Good communication is essential for success in doubles. After all, you and your partner have to work together as a team, and you can’t do that effectively if you don’t talk. Many doubles players go into their huddle and plan their moves when they’re serving, but not as many do the same thing when they’re receiving. That’s a mistake. When you’re returning serve you can help your partner out, and vice versa, by letting him know ahead of time what you intend to do with the ball. Try this: before you receive serve, decide in advance what you want to do with the ball—go crosscourt, hit at the net man, try to pass down the line, or put up a lob. Then tell your partner so he can be ready. Stick to your decision as best you can regardless of what the serving team does. This will accomplish two things for you. First, by communicating your plan to your partner, you enable him to adjust accordingly. For example, if he knows you’re going to lob he can be ready a split-second sooner to move back if your ball is short and it looks like he’ll be on the receiving end of an overhead. Second, you improve your chances of making a strong return. By picking your shots ahead of time you eliminate indecision and make it easier to focus on what you need to do.

Bounce for better poaches: If you are going to poach a service return, start to move when the served ball bounces. At that point, your opponent will have his or her racquet back in preparation for a return. Move at an angle simultaneously toward the ball and toward the net for an easy volley. And don’t forget to let your partner know you are going to poach before the point starts!

Mirror your opponents: If both of your opponents are closing in to the net, mirror that image and close in as well. If an opponent backs up behind the baseline for a shot, then you and your partner should mirror that movement and back up toward the service line in anticipation of a lob. If the opponents move to one side of the court to reach a shot, you and your partner should follow and sway with the movement of the ball. If you keep moving with your opponents, you’ll be in position to win the match.

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