3 Habits of Highly Successful Doubles Teams

By Kyle Mollison, USPTA

Successful doubles team rely on a lot of synergy and interdependence to earn those big wins. The easiest way to build this trust and synergy is simply to play a lot together, however there are 5 habits that just about all successful doubles teams posses:

Verbal & Nonverbal Communication

At the risk of sounding cliche, communication really is key. Talking during the point is important, and the use of signals when serving is beneficial; however, what is perhaps the most important is talking between points. Keeping an open line of communication with your partner is the best way to make sure you are on the same page, which leads to fewer errors.

Shifting

Shifting is something we teach in our Start/ReStart classes but it bears repeating even for those seasoned players. But what is important is realizing how much your partner shifts as this is a major decision in who will take middle balls. A good rule of thumb is to try to keep the distance between yourself and your partner the same as you both shift.

Positive Reinforcement

This can actually be the hardest to implement, especially for those who wear their emotions on their sleeve. The best doubles teams don’t fight, bicker, or put their partner down. One of the most demoralizing things to a doubles player is seeing their own partner looking disappointed or frustrated. By using positive reinforcement the team will keep each other’s spirits up, giving them a fighting chance to overcome the adversity.