If you want to bring your doubles game to a higher level, try these 100 % rules.
- Come to the net when you hit your first serve.
- Come to the net after returning your opponent's second serve.
- You are back and your partner is at the net. The next ball goes to your partner who is at the net. You should move to the net while the attention is on your partner and not you.
- You are back on the baseline and the next ball is coming in high and deep. Take this ball out of the air and come to the net. This will put you and your partner in the offense. Do not let it bounce and play defensively.
- You are on the baseline and the next ball is short, forcing you to come to the net. Approach and move to the net.
- You or your partner throws up a lob. Your opponents fail to take it in the air, so the ball bounces. Both of you move to the service line to take the next ball as an overhead.
So, the next time you play a friendly match or just a practice match, try this. Everyone agrees to play at lease a set abiding by the "100% rules in doubles." This way everyone will be in the same boat. It will force you out of your "comfort zone." If you are able to practice these "100 % Rules," 100 % of the time when you practice, you might increase your time of doing this in a real match to 50%. That would be a very significant change in your game. Go to the net to force the point, putting more pressure on your opponents. Go to the net and have a good time.
Good luck on the courts!