Why Steve Gave Up on Me
I thought doubles was just singles with four people. Hit the ball, try to win points. How hard could it be?
Turns out doubles is almost a completely different sport.
The Court Coverage Disasters
I'd see a ball coming and just run for it. Didn't matter if Steve was already moving to get it.
We'd collide, both miss the ball, and stand there looking stupid.
Or I'd leave huge gaps in our coverage because I was chasing balls I had no business going after.
Steve would try to signal where he was going, but I wasn't paying attention. Too focused on the ball.
"We need to talk about who takes what," he said after a particularly bad game where we got in each other's way five times.
I thought he was overcomplicating things. Big mistake.
The Communication Breakdown
Steve would call out things like "mine" or "yours" during points. I'd either not hear him or ignore him.
Then when balls dropped between us, he'd get frustrated.
"I called it," he'd say.
"I didn't hear you," I'd reply.
After a few weeks of this, he stopped calling shots at all. Just let me figure it out myself.
Which meant balls kept dropping between us.
Our teamwork was nonexistent.
The Positioning Problems
I'd wander all over the court. If the ball was on the left, I'd drift left. If it was on the right, I'd drift right.
Left Steve scrambling to cover everything I wasn't covering.
Sometimes I'd end up way out of position and couldn't get back in time for the next shot.
Steve would have to cover the entire court while I was running around like a lost puppy.
No wonder he got tired of playing with me.
Learning Doubles from Better Players
After Steve stopped playing with me, I had to find new partners. That's when I started learning what doubles was really about.
The Janet and Bob Masterclass
Janet and Bob had been playing together for years. They moved like they could read each other's minds.
No confusion, no collisions, no gaps in coverage.
I asked them how they did it.
"We talk to each other," Janet said. "And we stay in our zones."
They showed me how they divided the court. Not just left and right, but responsibility zones that changed based on the situation.
When one person moved forward, the other adjusted backward. When one went wide, the other moved to cover the middle.
It was like watching a dance. Coordinated, smooth, effective.
The Communication System
Good doubles teams have a system. They don't just randomly call shots.
"Mine" means I'm taking it. "Yours" means you take it. "Switch" means we're changing positions.
But there are also non-verbal signals. Body language, positioning, eye contact.
I learned to watch my partner's body language. If they're moving toward a ball, I don't need to go after it.
If they're backing up, I need to cover the net.
Simple stuff, but it makes a huge difference in avoiding confusion.
Doubles Strategy That Actually Works
Once I understood the basics, I started learning actual strategy. Doubles isn't just about hitting good shots.
The Serving Team Advantage
When you're serving, you start with both players back. The receiving team has one player up, one back.
That's a disadvantage for the serving team. You want to get to the net as soon as possible.
The third shot is crucial. If you can get a good third shot drop, both players can move forward.
If your third shot is weak, you're stuck in the back while they attack from the net.
I learned to think of serving as a three-shot sequence: serve, return, third shot. The third shot determines who controls the point.
The Receiving Team Strategy
When you're receiving, you already have one player at the net. That's an advantage.
The key is to keep the serving team back as long as possible.
Hit returns deep, make their third shot difficult.
If their third shot is high, attack it. If it's a good drop shot, let your net player handle it.
Don't give up your net position easily. Make them earn their way forward.
The Four-at-the-Net Game
When all four players are at the net, it becomes a different game. Quick hands, good positioning, smart shot selection.
This is where doubles gets really fun. Fast exchanges, tactical thinking, teamwork.
The team that can keep the ball low and force the other team to hit up usually wins these exchanges.
I learned to be patient during these rallies. Don't try to end the point too quickly. Wait for a good opportunity.
Finding the Right Partner
After learning better doubles strategy, I had to find partners who could actually execute it with me.
The Skill Level Match
Playing with someone much better than you is frustrating for both players.
Playing with someone much worse is also frustrating.
Best partnerships are between players of similar skill levels who can grow together.
I found Mike, who was about my level and also trying to improve his doubles game.
We made mistakes together, learned together, got better together.
Way more fun than constantly feeling like I was holding someone back.
The Communication Style
Some players are very vocal on the court. Others are quiet.
Some want to discuss strategy between points. Others just want to play.
Finding someone whose communication style matches yours makes everything easier.
Mike and I both like to talk things through. We discuss what worked, what didn't, what to try next.
That kind of communication helped us improve much faster than if we'd just played silently.
The Patience Factor
Good doubles partners are patient with each other. Mistakes happen.
If your partner gets frustrated every time you miss a shot, it's not a good partnership.
Mike and I agreed early on that we'd be supportive, not critical.
When one of us makes a mistake, the other one says "next point" or "shake it off."
Keeps the mood positive and helps us play better.