Where to Stand in Doubles Tennis: Win More in 2023 (+ Guide)

Step 1: Look at TheTennisBros.com’s Doubles Tactics Course

The first thing you can do that will make a big difference to your ability to position yourself correctly in doubles, is to check out our doubles tactics online course. Whilst there is no substitute for hard work on the tennis court, it is equally important to have a strategy and know what you’re trying to work on. Learning where to stand in the doubles court doesn’t have to be complicated if you understand the dimensions of the court, where your opponents will likely hit their shots, and what patterns of play work best. 

We have worked with ex-ATP professional turned master performance coach Dave Ireland to bring you one of the most comprehensive doubles tactics courses on the internet! We’ll cover positioning, communication, and movement patterns to help you cover the net much more effectively. 

Unlike singles, doubles tennis lends itself a lot more to ‘plug and play’ tactical patterns that can be pre-determined and used at any point. This is exactly what we teach in our course and it will help you improve your game on the doubles court. This makes it so much easier to decide where to stand in doubles too. 

Therefore, using our Doubles Tactics course to get a better understanding of where to stand on the doubles court is the perfect way to feel more confident during the points!

Step 2: Stay on Your Toes Off the Ball

The next step for improving your positioning on the doubles court is to always stay on your toes, particularly when up at the net. This may sound like a straightforward point, but it is paramount to help you take opportunities when they present themselves. Poaching, crossing, and just reacting to shots that float into range are all made so much easier if you stay alert and on your toes.

Step 3: Cover the Angles

As the net player, particularly at the start of the point, it is important to close down the angles and put pressure on your opponents simply by adjusting where you stand. Moving side to side and forward to cover more of the middle of the court can make the space your opponents have to hit into feel a lot smaller. 

Also, as the net player, if you start by facing your opponent that is at the back of the court, then turn to face the net player as the ball crosses the net, you’ll be in a much better position to take the ball on and put away some straightforward volleys into space.

Step 4: Changing Your Starting Position

There are a few different places that both players in a doubles team can stand to mix things up and keep their opponents guessing. 

Whilst most doubles points begin with one player at the back of the court, and one player diagonally across from them at the net, this can become predictable. If you are not making progress in the match in this position, standing in a different formation can help change things up. 

 One commonly used doubles tactic is the ‘I’ formation. This is where the server stands closer to the middle of the center line, and the net player crouches down in the middle of the court. The pair will have decided where both the net player and the baseline player will move prior to the baseline player serving. 

Another tactic that makes a change to where you may stand on the doubles court is when both players start at the back of the court when returning. This gives the pair a lot more time and return and can make it more difficult for opponents to break this formation down. 

Finally, another way that you can change up where you stand in doubles is to use the ‘Australian’ formation. This is where the server stands a little closer to the center of the court, and the net player stands on the same side as their partner, rather than on the diagonal. This gives the returning pair a different look and forces them to return down the line, which could be a more difficult shot to hit.

Step 5: Don’t Become Predictable

The final tip that will help you improve your positioning in doubles is to use variety to your advantage. It is important to rely on patterns of play that work well, but if you do the same thing point after point, the element of surprise will be lost. 

Following the basics of staying on your toes, covering the angles, changing things up every now and then, and understanding your partner, will all help to improve your overall positioning on the doubles court.

Once You’ve Mastered Where to Stand in Doubles, It’s Time to Improve Your Volleys! 

Improving your tactical understanding of doubles is a great step forward toward taking your doubles to the next level. However, if you want to become more efficient and effective at the net, you should think about your volleying technique itself. 

Being in the right position at the right time is great, but if you can’t execute the volley you want to, it will all have been for nothing! So, if you want to take your net game to the next level and improve your volleys, check out our Art of Volleying online course today!

Simple Guide to Learn Where to Stand in Doubles

Overall, there is a lot to be said for understanding the dimensions of a couples court and where to stand in doubles tennis to be as effective as possible. The aim is to reduce your opponent’s chances to exploit angles, throw them off by standing in different positions on the court, and stay alert so you can take the opportunities when they come. 

We hope this simple guide for where to stand in doubles has helped you get on your way to winning more tennis matches!