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In the game of doubles tennis, there are a few basics that everyone needs to know in order to be
successful. Succesful does not necesarily mean that you will win every match. Success in tennis,
or life, is different for every player. Here we present a basic guide to better doubles.

There are some terms that you will often here as a novice player. One of them is: "No man's land".
So as not to sound prejudicial towards women and to be a little more honest, we will call this area
"The Bozo Zone". In other words, we don't want to stand in this area in doubles and wind up looking
like bozo the clown.

The Bozo Zone is a very dangerous
place to be in doubles. At the beginner
levels it is ok, but once you start playing
someone who's had a racket in their
hands for more than a few months,
their shots will invariably land in this area.
This means they will land at your feet.
Digging shots that go to your shoe laces
is difficult. Usually, you will miss the shot
or you will be forced to hit the ball upwards,
resulting in an easy put away for your
opponents (not to mention straining your
friendship with your net partner who you
just turned into a target!). Who wants to
look like that clown in the picture, right?

The moral of the story is.....

GET OUT OF THE BOZO ZONE!!!

Volley posture is next. In doubles, you want to control the net. That means moving forwards.
Who wants to go backwards in life?!? Move forwards! Of course, you can't go to the front
lines of battle unprepared! You can't face off for the heavy-weight boxing championship of
the world and not have your guard up! Remember that your racket should be at eye level.
If you forget that you also need to move forward, just remember one of our favorite "monster"
tennis players below!

Copy the Fankenstein Monster!

Get your arms up!

Move forward!

Doubles Talk Defined

"Got It!"

"I can take this ball" (reassurance)
"You still have the option to take it if you have a better shot...but you must call "MINE!"

"Mine!"

"I am definitely taking this ball so give me room"
Trumps your partner...even if he/she said "Got it!" it is now your ball.

"Yours!"

"Take It!"

"I am unable to make the play"
"Please help!"

The following four phrases are for you to communicate to your partner that the ball might bo long or wide. It is a way
for you to warn an overeager partner to let the ball bounce before he or she hits it. Notice the word "out" is not among
these. If you call "out!" to your partner as a warning, it could disrupt your opponents, or worse; they may not have been
thrown off, but they could legitimately claim that it did.

"Leave..."

"Watch...It!"

"Bounce..."

"Deep..."

Communication is vital in doubles, but it is one of the most overlooked weapons. This is probably due to the fact
that some people play singles as well and are used to talking more to themselves. Whatever you feel that you
need to communicate to your partner, be sure to say it and not just think it.

Reaction Time - Return of Serve

There is not as great a difference between your reaction time and that of the pro's - the
big difference is in what you react to and what you do first!

Example: The pro's react to an opponent's toss, or no later than whe the strings meet
the ball. Most of us react as the ball passes the net or, worse yet, as the ball bounces in
your court.

Here's how it affects you...(the following speed of serve figures are calculated as
actual time over distance; radar guns seem to clock higher but they only measure
the speed of the ball as it leaves the racquet) On the left is the speed of the serve and
on the right is the amount of time that you have to react to the ball.

Speed of Serve = Reaction Time

120 MPH = .454 Seconds
100 MPH = .547 Sec
80 MPH = .683 Sec
70 MPH = .784 Sec
60 MPH = .909 Sec
50 MPH = 1.09 Sec
40 MPH = 1.38 Sec

Most often, you will have from .909 to 1.38 seconds of reaction time available. But if you react when
the ball is passing the net or about to bounce you are, in effect, attempting to play against a 110+
mph serve.

The solution and the way to move up a whole NTRP level is to train youself to react to your opponent's
toss or contact with the ball.

Contact Information:
Harlingen Tennis Center: (956) 428 - 2092
Ask for Don


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In the game of doubles tennis, there are a few basics that everyone needs to know in order to be successful. Succesful does not necesarily mean that you will win every match. Success in tennis, or life, is different for every player. Here we present a basic guide to better doubles. There are some terms that you will often here as a novice player. One of them is: "No man's land". So as not to sound prejudicial towards women and to be a little more honest, we will call this area "The Bozo Zone". In other words, we don't want to stand in this area in doubles and wind up looking like bozo the clown. The Bozo Zone is a very dangerous place to be in doubles. At the beginner levels it is ok, but once you start playing someone who's had a racket in their hands for more than a few months, their shots will invariably land in this area. This means they will land at your feet. Digging shots that go to your shoe laces is difficult. Usually, you will miss the shot or you will be forced to hit the ball upwards, resulting in an easy put away for your opponents (not to mention straining your friendship with your net partner who you just turned into a target!). Who wants to look like that clown in the picture, right? The moral of the story is..... GET OUT OF THE BOZO ZONE!!! Volley posture is next. In doubles, you want to control the net. That means moving forwards. Who wants to go backwards in life?!? Move forwards! Of course, you can't go to the front lines of battle unprepared! You can't face off for the heavy-weight boxing championship of the world and not have your guard up! Remember that your racket should be at eye level. If you forget that you also need to move forward, just remember one of our favorite "monster" tennis players below! Copy the Fankenstein Monster! Get your arms up! Move forward! Doubles Talk Defined "Got It!" "I can take this ball" (reassurance) "You still have the option to take it if you have a better shot...but you must call "MINE!" "Mine!" "I am definitely taking this ball so give me room" Trumps your partner...even if he/she said "Got it!" it is now your ball. "Yours!" "Take It!" "I am unable to make the play" "Please help!" The following four phrases are for you to communicate to your partner that the ball might bo long or wide. It is a way for you to warn an overeager partner to let the ball bounce before he or she hits it. Notice the word "out" is not among these. If you call "out!" to your partner as a warning, it could disrupt your opponents, or worse; they may not have been thrown off, but they could legitimately claim that it did. "Leave..." "Watch...It!" "Bounce..." "Deep..." Communication is vital in doubles, but it is one of the most overlooked weapons. This is probably due to the fact that some people play singles as well and are used to talking more to themselves. Whatever you feel that you need to communicate to your partner, be sure to say it and not just think it. Reaction Time - Return of Serve There is not as great a difference between your reaction time and that of the pro's - the big difference is in what you react to and what you do first! Example: The pro's react to an opponent's toss, or no later than whe the strings meet the ball. Most of us react as the ball passes the net or, worse yet, as the ball bounces in your court. Here's how it affects you...(the following speed of serve figures are calculated as actual time over distance; radar guns seem to clock higher but they only measure the speed of the ball as it leaves the racquet) On the left is the speed of the serve and on the right is the amount of time that you have to react to the ball. Speed of Serve = Reaction Time 120 MPH = .454 Seconds 100 MPH = .547 Sec 80 MPH = .683 Sec 70 MPH = .784 Sec 60 MPH = .909 Sec 50 MPH = 1.09 Sec 40 MPH = 1.38 Sec Most often, you will have from .909 to 1.38 seconds of reaction time available. But if you react when the ball is passing the net or about to bounce you are, in effect, attempting to play against a 110+ mph serve. The solution and the way to move up a whole NTRP level is to train youself to react to your opponent's toss or contact with the ball. Contact Information: Harlingen Tennis Center: (956) 428 - 2092 Ask for Don