Doubles Positioning Basics

Most club-level doubles is played badly for exactly two reasons: net players stand in the wrong place, and teams move as individuals instead of as a unit. Fix these two things and you'll win two more matches per month. This is how.

Quick answer

The two doubles positioning rules that matter most: (1) the net player stands 8–10 feet from the net and moves side-to-side with their partner, and (2) both players stay on a diagonal string — when one moves forward or sideways, the other mirrors. Everything else is variation on these two ideas.

Rule 1 — The right net position

Most club net players stand in one of two wrong places:

Too close to the net (3–4 feet). They get lobbed constantly. They can't move backward in time. They win 1 point out of 20 with a spectacular volley and lose 5 to lobs.

Too far back (at the service line). They can't put away any ball. They're not close enough to poach. They basically hit the same rally shots as if they were at the baseline, but from a worse position.

The right position: 8–10 feet from the net, roughly on the singles sideline of your half of the court. This gives you:

• Enough distance to move back for a moderate lob (you can only cover a very short lob at 3 feet)
• Close enough to poach aggressively toward the middle
• Angles for putaway volleys down either sideline

Rule 2 — Move as a unit

Doubles partners are connected by an imaginary rope. When one moves, the other moves.

When your partner is pulled wide right: you slide right too, covering the middle. Never leave a giant gap between you.

When your partner comes forward: you come forward with them. Two at net wins doubles at every level.

When your partner is stuck at the baseline (defensive): you drop back too. It's a myth that one-up-one-back is stable — it just spreads your team thinner.

The mental image: you're two players moving on the same treadmill belt. If one lags, both are exposed.

Both to net

The single biggest tactical upgrade a 3.5 doubles team can make is both playing at net.

Why:

• Every ball you can reach as a volley is faster than a groundstroke exchange
• Net players force opponents to hit harder, more precise passing shots
• Reflex volleys and putaways win short points, which reduce your unforced errors

The transition to net happens off:

1. A good serve — server follows the serve in
2. A weak return — the receiving team's returner comes in
3. Any short ball — the player who hits the deep shot follows it in

Once both of you are in, keep the pressure on. Poach freely. Volley low balls short and crosscourt. High balls at the opponents' feet.

When to poach

A poach is when the net player crosses to intercept a ball headed for their partner. Done well, it wins points instantly. Done badly, it leaves half the court empty.

Poach on:

• Second serves — the returns are usually short and floaty, easy pickings
• Weak crosscourt rally balls — anything that lands short and slow
• Predictable returners — if their return always goes crosscourt, poach every time

Don't poach on:

• Big first serves — the return often goes down the line, and you'd be caught
• After you just poached — good opponents will hit down the line to punish the repeat

The I formation

The I formation is when your net partner crouches on the center service line rather than on their normal side. After the serve, the net player pops up and moves left or right — the returner doesn't know which.

Use the I formation when:

• Your opponent is returning very well crosscourt — the I disrupts their crosscourt look
• Your serve is not strong enough to threaten on its own
• You want to change the rhythm mid-set

When to switch sides

Switch sides (change halves of the court) whenever a lob goes over your partner's head and they must chase it back. If you don't switch, the entire court is exposed. As they run back for the lob, you rotate to their old side. Communication is a simple "switch!" called by whoever is chasing.

The classic mistakes

• Net player standing still. They should move constantly — feint, poach, adjust with the ball.
• Both players staying back. Two baseliners lose to any competent doubles team.
• No communication. Every ball down the middle is either both players swinging at it or neither. Call every ball.
• Poaching on first serves you can barely track. Save the poach for balls you can actually reach.

If you're on the south side of Indianapolis and want to work on doubles positioning with your regular partner, semi-private lessons with your partner are the fastest way to fix this in three lessons.