Understanding Common Doubles Positioning Missteps
In recreational doubles matches, a recurring mistake emerges that affects players’ performance without them even realizing it. Consider this scenario: your opponent is poised to return a shot from the baseline, while you and your partner are stationed at the net. Where should you position yourselves?
The Flawed Strategy of Spreading Out
Many players instinctively stretch out across the net to guard as much court space as possible. While this seems like a logical approach, it’s fundamentally flawed. The doubles court spans 36 feet, and even with good reach, you and your partner can only cover a fraction of it—approximately 6 feet each. Covering the entire width of the court isn’t just unrealistic; it sets you up for failure by leaving critical gaps for your opponents.
Identifying Opponent Target Options
When facing a shot from returners, players should recognize the three potential targets available: directly toward one of you, down the middle, or at a sharp angle forcing past your partner. What’s often overlooked is that these three options don’t present equal difficulty for your opponents.
Middle Openings: The Easiest Shot
The channel down the middle of the court poses the least resistance. With the net lower in this zone, opponents face minimal challenges in executing this shot. It's a reality that many coaches emphasize, urging players to prevent this middle target from being a viable option.
Perception of Shot Difficulty
The next easiest shot is a line shot down one side, which still presents a manageable opportunity for an opponent. However, the sharp angle outside the far side is considerably more difficult to execute consistently. Hence, the strategic positioning mistake made by most players is trying to cover every possibility, including that low-percentage angle. In contrast, experienced doubles players adopt a different approach.
Top-Level Strategy: Covering High-Percentage Shots
Observing elite doubles teams reveals a strategic alignment: one player focuses on guarding the middle, while the other manages the line shot. They intentionally leave the sharp angle available, essentially signaling to their opponents, “Go ahead, take your best shot.” By relinquishing the least probable option, they concentrate efforts on sealing two high-percentage targets.
Dynamic Movement Is Key
The critical fail among conventional players usually happens when court positioning isn't just about the initial setup but also in the ability to shift as the play unfolds. In countless lessons, I've seen pairs become stationary; one partner tracks the ball while the other lags behind. This sudden gap not only invites easy shots but also transforms the previously challenging middle shot into an open target.
The Shifting Middle Point
It's essential to understand that the 'middle' isn’t static. It fluctuates with each ball movement and each player’s relative position. If either of you fails to monitor that shifting middle, you’re effectively providing your opponents with an unchallenged opportunity.
Training to Improve Court Awareness
One effective drill to enhance awareness is the figure-eight drill. In this setup, one team strokes crosscourt shots while the other keeps the action down the line. Players move side to side, consistently tracking the ball and each other. While this drill may appear straightforward, it reveals subtle gaps in teamwork—tiny lapses in coordination that frequently lead to point losses during matches.
Developing Sensitivity to Positioning
With enough practice in this drill, players will start to instinctively recognize the middle’s shifts in real-time, fostering a deeper connection to their partner’s positioning and ensuring tighter formation on the court.
Conclusion: Focus on Cohesion, Not Coverage
Addressing this common doubles positioning oversight dramatically alters the game dynamics, making it more challenging for your opponents while simplifying your own efforts. Remember, success hinges not on covering more space but on ensuring you and your partner consistently cover the right areas together.
Your Coach,
-Ian
