you’ll need to talk with each other and alter your strategies.
Talking helps keep both partners on the same page, the morale high and, more importantly, it makes the game fun. Your interest level will remain high and you’ll stay engaged throughout the match. Neither partner will want to disappoint his teammate, so you’ll play competitively while enjoying every point.
Just communicate.
Although it’s easy to overlook, on-court communication can determine your team’s success. In a game of centimeters, communication can be the deciding factor in a close match. While you may be able to skate by on your talent alone, great doubles teams constantly communicate to one another.