Tips on Playing Better as Partners

Do you ever feel confused when playing doubles? Do you hear things like, "that was mine," or "stay on your side," or " this is my area," or " don't take my backhand"? When this happens, play may continue, ultimately ending the game unsettled or even frustrated. These situations are unfortunate but can be avoided by following a few simple tips and tricks. 

Whomever your partner, it is important to stay positive, understanding that your partner is trying as hard or maybe even harder than you, regardless of "skill level." Once a player shows disappointment in their partner either verbally or by body language and gestures, there is little one can do to erase the negative attitude. Doubles is a team sport and when players work together, the more fun everyone will have and the better the results will be! Here are some things to consider when playing as partners that may help develop good synchronization.

The serving player can easily use their paddle as a shield and whisper to their partner where they intend to serve the ball. This will enable more communication and build confidence between the two players right from the start of any game. It also gives the server both a visual goal and a physical goal, which develops focus and achieves better results.

One of the biggest mistakes I see in teaching (and playing) is when the person hitting the ROS stays back near the baseline after hitting it. Staying back after hitting the ROS puts your partner in a confusing situation because they do not know what you are planning and struggle to figure out their next action. Not moving up to the NVZ puts your team at a disadvantage prior to and after your opponent hits the third shot.

Everyone has been in a situation where the ROS is hit deep, in the center area of the court, and undesired results happen. When this occurs, both players stare at each other while losing the rally, or both players wait until the last second before lunging to reach the ball. This can result in not hitting the ball at all, or hitting paddles together in a really bad third shot. My suggestion is to figure out who is going to call who hits the third shot prior to the first serve of each game. The same person will call either "me" or "you" immediately after the ROS is hit during the whole game. The caller's eyes should be focused on where the ball is going to hit the paddle of the ROS person so that call can be made quickly, allowing the caller to predict approximately where the ball is going as soon as possible. This gives both players mental stability and confidence, plus gives the person who is not going to hit the third shot time get out of the way. This will make it much easier for you and your partner to get in the best position to hit arguably the hardest shot in the game.

Most of us have been taught correctly that players should move up to the NVZ line together in order to seal up any potential large holes. This is great advice! The second type of movement that we may or may not have been taught is moving side-to-side by sliding when both players are playing at the NVZ. Although some super-fast players may be able to "cover" the majority of the court up at the NVZ by sliding slightly, this is not realistic for many players. I think great results can happen when players slide side-to-side during dink rallies. Learning to call "me" or "you" during dink rallies can really help improve communication and reduce confusion.

Lastly, when playing at the NVZ, it is very important to play defense in the area where the ball is on your opponent's side of the court.  

This may take extra coordinated practice than the other suggestions we've covered, but I believe it is worth the effort. The theory is based on the idea that the ball will be hit down the sidelines or in the center of the court for the majority of the game. I cannot prove that theory is true, but in analyzing both professional and amateur play, it is something I witness regularly. My suggestion is to "take away" those areas every shot we can by positioning ourselves near the sideline opposite to where the ball is being hit. Then, your partner will cover the center area of the court. The side-to-side sliding movement described above also applies here. When the ball is being hit by your opponent at the center of the court the partners can "squeeze" the center area "taking away" those easy drives through the center. They will try to get the ball out to the sides, resulting in a harder shot and giving you and your partner more time to get to the ball.

Always covering the sideline and the center area of the court may give your opponent something different and harder to deal with, especially if they are not used to seeing this type of coverage. Advantage goes to you and your partner now! This is typically effective against "bangers" who drive the ball no matter where they are on the court. Your opponent may still decide to bang the ball right to you, but better players love to block those and make their opponents think about what they are doing. If all four players are playing at the NVZ, you can use the combination of calling who hits the shot and sliding back and forth to "cover" the areas the ball is most likely to be hit. Done well, this can be extremely effective at all levels of play! Of course, there is more to helping players play better as partners and many of you may have great ideas on this topic. I mentioned above some of the ones I believe are most important, and can help improve communication at important times in the game, driving positive results in the long term. 

By Marc Austin, GAMMA Brand Ambassador and PPR Pro Instructor