It's the finals of the class "C" mixed doubles tournament. You're standing at the net trying to look cool. You watch the ball float by to your waiting partner at the baseline. He returns it cross-court and again it returns. Your eyes are riveted to the ball as it crosses the net again and again. You begin to feel like your head is on a swivel ... back and forth ... back and forth.
"I hope it doesn't come my way," you mumble to yourself. You inch over into the doubles alley to make sure that it won't. "I'll protect my alley and let him take care of the rest," you decide. The ball continues its cross-court flight as your mind begins to wander. Just when you start to think about your evening activities you notice the ball heading right at you. "Oh my gosh!" BOOM!
Your glasses fly and before you realize what happened you've tasted your first fuzz sandwich.
"I hate doubles!" you cry as you bend over to pick up your shattered spectacles. "I feel so stupid up there waiting for an opportunity to make a fool of myself. Not only does my elbow hurt, but I think I'm developing a serious case of tennis neck."
...Such is the plight of the weekend social doubles player. Actually, this isn't doubles at all; the four players take turns playing singles on half the court while the other two wait their turn. It shouldn't be this way. Doubles is fun and exciting - if you know how to play.
The first lesson to remember is always play as a team. This means that you must respect your double partner. Don't intimidate them! If they make a mistake, try not to frown and mumble things under your breath. One nasty remark and you'll find them cringing in the doubles alley. They're no good to you there. Regardless of their skills, they'll be more valuable to your team in the middle of the court. Position them halfway between the center service line and the doubles sideline. Their responsibility is to go after anything they can get their hands on. Even though they may make a few mistakes, in the long run it will be better for your team.
After a few successful putaways, your nervous opponents may begin to err, trying to keep the ball away from the net man. Give'em the alley - protect the center. An occasional passing shot down-the-line won't hurt. It's the down-the-middle "I GOT IT ... YOU TAKE IT" shots that will defeat you.
Another suggestion to help your sloppy doubles play is to forget about playing up and back. In fact, you shouldn't be in this situation if your partner fails to join you at the net. Yet everyone plays like this. By playing up and back for the entire point you are exposing an unprotected gap in the center of the court. If your crosscourt return doesn't make it crosscourt, the net man will either nail your partner dead in his tracks of casually put the ball behind them. The answer is to keep both players together; either up at the net together or back at the baseline together.
Even the pros use this tactic. When receiving a big serve they anticipate making a weak return move the net player back to the baseline. This eliminates the center gap. They also move together when they have been lobbed. If one has to retreat to the baseline, the other will join them. The same goes when approaching the net. Don't leave your partner at the baseline; if one goes up both should go up.
Now you have a better idea how to win at doubles. Get out of the alley: snort, growl and get aggressive. Don't badmouth your partner and forget about the I formation. Have fun and play together!