Serve Team Strategy for Doubles: Podcast 006

This is the second episode in a four-part series on doubles strategy. If you’ve never thought about strategy before or are new to doubles, this series will get you started and help you turn into a smarter, more effective tennis player.

Today we are going to talk about serve strategy for doubles.

We cover the different roles of each player on the serve team and how they work together as a team, including communication and signaling. This episode also includes specific strategies for serving to the deuce vs ad court and explains the major differences.

Listen to all four episodes in this series on doubles strategy:

Foundations of Double Strategy & The Mental Game
Serve Team Strategy for Doubles (this episode)
Winning Return Strategies for Doubles
Net Play Strategy for Doubles

Show Notes from this Podcast

Here are some of the things I mention in this podcast episode on serve strategy for doubles.

Server’s role: Make 70% or more 1st serves. Set up their partner at the net.
Server’s partner’s role: Read the returner’s comfort level & communicate with the server. Force return errors by moving laterally and putting pressure on the opponent. Pinch, poach, or fake.
Communicate with signals or by talking to your doubles partner. Both players should know two things.
- Serve location: where the serve is going.
- Net player movement: poach, pinch, fake.
Force the returner to hit down the line & crosscourt.
Video Lessons

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About the Author

Will Boucek is the Founder & CEO of The Tennis Tribe. He has played tennis for over two decades, including in college. Will has worked with ATP & WTA tour players and coaches. He currently lives in Austin TX where he plays USTA leagues & tournaments, writes about tennis, and teaches doubles workshops.

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