Doubles Drills
Also known as: doubles drills, tennis doubles drills, doubles practice drills, drills for four players, canadian doubles, volley to volley drill
Good doubles drills include volley-to-volley exchanges with all four at the net, two-on-one drills and Canadian doubles for three players. Crosscourt doubles rallies and serve-and-return games that allow poaching also help. Use them to train quick hands, net movement and teamwork.
Doubles has its own skills: fast volleys, poaching, moving as a pair and returning low. Singles drills alone do not build them. A few simple drills cover most of what doubles needs.
In volley-to-volley, all four players stand near the net and keep the ball in the air. Start cooperative, then play it live. In a two-on-one drill, two players at the net face one at the baseline, or the reverse. The single player gets a hard workout. The pair practises closing in or covering lobs. Canadian doubles is a three-player game where one player faces a pair. Versions differ in which lines count for each side.
Crosscourt doubles rallies use half the court with the alley. Two players rally while the net players look to poach. The LTA game "Dingles" uses two crosscourt rallies at once. When one breaks down, all four play the last live ball as doubles. Finish with serve and return points, where the net player may poach.
Tips by skill level
Start with cooperative volley-to-volley. Count how many volleys your group can keep in play.
Add scoring rules that reward poaching and closing the net. It pushes players to take the right risks.
Example
Four club players warm up with volley-to-volley for five minutes. Then they play crosscourt rallies with a net player allowed to poach. They finish with serve and return games.
Why it matters
Doubles wins come from net play and teamwork. Drills that train those skills carry straight into matches.
Common mistakes
- Only practising singles drills for doubles matches
- Keeping volley drills cooperative and never going live
- Standing still at the net instead of moving as a pair
Frequently asked questions
What are good doubles drills for four players?
Volley-to-volley with all four at the net, crosscourt rallies with poaching allowed, and serve and return points are a strong core.
What is Canadian doubles?
A three-player game where one player faces a pair. It is a common way to practise when only three players show up.
Sources
Related terms
- Live-Ball Drills for Two PlayersLive-ball drills put both players in a real rally with a rule or a score. Good ones for two include crosscourt rallies to 11 and deep-ball games where a short ball loses the point. Others pair one player down the line with one crosscourt, or start points with a serve and return. They build consistency and decisions that carry into matches.
- Poaching (Doubles)Poaching is when the net player in doubles crosses over to intercept a ball meant for their partner. It cuts off the angle and finishes the point at net.
- Volley TechniqueVolley technique is the mechanics of striking the ball before it bounces. It uses a short, firm punch action rather than a full groundstroke swing.
- Doubles PositioningDoubles positioning is how two partners split and cover the court. Usually one is at net and one at the baseline, shifting together as the point develops.
- Two-Up Formation (Doubles)Two up, with both partners at the net, is usually the strongest position in doubles. This is because volleys are easier to put away from there and the other team has less time. Move forward together on a short ball, stand around the middle of your service boxes slightly staggered, and cover the middle first. The main risk is the lob, so do not crowd the net.
Related guides & benchmarks
Put this into practice
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