Doubles Tennis: Some of Our Favorite Drills

1. Waiting for You

Four players on the court: A at the baseline, receiving serve; B, her partner, is at the net; player C serves to A to start the point; D is at the net – see graphic above.
Drill
Player C begins the point with a serve. As soon as A returns the ball, she will have to come up to the net; the ball is considered in play, and the point counts from the moment A steps inside the service court.
So the point begins only when the returner (A) steps inside the service court, joining her partner at the net. From there on, the point is played out.
If the returner does not get inside the service court, the point does not count, and it is repeated.
Play a regular set, having the returner come up, and each point begins once she steps inside the service court.
Note
This drill teaches returning players to move up to the net, time the split step, ball control, and placement.
The server’s partner should not poach on the first return to allow the returner to get closer to the net.

2. Three for Three

One team of two players, at the baseline, on each side (team A-B and team C-D).
The coach (F) is closer to the net on the same side as team A-B.
The team on the same side as the coach is the defending team (A-B).
Drill
The coach sends balls to team C-D (attacking team) as follows:
– 1 short ball to bring them up to the net
– 1 volley
– 1 overhead.
They play each point out.
For every point they win, the teams count it.
After teams play the third ball (the overhead), team C-D moves back to the baseline, and players switch sides (the player on the ad side moves to the deuce).
The cycle repeats with both teams playing the three points (short ball, volley, and overhead).
The defending team (team A-B) switches places after every six points (the player on the deuce side moves to the ad side, and vice versa).
Play first to 11, then teams switch sides of the court.
Note
This is a great drill to work on net play and defense, and also improve volleys and overheads.

3. Move Up on Short Ball

There are two teams of players: A-B vs. C-D, at the baseline (opposite sides).
The coach (F) is outside of the doubles alley, close to the net, and on team C-D’s side of the court (see graphic above).
Drill
The coach will begin every point by feeding the ball so that the first bounce will be on the same side of the net, then the ball should land as a short drop on the team A-B side.
Team A-B moves up together to get the ball while team C-D steps inside the baseline ready to react.
Teams play the point out, then move back to the baseline to start another one.
Play first to win 5 points, then either rotate players one spot clockwise or have teams switch sides.
Note
The purpose of this drill is to teach players to work as a team, communicate, and learn to anticipate the next shots.

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