The standard doubles position used to be one player on or slightly behind the baseline when returning or serving, and the other player on the service line (receiver’s partner) or in the middle of the service box (server’s partner). This has changed somewhat because players are hitting the ball harder and with more spin, in addition to the fact that many players are uncomfortable up at the net. I would still recommend starting with this historically “textbook” position and making adjustments during the match according to what is happening and how your opponents are playing.
If you are at the net and the opponents continuously lob over your head, try moving your starting position a little closer to the service line. I highly recommend not overreacting and playing with both players back. Instead, back up a little and be ready to take a couple steps further back if they throw the ball up in the air. If they do not lob early in the point, hit your groundstrokes and volleys relatively low, short and somewhat angled, which will make it difficult for the opponent to lob. In addition, this will still allow you to volley somewhat aggressively and keep the pressure on your opponents.
If your partner is serving well, stand closer to the net and look for balls that you can cut off. If your partner is struggling with their serve, stand a little further back and try to turn the point around with your volleys or with your partner’s groundstrokes. Sometimes your opponents use the angle of your shot to hit an even better angle. Try standing closer to the middle and hitting towards the middle when serving, or hitting your return more towards the middle. which takes the angles away from the opponent. When you are returning serve, stand closer to the area that your opponent tends to serve. Make them hit the serve to a spot that isn’t as comfortable or is more to your strength.
If your partner is returning well, stand closer in and look to hit some volleys on the ball after their return of serve. If your partner is struggling with the return, stay closer to the service line or start the point at the baseline and try to move forward as the point progresses. In general, If you feel your team is in trouble during the point, take a few steps back and get to your split step just before the opponent is about to make contact with the ball. If your team is on the offensive and gets the opponents in trouble, take a few steps forward and split step just before the opponent is about to hit the ball.
There are many other position adjustments you can make during the match. My advice is to always move somewhere after hitting your shot so that you are not in the same spot for two shots in a row. This pertains to the partner who is not the one hitting the ball as well. They should adjust their position according to their assessment of their teammate’s shot. Even though there is very little time in between hits these days, you still have time to move your feet a couple of steps. These small adjustments can make all the difference when determining the outcome of the point.
Steve Annacone, USPTA Elite Pro, is the Director of Annacone Tennis, www.annaconetennis.com and MyHamptonsPro, www.myhamptonspro.com throughout the Hamptons, NY. Steve, Jeevaj Bondalapoati, and Gill Gross run the TOP (Tennis Optimization Players-Top Team) program at the Tucson Jewish Community Center (Tucson, AZ) for high level players ages 8-18. Please contact Steve at sannacone@tucsonjcc.org or 865-300-7323.