An aggressive doubles returner can make a routine service game feel like a series of emergencies. They step in, take the ball early and aim hard at the net player—or drive it low at the server’s feet. The answer is not simply to serve faster. You need to take away their favorite contact point, make their target less predictable and give your partner a clear job after the serve.
These tactics are for the serving team, but they also depend on understanding what the returner is trying to do. Once you recognize the pattern, you can adjust your serve, formation and first volley instead of reacting late.
First, identify what makes the returner dangerous
A strong return is not always a fast one. Some players hurt you by standing close to the baseline and redirecting pace; others chip low, attack a second serve or aim repeatedly at the net player’s body. Watch the first few returns and look for a pattern:
- Do they favor a forehand or backhand return?
- Are they targeting the net player, the server’s feet or a particular alley?
- Do they attack both serves, or only a slower second serve?
- Do they move forward after returning, or stay back and look for the next groundstroke?
Use that information to choose a response. Trying to overpower every returner with bigger serves can play straight into their hands, especially if it leaves you with a predictable serve or a rushed first volley.
Change the serve’s location and shape
A returner who loves pace often prefers a comfortable strike zone. A serve into the body can crowd them, jam the swing and reduce their ability to angle the ball at your partner. It does not need to be a huge serve: a well-placed body serve can be more awkward than a faster one down the middle.
Mix that with serves wide and down the T. A wide serve can pull the returner away from the middle and open space for your net player to cover. A serve down the T can take away the returner’s angle and make a forehand or backhand drive harder to steer. The right location depends on the returner’s strengths and your partner’s positioning.
Vary spin and height as well as direction. A kick serve that jumps toward the backhand may make a player who crowds the baseline hit from an uncomfortable height. A slice serve can pull them off the court, but use it with care: if they handle it well, the open court may become an inviting target. The aim is to disrupt timing, not to use every serve in the playbook at once.
Give the returner less time to attack
Against someone who hunts second serves, the first priority is a reliable second serve that does not sit up. That might mean adding margin with spin, aiming toward the body, or choosing a safer target rather than trying for a line. A double fault gives an aggressive returner exactly the pressure they want; a dependable serve lets you compete on the next ball.
Also avoid making your second serve easy to read. If you always serve to the backhand, a good returner can lean that way and swing freely. Change the target when the score or pattern allows, and take note of how they respond. A surprise serve to the body at a big point can be effective because it makes a full, aggressive swing difficult.
Some servers benefit from standing a little farther behind the baseline after serving, particularly against a return hit hard at the feet. That extra space can give you time to handle a deep return, but it may leave a short ball open. Treat it as an adjustment to test, not a rule: the server should choose a recovery position that suits the returner’s usual shot and the server’s own movement.
Make your net player harder to read
If the returner is aiming at your partner, a net player who stays in one spot is an easy reference point. Use simple, agreed signals before the serve to decide whether the net player will stay, poach or show one movement and recover. A poach means crossing toward the middle to intercept the return; the server must know it is coming and cover the space left behind.
Movement can influence the return even when the net player does not touch the ball. A brief step toward the middle may make the returner aim down the line. Holding position, then moving after the returner commits, can also make the middle look less available. Keep the movement controlled and timed to the serve. Random motion creates confusion for your partner as well as the opponent.
Two common formations are the standard formation, with each player on a usual side of the center line, and the Australian formation, with the server and partner starting on the same side. The Australian formation can make a returner think twice about a favored crosscourt angle, but it leaves the opposite side open if the returner reads it. Use it as a planned change, not a surprise to your own team.
The I-formation is another option: the net player crouches near the center service line, and the server uses a pre-agreed signal to choose a direction after the serve. It can make the returner hesitate over the net player’s movement and the server’s coverage. Because both teammates must know which side to cover, practice the signals and movements before using the formation in a tight match.
Plan the first two shots, not just the serve
Before serving, decide where you expect the return and what you will do next. If the net player is poaching on a serve toward the backhand, the server may need to cover a return down the line. If the returner tends to block the ball low through the middle, the net player should be ready to volley safely rather than attempt a winner from a difficult height.
When a return comes hard at the net player, a compact volley is often more reliable than a big swing. Keep the racket in front, absorb the pace and direct the ball into open space or low at the opposing team’s feet. If the return is aimed at the server, the net player should resist the urge to chase every ball across the court; clear communication about who takes the middle prevents collisions.
After the serve, recover with the likely return in mind. The server should not admire a good serve or run blindly toward the net. A wide serve may invite a crosscourt return; a body serve may produce a short, cramped reply. Read the shot and move forward when the ball gives you a good opportunity, while your partner stays ready to intercept a loose ball.
Use the rules to your advantage—and stay within them
In doubles, each team has an established order for receiving, and each player must return from the side assigned to them for that set. A returner may stand anywhere on their own side of the court, so an aggressive player can legally move forward to take the ball early. Their partner may also position themselves anywhere on their side. You cannot force the receiver back by claiming they must stand behind the baseline.
Serving formations can vary, but the server still has to serve from the correct side and follow the service rules. Agree on positions and signals in advance so neither player is surprised by a last-second switch. Clear communication is a practical advantage: it helps you cover the open court and avoid both teammates going for the same ball.
A simple adjustment plan for a match
- Notice the pattern: identify the returner’s favorite target and whether they attack the first serve, second serve or both.
- Change one thing: try a body serve, a different spin or a planned net-player move rather than changing everything at once.
- Agree on coverage: tell your partner who takes the middle and what happens if they poach.
- Check the result: if the returner is still comfortable, change the target or formation; if they hesitate or miss, keep applying pressure.
This keeps the response deliberate. It also helps you separate a well-played return from a pattern you can actually disrupt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a doubles returner stand inside the baseline?
Yes. A returner may choose their position anywhere on their side of the court. If they move forward, the serving team can respond with body serves, varied placement and a plan for the likely short return.
What is the best serve against someone who attacks the net player?
There is no single best location. A body serve can jam the returner, while a serve down the T can reduce their angle. Test both and watch which one makes it harder for them to aim at your partner.
Should the net player poach against an aggressive returner?
Only when the movement is agreed and the server knows what court to cover. A poach can punish a predictable return, but an unplanned move may leave an easy opening down the line.
How do you handle a returner who attacks every second serve?
Use a dependable second serve with spin and a less predictable target. Aim for a serve that is difficult to attack cleanly rather than forcing extra pace, then prepare for the return you are most likely to get.
Final Thoughts
Against an aggressive doubles returner, the goal is not to win the point with the serve every time. It is to make the returner hit from a less comfortable position, keep your partner unpredictable and give both players a clear plan for the next shot. Vary the serve, communicate your formation and adjust to the pattern you actually see. A returner who has to keep guessing is much harder to attack freely.
