Many people play doubles. Probably more than people play singles. But even though people play doubles for a long time, they do get trapped into one specific way of playing. A good doubles team will be versatile and work together to find a winning combination.
So let’s start with the most basic…
One Up, One Back
One up and one back is a pretty basic formation. Beginners aren’t usually as versatile at volleying as they are at hitting groundstrokes. One guy, the server or the receiver, stays back at the baseline and hits a crosscourt rally. The teammate stands very close to the net ready to put away any ball that comes meandering his/her way.
The assignment is supposed to be that the net guy is supposed to go for whatever he feels he can get without compromising his position and the back guy protects the net guy.
The pink is the area the net guy covers. The blue is the area the back guy covers.
But most of the time it ends up that the net guy covers the sideline he is closest to and the service line to the net.
The problem is that most net guys are afraid of being passed down the line. Probably because it is the most embarrassing shot next to being BEANED with the ball. Also people are very afraid of bagging that overhead slam into the net when trying to exert authority. So they move closer into that corner. BUT they render themselves ineffective as a teammate.
The strategy for most doubles formations is to fix it so that the guy at the net has the chance to put the ball away. But if your partner at the net is covering the area where the ball is LEAST LIKELY to go, it is just inefficient. He cannot cross over to intercept a ball (poach). And he will not be able to put away some balls that would pull you out of position like short balls in the middle of the court.
Also, it would be a good idea to serve more shots up the T. Most players serve out wide. But if you think about the consequences, the easiest shot on the court is cross court and the most embarrassing shot for your partner is down the line. Both of which you can find by returning a ball from out wide. It is a lot harder to hit a shot from the middle inside out. I’m not saying that the server should hit there all the time but it should be considered.
Please do not get stuck in this formation. There are others to try in your practices!!!
Have fun!!!
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