• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Tennis Tribe Logo

Tennis Tribe

Tennis Gear Reviews, Doubles Lessons, & Tour News

  • Gear Reviews
    • Tennis Racquets
      • Beginner Racquets
      • Intermediate Racquets
      • Advanced Racquets
      • How To Choose A Racquet
    • On-Court Gear
      • Shoes
      • Bags
      • Shorts
      • Skirts
      • Sunglasses
      • Socks
      • Elbow Braces
    • Tennis Equipment
      • Strings
      • Ball Machines
      • Tennis Balls
      • Ball Hoppers
      • Overgrips
      • Training Aids
  • Improve
  • Podcast
  • Tribe Talk
    • Pro Tournaments
  • Newsletters
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Four Ways Playing Doubles Will Help You In Singles

Will Boucek · December 15, 2021

This is a guest post from Sam Page. He’s one of the best 4.5 singles players in Texas. In this lesson, he reveals 4 ways playing doubles can help your singles game, from his first-hand experience playing tournaments and leagues all over the state.

I hope you enjoy 🙂


Singles specialists often miss out on improving aspects of their game by playing doubles. Personally, I’ve seen big jumps in my singles results from playing more doubles. If you’re looking to get better, start playing more doubles!


Quick Navigation
  1. Adds Variety to Tennis
  2. Your Return of Serve Gets 100x Better
  3. Improves Volleys
  4. Helps With Serve Placement

Adds Variety to Tennis

If all you play is singles, you’re more likely to get burned out. I’ve found doubles is perfect for adding variety. Break up the routine or mundane by playing more doubles. It is also perfect if you’re going through a slump in singles.


Your Return of Serve Gets 100x Better

In singles, there is very little pressure to be accurate with your returns. You can block a ball back deep and start from neutral. Try blocking a ball back in doubles and you’re going to get killed. Doubles forces you to pick a spot and hit to it.

You have to keep an eye on the net man and make sure to keep the ball away from them. If you do hit to the net guy, you want to keep it low. Good net players will put shoulder height balls away or set up for a put away. Since playing more doubles, my returns are significantly better than before. Returning, I can get on offense in singles and I break serves a lot more.


Improves Volleys

Singles players often overlook the importance of good volleys because they win the majority of points from the baseline. Volleys are a crucial part of winning in singles, especially if you play speedy all-court players. Want to beat a pusher? Learn to build a point and put away volleys at net.


Helps With Serve Placement

Hitting your spots with your serve is hugely important in doubles. You don’t want to set your partner up to get drilled at net. Setting up a point from the serve is more important in doubles because it’s more difficult to get back into points playing defense. Play more doubles and you’ll develop better serve placement.

When it comes to developing a better singles game, invest in playing more doubles. You’ll soon see more confidence in shots that a lot of singles specialists aren’t confident in. If you’re not careful, you might find you enjoy playing doubles more.

Sam is an NTRP 4.5 player in Texas. His goal is to improve to 5.0 and he is documenting his journey at Get Better At Tennis.com.

About Will Boucek

Will Boucek is the Founder & CEO of The Tennis Tribe. He has played and coached tennis for over two decades. Will is a strategy analyst for ATP & WTA tour players and coaches. He also tests the latest tennis racquets, shoes, & other gear from Wilson, Babolat, Head, Prince, and other tennis brands. He currently lives in Fort Worth, Texas where he plays USTA leagues & tournaments.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Doubles Only Tennis Podcast logo

Become a smarter doubles player with expert tips & strategy. Learn from ATP & WTA Coaches and Players.

Listen Here


Review Tennis Gear & Improve Your Game

  • Tennis Gear Reviews
  • Improve Your Tennis Game
  • Pro Tennis Talk

Most Popular Lessons

  • Doubles Strategy: A Complete Guide
  • How To Be A Good Doubles Partner (& What To NOT Say!)
  • 7 Tips For Poaching In Doubles
  • The 3 Step Volley Checklist [Volleys Made Simple]

Featured Product

Ebook: 25 winning doubles tactics
 

Ebook: 25 Winning Doubles Tactics

Follow Tennis Tribe

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Learn 3 doubles tactics to force errors & get more easy volleys with our free 20-page guide. Download Here

Tennis Tribe

Copyright © 2022 | The Tennis Tribe

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy