Good doubles positioning comes down to one rule: the two players move as a unit, staying roughly level with each other and shifting together toward the ball, so that no large gap opens between them. In a standard doubles formation, the server’s partner stands at the net, the server starts behind the baseline, the returner stands back, and the returner’s partner stands at the net or on the service line. From those starting points, both players on a team shift sideways together as the ball moves, and the net player closes forward whenever the opponent’s shot is weak. Most club-level doubles losses I see are not caused by missed shots. They come from two players standing in the wrong places relative to each other.
I coach doubles as a set of simple movement rules rather than a list of fixed spots, because the best position changes with every shot. This guide sets out where each player starts, how the pair should move, and the drills I use to build the habit. If you are working on your return as well, my guide to return of serve tactics covers where the returner should stand and what to hit.
The standard doubles formations
Almost every doubles point is played from one of three formations. Knowing which one you are in tells you where your partner is, which is half of good positioning.
One up, one back
This is the standard formation for the serving team and the receiving team at recreational level. One player stands at the net, and the other plays from the baseline. The baseline player carries the rally, and the net player looks for the chance to cut off a ball. The weakness is the space down the middle and behind the net player, so the baseline player needs to cover the centre of the court and the net player needs to watch for lobs.
Both up
Both players stand at the net, usually inside the service line. This is the formation that applies the most pressure, because the opponents have little time. It rewards quick hands and punishes a weak lob defence. Teams move into it after a good approach shot or a strong first volley. If one player gets pulled wide or back, the pair has to reset to one up, one back.
Both back
Both players stand at the baseline. This is a defensive formation, and I teach it only as a temporary state: a team that is stretched or lobbed should recover to it, then work their way forward again. Staying there for a whole match gives the opponents free control of the net.
Where the server’s team should stand
The server starts about one to two metres behind the baseline, a little to the side of the centre mark. The exact spot depends on the side you serve from and the serve you hit. A wider starting position gives a better angle to the returner’s backhand, but leaves more of the court open on the next shot. I tell players to choose a spot they can repeat, then adjust it only for tactical reasons.
The server’s partner starts at the net, roughly halfway between the net and the service line, and a short step from the singles sideline. The net player’s job on the serve is to be ready to move in one of two directions. If the return comes crosscourt to the server, the net player stays put, ready to attack a weak reply. If the return goes down the line, the net player moves across to cover it or, if the shot is high, lets it go and trusts the server to track it.
Communicate the serve direction
Before the point, the net player should know where the first serve is going. Many pairs use a hand signal behind the back. It does not need to be elaborate: an open hand for a serve wide, a closed hand for a serve to the body, and a pointing finger for down the middle are plenty. I teach the signal because it lets the net player commit to a move early, which is the only way to reach a quick return.
Where the receiving team should stand
The returner stands near the baseline, shifting forward against a slow second serve and back against a big first serve. Against a weaker serve, a position one step inside the baseline lets the returner take the ball earlier and keep the server under pressure. The detail on depth and angle is in my return of serve guide.
The returner’s partner has a choice. Standing at the net, close to the middle of the service box, gives the best chance to put away a weak first volley from the server’s team. Standing on the service line is safer against a strong server, because it leaves more time to react. I ask players to choose based on how well the server volleys and how heavy the serve is, not on habit.
How to move as a pair
Positioning in doubles is mostly movement. Three simple rules cover most of what I teach.
- Move toward the ball together. When the opponent hits crosscourt to your partner, both of you shift in the same direction, keeping the distance between you roughly constant. Think of the two players as joined by a short rope.
- The player closest to the middle takes the middle ball. Agree this before the match. Without a rule, balls down the centre either go unplayed or are hit by both players. Most teams assign the middle to the forehand side, but the rule matters more than the choice.
- The net player moves forward on a weak ball and back on a lob. The shorter and slower the opponent’s shot, the closer the net player should be. The deeper and higher the shot, the more the net player should consider giving up the net and recovering.
The footwork underneath all of this is the same as in singles. If a player is late to a shifted position, the usual cause is a missing split step. My guide to split step timing explains when to land so the first step is quick.
Poaching: when to cross
A poach is when the net player crosses in front of the partner to volley a ball meant for the partner. Done well, it turns a neutral rally into a point won. Done badly, it leaves the net player out of position and the partner exposed. I teach three conditions that make a poach worth attempting.
- The opponent’s shot is crosscourt, is slow, and will be high enough to volley above the net.
- Your partner’s shot was a good one, because a strong ball from your partner makes a weak reply from the opponent more likely.
- You can start moving as the opponent hits, not after. A poach started late reaches the ball off balance.
If the poach is a bluff, it still helps. A net player who moves early occasionally forces the returner to hit down the line, where the pair is ready for it. This is the tactical value of the threat, even when the ball is not touched.
Defending the lob
The lob is the standard way to beat a net player, and many pairs lose points to it without noticing. When an opposing player lobs over the net player, the pair has two choices. The net player can turn and chase the ball, hitting an overhead or a defensive shot, while the partner moves across to cover the space left behind. Or the pair can switch sides: the net player takes the ball, and the baseline player moves to the net position the first player left. The key is to decide early and call it. A call as simple as “mine” or “switch” removes the confusion. For the overhead itself, I use the overhead smash checklist with players who miss easy balls.
Three doubles drills for positioning
Drill 1: Shadow the partner
Two players stand on one side of the court, one at the net and one at the baseline. A coach or partner feeds balls to alternate sides, and the pair moves together to stay level, without hitting. After a minute, add the hitting. The goal is to keep the distance between you almost the same, whichever way you shift. Run three sets of one minute.
Drill 2: Server-and-net call
Play out serve points with the server and net player agreeing on a signal before each point. The net player must commit to a movement based on the signal. After ten points, change roles. This builds the habit of communicating before the point rather than shouting during it.
Drill 3: Lob and recover
A feeder lobs over the net player at random. The pair must call “mine” or “switch” within a second of the lob leaving the racket, then play out the point. This builds the early decision that most teams lack. Run it for five minutes, then take the same pairs into points with the lob allowed.
Common doubles positioning mistakes
- Standing in a line. Two players on the same line, both at the baseline or both at the net, leave a large gap in the middle. Stay staggered or level, depending on the formation.
- Both players chasing the same ball. Agree the middle rule, and call the ball when it is yours.
- Staying at the net after a lob. If the opponents have lobbed twice and you keep standing at the net, the third lob is coming. Adjust.
- Moving only one player. If one player shifts and the other stays, the gap appears on the side that moved. Both players shift or neither does.
- Ignoring the opponent’s weaker side. Position to make the opponent hit their weaker shot, then be ready to move on it. My guide to crosscourt and down-the-line patterns shows how to read those patterns.
Common questions
Where should the net player stand in doubles?
Roughly halfway between the net and the service line, and a short step from the singles sideline on their own side. Close enough to cut off a volley, far enough back to react to a lob. Adjust forward against a weak return and back against a strong one.
Who should take the ball down the middle?
Agree this before the match. The most common rule is that the player with the forehand on that ball takes it, but the important thing is that both of you know who has the call.
Should I stay at the net after I serve?
If you are a confident volleyer and your serve is difficult to return, following the serve to the net is a strong option. If your serve is slow, stay back until you have a short ball to attack. See my guide on how to attack the short ball for what to do when it comes.
How do I improve doubles positioning quickly?
Play points on a half-court with your partner, with the two of you calling every ball. Most positioning errors are communication errors, and calling the ball out loud fixes many of them within a week of regular play.
Written by Tan Xu Teng (Coach XT), Head Tennis Coach and founder of TAG International Tennis Academy. Coach XT specializes in technical diagnostics, competitive player development, and modern coaching methodology in Singapore.