A booming serve can make a doubles match feel as if it’s over before the returner has touched the ball. But the serving team still has to win the next shot—and doubles gives you several ways to make that harder. The aim is not to return every serve for a clean winner. It’s to put the ball back with enough control to disrupt the server’s first volley and bring your partner into play.
Start by taking away the server’s easiest pattern
Before changing your position, notice what the server actually does. Is the big serve usually wide, into the body, or down the middle? Does the server follow it to the net, and does the partner poach on a particular cue? A quick pattern read is more useful than guessing at every toss.
Watch the server’s starting position, toss, and contact point, but avoid committing too early. A server who stands wide may favor the T, for example, while a toss that drifts behind the head can hint at a kick serve. Treat those as clues, not guarantees. If you lean too soon, a capable server can redirect the ball into the space you’ve left.
Agree on one simple plan with your partner before the game. For instance: “I’ll block the first return crosscourt; you stay active in the middle.” Clear roles prevent both players from reacting to the same ball—or leaving the middle open because each expects the other to cover it.
Choose a return position that gives you time
Standing on the baseline is not a rule; it’s a choice. Against a fast first serve, move back a step or two if that gives you a better chance to meet the ball in front. Against a second serve, move in when you can take time away without getting jammed. Adjust by serve direction, too: a wide serve may pull you toward the sideline, while a body serve calls for a little extra room to turn your shoulders.
There is no single ideal distance. If you stand too close, a fast serve can rush your preparation. Too far back, and you give the server more time to close toward the net. Test a position for a few points, then change it if you are consistently reaching or making contact late.
Keep the preparation compact. A short backswing, balanced split step, and firm racket face are often more dependable than trying to take a full cut at a serve you can barely control. On a big serve, a well-directed block can be a winning return in doubles because it arrives before the server and partner are settled.
Return to a target, not just an opening
The safest target is often deep through the middle. It reduces the sharp angle available to the net player, gives your partner a clear view of the next ball, and can create hesitation over who should take it. A low return through the middle is especially useful against a server who charges forward: it makes the first volley harder to hit down.
Crosscourt is a dependable option when you can get behind the ball and control the angle. It sends the return away from the opposing net player’s usual poaching lane, but don’t aim so close to the sideline that a small miss becomes an easy point. A return down the line can punish a net player who is leaning across, but use it selectively. If the net player is waiting for that shot, the line is exactly where they can intercept it.
Against a server-and-volley team, prioritize a low return at the server’s feet or into the middle. Against a team whose net player poaches aggressively, mix in a firm return down the line or a lob over the net player. The lob does not need to be perfect; its purpose is to make the opponent turn and retreat, buying you time to reset.
Make your partner part of the return plan
The returner’s partner should not stand still and hope for a poach. Start in a balanced position where you can cover the middle, then read the return and the opposing net player. If your teammate returns low and crosscourt, you may need to hold position and protect the next ball. If the return is firm down the line and the opponent’s net player has moved across, step toward the middle to close the likely reply.
Use simple signals or verbal calls before the point. You might agree that the net player will poach on a weak second serve, or that the returner will lob if the opponent crowds the middle. In an I-formation, the net player crouches near the center and moves left or right after the serve; the returner needs a clear target agreed in advance. If your pair is not comfortable with the signals, a conventional formation with decisive movement is usually better than a confused I-formation.
Strong doubles teams often win through coordinated pressure rather than spectacular returns. The classic poaching threat works because the returner has to account for it, even when the net player does not cross. But movement needs to be purposeful: a partner who fakes too early can reveal the target, while one who never moves lets the returner aim comfortably.
Use the score to choose your risk
At 0–0 or 15–15, test the server’s patterns and the net player’s reactions. On a second serve, you may be able to step in and take the ball early. At 30–40, the priority may be a high-percentage return that starts a rally rather than a low-odds winner. If your opponents have served several times into the same spot, make a small adjustment before the next important point—not a desperate leap across the court.
Also pay attention to the server’s second serve. A strong first serve can hide a much more attackable second ball. Move forward, shorten the point, or ask your partner to poach more often. If the second serve still has heavy kick or placement, stay disciplined and aim deep rather than swinging beyond your balance.
Know the doubles rules that affect your positioning
Both teams can position their players anywhere on their own side of the court, subject to the server’s requirement to serve from behind the baseline and within the correct half. The receiving team can arrange its partner where it likes, and the receiver may stand farther back or closer in. However, the receiving order is set for each set: the partners take turns receiving, and the team cannot swap who receives from each side midway through that set. At the start of a new set, the team may choose a different receiving order.
That makes pre-match planning worthwhile. Put the player with the steadier return on the side where the opponent’s strongest patterns are most troublesome, while accounting for each partner’s forehand and backhand. You cannot change the order after a difficult game simply because one player has been targeted. You can, however, alter stance, depth, partner position, and tactics within the rules.
A practical plan for the next match
- Identify the main serve: Track direction, pace, and whether the server follows it to the net.
- Set a reliable default: Block or drive a deep return through the middle, and keep the net player responsible for covering the next ball.
- Change one thing at a time: Move back, change the target, or add a poach—then see whether it helps.
- Attack predictable second serves: Step in when balanced, but do not confuse aggression with swinging as hard as possible.
- Review between games: Agree on the pattern that is working and the adjustment for the next service game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you stand farther back against a fast serve in doubles?
Often, yes—if a little extra space helps you get balanced and make contact in front. Try moving back a step rather than retreating to the back fence. If the server then has too much time to reach the net, move forward again or aim lower at the server’s feet.
Where should you return a strong serve?
A deep return through the middle is a reliable starting point because it limits angles and can cause confusion between opponents. Use crosscourt when you can control the angle; go down the line or lob when the opposing net player is poaching aggressively.
Can the receiving team change its receiving positions during a set?
The players must keep the receiving order established for that set, alternating who receives each point from the relevant side. The team may choose a new order at the start of the next set. Players can still adjust how far back they stand and where the non-receiver positions themselves.
What should the receiver’s partner do against a powerful server?
Stay balanced, protect the middle, and read the return rather than guessing at the serve. Agree beforehand whether to poach on a weak return or hold position. A clear plan is more effective than both players lunging at the same ball.
Final Thoughts
Against a strong server, doubles is less about hitting a spectacular return than making the next shot uncomfortable. Take a position that gives you time, use a compact swing, and choose targets that limit the opponents’ angles. Then let your partner’s movement complete the play. A deep, controlled return and a coordinated first step can turn even a thunderous serve into a point you have a real chance to win.
