Make High Percentage shots the rule, not the exception.

I. 80-90% of 1st serves should be in. 99-100% of 2nd serves should be in.

II. First priority is Serving into the body 80%, serving 15% down the middle.

III. Pick on the weaker player; pick on weaker side of their body.

IV. Pick on weakest position i.e. could be a weak net person or could be baseliner. Which person in which position is the weakest?

V. Returns should be low crosscourt & DEEP; OR low crosscourt, short & wide.

VI. High Balls to the backhand side hit lots of balls deep and high to the backhand side or mini-Lobs over opponents’ backhand side/corner. BEST Strategy ALWAYS!

VII. ***Crosscourt, crosscourt, keep it low – work your way to net till get a high ball, then straight ahead at net person (high you die) or down the middle between opponents when opponents are side by side (down the middle solves the riddle).***

VIII. Serve and volley – serve is 1st shot, run through volley is 2nd shot placed deep and hard down the middle or short and wide, 3rd shot is well place volley angled off after down the middle run through volley or down the middle after a short wide run through volley.

IX. Serve and charge 1 – attempting to get past your service box line to hit down the line on a run through volley (1st shot after serve), at net person straight ahead.

X. Serve and charge 2 – getting a low ball or not getting past service box line, keep ball crosscourt, low, short, wide, or combo of any.

XI. Chip and charge – return strategy same as serve and charge.

XII. Chip and come in – same as serve and volley.

XIII. Serve and Poach – serving into body or down the middle, from middle of service box net partner poaches moving forward at an angle towards net picking off return of serve hitting down on the ball crosscourt to alley putting ball away.

XIV. Serve and Fake Poach – serving into body, from middle of service box net partner fakes the poach moving forward on a split step and then cross step, quickly recovering and Expecting the return to come to them. Aim your volley between the Big “T” and hash mark behind the Returner’s partner putting ball away.

XV. Return and Poach – hitting low return at server’s feet, short, wide or any combo, from midcourt service box line Returner’s partner poaches moving forward at an angle towards net picking off server’s 2nd shot putting ball away at net person.

XVI. Change position from which you are serving, returning, net play, and return partner.

XVII. Short ball, deep ball – short ball opponent with a wide shot, soft shot (drop shot), chip shot, mini tennis topspin shot, drawing opponents to the net then lobbing over their backhand side or keeping the ball low driving it deep down the middle. ESPECIALLY on weak servers that do not come in.

XVIII. Deep ball, short ball – lob opponents then drop shot, short ball them, or angle it short and wide, sometimes if you sneak in you can take it out of the air and go after the net person.

XIX. Double back – both players stay back against a hard or really good first server but still attempt to work way into net.

XX. Australian – Server and partner line up on same side of court taking away a good crosscourt Returner’s shot forcing a change and most likely errors. Server serves from hash mark into Returner’s body or wide (NOT down the middle).

XXI. I formation – Server serves from hash mark while partner crouches or kneels straddling center service box line. After serve has come past, server’s partner pops up and over either poaching left or right according to prior signal. Server covers opposite side.

XXII. Against Australian – hit a short low straight-ahead return or a crosscourt lob, there is NO other option to create anything else is EXTREMELY low percentage.

XXIII. Against I formation – back up returning to give yourself time to see net person’s move and consistently hit down the middle splitting opponents.

XXIV. Down the Middle solves the riddle – pound the ball over and over again down the middle.

XXV. If you are going play one up one back then the Baseliner has to cover all deep lobs, Net person needs to play back a bit to cover all short balls. Also Net person needs to look to poach A Lot and Early in the Point! If not then at least split step expecting the ball on every single shot!

Full Court 1 up 1 back Shifting

Written by BounceNback Staff
Animation by BounceNback Staff

There is A LOT that is going on during every doubles point.  You have 4 people thinking, strategizing, moving, anticipating, and reacting before, during, and after ever hit trying to work and function as a team.

The following animation is a small example of 2 doubles teams that are determined to stay in a 1 up and 1 back set up.  This is not only an extremely weak strategy for most doubles the 2 upper court  players (net players) HAVE to shift correctly without flaw, without a skip, hitch, or glitch to be effective.

Please pay special attention to the beginning positions of each player, where they are standing, the direction they are angled, and then the direction they move, ESPECIALLY the Returner’s Partner (RP)! 

Server (S) – In doubles the Server will typically stand half way between the hash mark and the doubles line to serve.  The position is simple – get the serve in.

Returner (R) – The Returner will typically stand just inside of the baseline in the middle of the possible serve direction (stand where you dissect the possible serve).  Most Returners attempt to return cross court away from the net early on in case net person is decent at the net.

Server’s Partner (SP) – The beginning position is slightly back of the middle of the service box that the Server’s Partner is in.  To far forward allows easy lobs, to far back allows Returner to get balls at players feet, from this position move forward as Returner prepares to strike the ball.  The Server’s Partner primary job is to look for shots to pick off while up at the net for example the return or the Returner’s second shot. 

Returner’s Partner (RP) – Notice that this position is more towards the center of the court; also notice how the player is angled facing the Server’s Partner.  This is the most important position on the court and few players play it properly.

The Returner’s Partner (RP) has three primary jobs at the beginning of the point: 1. Watch the service line & help call the serve if out; 2. Protect the middle of the court (be actively prepared in case the Returner hits the ball to the net person); 3. Move forward the direction of the ball as it passes the Server’s Partner (net person). 

Returner (R) – As the Server  begins the forward swingthe Returner steps forward and Split –Steps as the server makes contact with the ball reacting to the direction of the face of the racquet.

Returner’s Partner (RP) – The Returner’s Partner watches as the ball lands calling it if it is out. 

Returner (R) – The plan is to return the ball cross court away from the net person (SP).

Returner’s Partner (RP) – As the ball passes the net person the Returner’s Partner moves forward diagonally the direction of the ball.

Server’s Partner (SP) – As the ball passes back to the Server, the Server’s Partner shifts back towards the Big “T” area to protect the middle of the court facing the Returner’s Partner who is now the new net person.

Server (S) – The ball is now at the Server and the plan is to place the ball cross court away from the net person (RP). 

Returner’s Partner (RP) – The Returner’s Partner primary job NOW is to look for shots to pick off while up at the net for example the Server’s second shot. 

Server’s Partner (SP) – As the ball passes the net person the Server’s Partner moves forward diagonally the direction of the ball.

Returner’s Partner (RP) – As the ball passes back to the Returner, the Returner’s Partner shifts back towards the Big “T” to protect the middle of the court facing the Returner’s Partner who is now the new net person.

 At ALL times, in 1 up 1 back situations,

Everyone MUST maintain proper shifting and positioning.