In doubles tennis which formation covers the most court? one up and one back or both up?

Question

my partner and I are having a dispute...should we be up - one at the net and the other at the service line able to get back and cover the lob? Or do we play one at the net and the other at the base line?

Answer 1

To cover most court You should be both at the baseline but that way You probably lose since your opponents will get an offensive advantage.

Answer 2

Neither formation you cite in your question is correct.

As soon as possible after your team either serves or returns serve, both of you should be up at the net position, side by side.

If your opposition puts up a lob, then both of you need to go back together as a team towards the baseline, staying side by side.

If you lob the ball over the heads of your opposition, then both of you need to go up to the net together to regain and dominate the net position.

In fact, even though you and your partner always start the point one up and one back, you both need to get side by side as soon as possible, preferentially at the net.

In other words, if you are the Server, you need to come to the net behind your serve, make a first volley, then continue towards the net so you and your partner can be side by side.

If you are the Receiver standing on or behind the baseline, and your partner is standing on or near the service line, then both you need to come to the net so you can be together side by side as soon as possible.

Remember this... the easiest way to win a doubles point is for you and your partner to be up at net where you can easily angle the ball away for a winner.

Answer 3

Women's doubles is sometimes a bit more unorthodox, you end up with teams that play one up and one back. Mainly because of the lobs and general court coverage. If you communicate well and are able to hit overheads and cover the lob over your partners head then ideally it would be best to both be up. The fact is that both of you may have a case, and both of you are correct.

Answer 4

You are supposed to start one up and one back so that you can be prepared for the point but eventually the object of the game in doubles is to get to the net (both of the players) and control the point. Now if your back and both of them are up its best to try to push the ball outside then come back inside like my tennis coach Jim said "DOWN THE MIDDLE SOLVES THE RIDDLE" at least in doubles. still the way to best win a doubles match is to set up each other, work as a team. try to give them a ball that is hard to handle and most of the time they will give an easy ball to your counterpart for a putaway, which is why it is important to have a good partner in doubles tennis.

Answer 5

i play with my partner one up one down i'd have the better net player in the front every time when they are serving they run up while the other stays back
This u can protect the front court and have a player at the base line that protects missed volleys or lobs

Answer 6

Both of you should be up at the end of the point. But you don't have to serve and volley or return and volley. Wait for a good shot to move in on. At some points, it may never come.
If your partner has a weak second serve, I would tell you to move back if you parter misses his/her first serve. I once had a partner that had a weak second serve, our opponents usually took my head off every time I wouldn't move back.

Answer 7

Two heads at the net are better than one and be qiuck enough to adjust for the lob.

Answer 8

Both partners should be at the net. It puts you and your partner at an offensive position.

Answer 9

One up and one back so you can cover a lob.