A good tennis doubles practice should train more than groundstrokes. Partners need to serve and return with a plan, move together, cover the alleys, and know the score and service order without hesitation. A focused session can build those habits even if you only have an hour on court.
This routine combines doubles tactics, match-style drills, and rule checks. Use it with a regular partner or adapt it for a group of four. The aim is to leave practice with a few clear patterns you trust—not a long list of shots you rarely use.
A 90-Minute Tennis Doubles Practice Routine
Bring a basket of balls if you have one, and agree on one or two goals before warming up. For example: “We’ll return more crosscourt” or “We’ll call every poach.” A shared goal makes it easier to judge whether a drill is helping.
| Time | Practice block | Main purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | Movement and cooperative warm-up | Get warm and find court spacing |
| 15 minutes | Serve and return patterns | Start points with a plan |
| 20 minutes | Volley and poach work | Improve net reactions and partner movement |
| 20 minutes | Live-point pattern drills | Practice common doubles situations |
| 20 minutes | Situational games | Make decisions under match pressure |
| 5 minutes | Review | Choose one takeaway for the next match |
1. Warm Up as a Pair
Start with easy mini-tennis, then move to the baseline for cooperative crosscourt rallies. Keep the ball in play rather than trying to hit winners. After a few minutes, add short volleys: one player feeds from the service line while the other blocks the ball back with compact swings.
Finish the warm-up with movement. One partner stays near the net and moves side to side while the other feeds gentle balls. The net player should split-step as the feeder makes contact. Switch roles. This simple habit helps players react instead of guessing, and it gets partners used to moving across the court without colliding.
2. Practice Serve and Return Patterns
In doubles, the serve is only the start of the point. The server’s partner should have a clear starting position and an agreed signal for whether they may poach. The returner should know whether the goal is a safe crosscourt return, a lob over the net player, or a return aimed at the server’s feet.
Three-ball serve drill
- The server hits a first serve to a chosen target: body, middle, or wide.
- The receiver returns crosscourt, aiming for depth rather than a risky winner.
- The server’s partner moves only if the pair agreed to poach; then play the point out.
Give each server six attempts from each side. Count a repetition as successful when the serve lands in the intended area and the team follows its plan. This rewards control and coordination, not just pace. Then switch roles and try the same drill with second serves.
On return practice, have the server’s partner start in a normal net position. The returner should use a compact swing and recover quickly. A useful team rule is to aim most returns crosscourt, where there is more court to work with, then change direction when the ball gives you time and balance.
3. Build Reliable Net Play
Volleys in doubles often arrive quickly, so keep the racquet in front and use a short punch rather than a big swing. Start with two players at the net facing two feeders at the baseline. Feed at different heights and directions, including a few balls down the middle. The net players should call “mine” or “yours” early and try to send controlled volleys deep or through the middle.
Poach-and-cover drill
One player at the net begins in the middle of the service box. The feeder hits crosscourt toward the opposing returner. On a spoken “go” or agreed signal, the net player crosses to intercept. Their partner slides behind them to cover the open space. Reset after each ball, and switch net roles after five attempts.
The key lesson is that a poach is a team movement, not a solo dash. If the net player crosses and the partner stays still, the team leaves a large gap. Practice the movement at half speed first, then increase the feed pace.
4. Rehearse Common Doubles Patterns
Use live points with a specific start so players see the same situation several times. Keep score for each pattern, but pause briefly between points to reset the formation.
- Serve plus first volley: The serving team must serve and get the first volley in play before trying to finish the point.
- Return and approach: The return team must hit a deep return, then decide whether the returner or partner moves forward.
- Middle-ball challenge: Start with a ball between the two net players. The team that communicates and takes it cleanly wins the point.
- Lob and recover: One team lobs over the net player. Both partners turn, call the ball, and recover into a defensive position.
After each short set, discuss one decision: Was the return too risky? Did the partner move behind the poach? Did both players chase the same lob? Keep feedback specific and calm. “You were too slow” is less useful than “Split-step as the server hits, then move on the return.”
5. Add Rules and Score Pressure
Good doubles practice should make match rules feel automatic. Before a set, confirm who serves first and the service order. In standard doubles, each team’s players serve in a set order, and the receiving team chooses which player receives in each half of the court at the start of the set. The partners keep those receiving sides for that set.
During drills, call the score before every point. Remember that doubles uses the singles court lines for service boxes, but the full doubles court—including the alleys—is in play once the serve has been returned. Players must let the ball bounce once on their side before returning a serve; after that, volleys are allowed. A player must not touch the net or cross into the opponents’ court in a way that interferes with play.
Try a pressure game to test these habits: play a first-to-seven tiebreak, with the receiver calling the score and the server stating the correct side. If you use no-ad scoring in your league, practice that format too; it is a local or competition format, not something to assume in every match. Check your event rules before playing.
How to Fit the Routine Into One Hour
Short on court time? Keep the same priorities and reduce the number of repetitions. Spend 8 minutes warming up, 12 minutes on serves and returns, 15 minutes on volleys and poaches, and 20 minutes playing points with a required pattern. Use the final 5 minutes to review what worked.
For a group of four, rotate after every five or six balls rather than waiting through long turns. For two players, one can feed from the opposite baseline and then switch roles. The drills still work if the feed is controlled and the players focus on movement and decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a doubles team practice?
Once or twice a week is enough for many recreational teams, especially when practice includes match play. Short, regular sessions usually help more than an occasional long session with no clear plan.
What should beginners focus on first?
Start with consistent serves and crosscourt returns, then learn simple court coverage. Beginners should call “mine” or “yours,” avoid chasing the same ball, and move together when one partner goes forward or crosses to poach.
How do you practice doubles without four players?
Two players can alternate serving and returning, or use controlled feeds to work on volleys and poaches. A ball machine can help with repeat feeds, but a partner’s feed is useful for practicing calls and reacting to different directions.
Should doubles partners use hand signals?
They can. A simple signal behind the back can show whether the net player plans to poach or stay. Agree on what the signal means before the point, and keep the plan simple enough to remember under pressure.
Final Thoughts
A useful tennis doubles practice routine links technique to decisions: serve with a target, return with control, move as a pair, and communicate early. Add score calls and basic rule checks to your drills so they carry over to matches. Pick one pattern to improve each session, then give it enough repetitions to feel natural.
