Doubles Communication

Doubles is a partnership. Silent partnerships lose to teams that talk. Overtalking partnerships lose to teams that talk well. Here's the difference.

Quick answer

The four communication moments in doubles: (1) before the point — signal or brief plan, (2) during the point — call lobs, "yours/mine" on middle balls, "out" on likely-out balls, (3) after the point — one short positive tactical note, (4) at changeovers — one adjustment, not five.

The four in-point calls

1. "Switch!"

Whenever a lob goes over your head, call "switch" and start running back diagonally. Your partner rotates to your old side.

Silence on a lob = both players in the same half, entire court empty on the other side, easy winner for the opponents.

2. "Yours!" / "Mine!"

On any ball down the middle, one partner has to call it. In practice, the player with the forehand-side ball usually calls "mine" — but the important thing is that SOMEONE calls it.

Silence on a middle ball = both players swinging (and colliding), or both letting it pass.

3. "Out!"

If a ball is heading long or wide, and your partner is preparing to swing at it, call "out" loud and early. Late "out" calls are useless — they need to hear it before they start their swing.

Never call "out" if you're not certain. Uncertainty = let it play.

4. "Bounce it!"

If a hard ball is coming in that could be volleyed but might be safer to let bounce, call "bounce it" for your partner. This is more advanced — reserve it for teams that have played together for a while.

Between-point communication

You have about 20 seconds between points. Use it well.

Do:

• Bump fists / touch racquets after every point, win or lose
• Say one short, forward-looking thing: "Serve down T next one" or "I'll poach"
• Reset body language — walk together to the baseline

Don't:

• Rehash the last point ("You should have gone crosscourt")
• Criticize technique mid-match
• Roll eyes, look down, walk away

Changeover communication

At odd-game changeovers, you have 90 seconds. Water, breath, one tactical adjustment.

Good changeover talk:

• "Their forehand return is coming right at me. Let's do Australian next game."
• "Server is tossing left when they go wide — I'll read it."
• "Let's chip-and-charge every second serve this game."

Bad changeover talk:

• "You need to hit more topspin."
• "Why did you go crosscourt on that break point?"
• "I don't know what to do."

One adjustment. Not five. Not "here's everything you're doing wrong." One.

If your partner is struggling

Doubles matches are won by the partner who's playing better protecting the partner who's playing worse. If your partner is spraying returns:

• Take the ad-side return games (usually the higher-pressure returner)
• Poach more aggressively on their serve to shorten points
• Say something calming: "Let's just focus on getting the return in the court."
• Fist-bump every point, especially losses

The moment you look frustrated, they play worse. Body language is contagious.

The captain problem

If you're the more experienced player, avoid becoming a captain. Constant instruction — "you should be closer to the net," "stand wider on the return" — undermines your partner and doesn't fix anything mid-match.

Instead: model the behavior yourself. Move well, communicate cleanly, stay positive. Your partner will match your energy.

The 90-second rule

If something needs a real conversation — a formation change, a big tactical shift — save it for a changeover, not between points. Between-point instruction rushes both players and derails focus.

If you're on the south side of Indianapolis and play regular doubles with a partner, semi-private lessons are the best format for building communication patterns — a coach can watch the two of you together and diagnose exactly what's breaking down.