Improving tennis doubles communication starts with talking to your partner before, during, and after every single point. That means agreeing on a game plan before the match, using hand signals before each serve, calling “mine” or “yours” on every ball that comes near the middle, and checking in with positive words between points. According to USPTA doubles strategist Craig O’Shannessy, 81 percent of points in doubles end in four shots or fewer. That leaves almost no time for mid-rally adjustments, which is why the communication that happens before and between points matters more than anything you say during one. This guide covers the verbal calls, hand signals, body language, and teamwork habits that separate winning doubles teams from those who lose to miscommunication and confusion.
Why Is Communication the Most Important Skill in Doubles Tennis?
Communication is the most important skill in doubles tennis because two players must share one court, make split-second decisions about who takes each ball, and coordinate their movement as a team. Without clear communication, both players go for the same ball, or worse, both players leave it. These breakdowns cost points and create frustration that compounds over the course of a match.
According to O’Shannessy’s USPTA research, 84 percent of winners in doubles are hit by the net player, not the baseline player. That means the net player’s ability to read the play, call their intention, and move confidently depends entirely on knowing what their partner is doing behind them. That knowledge only comes from communication. Venus Williams has said that doubles partners who are not talking to each other every few points are, in her words, playing without a plan. Tennis Quick Tips host Kim Selzman reinforces this idea, noting that constant communication is the hallmark of every successful doubles team.
Adults who play adult group tennis lessons in North York often discover that doubles communication is the fastest way to start winning more matches, even before their strokes improve. A team that talks beats a team that does not, regardless of skill level.
What Do Doubles Players Whisper to Each Other?
Doubles players whisper to each other about serve direction, poaching plans, and tactical adjustments between points. The “whisper” usually happens when the net player turns their back to the opponents and holds up hand signals behind their back while talking quietly with the server. This brief exchange sets up the entire point.
The most common topics covered in these quick conversations include where the server will place the serve (wide, down the T, or body), whether the net player plans to poach or stay, and what the team should do if the return goes to a specific area. At the professional level and at competitive club matches near Bayview Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East in North York, these exchanges happen before every single service point. At the recreational level, even talking before every other game makes a noticeable difference.
The content of the whisper matters less than the habit of doing it. Just the act of connecting with your partner before each point creates alignment and trust. It also keeps both players mentally engaged rather than zoning out between points, which is when focus often drifts in recreational matches near Hillcrest Village and the wider Bayview corridor.
What Hand Signals Do Doubles Partners Use?
Doubles partners use hand signals behind the server’s back to communicate serve direction and net movement without the opponents hearing. The net player holds their hand behind their back and shows one of two sets of signals. The first signal tells the server where to place the serve. The second signal tells the server whether the net player plans to poach (cross) or stay.
According to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the most common hand signals use specific fingers to indicate serve direction: the index finger for down the T, the little finger for wide, and the thumb for body or middle of the box. For movement, a closed fist means the net player will stay in position, while an open hand or a pointing gesture means they plan to poach across. These signals are simple, fast, and easy to learn. Tennis Creative founder Chris Czermak recommends starting with just two signals, stay or poach, and adding serve direction signals once the basic system feels comfortable.
Players near Don Mills, Willowdale, and the Yonge and Sheppard area in North York can practise these signals with their partner before stepping on the court. Run through 20 practice serves with signals before starting your match, and the habit will start to feel natural within one or two sessions. For players who want to refine their serve placement to match their signal calls, improving shot placement and accuracy covers the mechanics behind hitting specific targets.
How Do You Communicate With Your Partner During a Point?
You communicate with your partner during a point by calling “mine” or “yours” on every ball that comes near the shared middle zone of the court. This call must be loud, early, and decisive. Hesitation causes both players to reach for the same ball or freeze, which almost always results in a lost point.
Beyond verbal calls, body language and court positioning also communicate intention during a point. If you move closer to the net, your partner knows you are looking to intercept. If you take a step back, it signals that you expect a lob. According to the Athletes Untapped doubles communication guide, your positioning on the court tells your partner what you are planning even without words. Eye contact between points reinforces this non-verbal connection.
One effective drill is to play practice points where no talking is allowed after the serve. This forces both partners to communicate entirely through movement and positioning, which builds the instinct to read your partner’s body language and anticipate their next move. Adults from Henry Farm, Pleasant View, and the Bayview Village area in North York who run this drill for even 15 minutes per session notice a significant improvement in their court awareness during real matches.
What Should You Say to Your Partner Between Points?
Between points, you should say something positive and tactical to your partner. A quick “good shot,” “we’ve got this,” or “stay with the plan” keeps energy high and focus sharp. Never criticize your partner’s mistakes during a match. A short “no worries, next point” after an error is all that is needed.
According to the Tennis-Liga doubles communication guide, positive language on the court boosts confidence, maintains focus, and creates a supportive atmosphere that can also rattle opponents. When your partner misses a shot, give them a high five and say “we’ll get the next one.” When you fall behind, remind them “we’re good, let’s take this point.” This kind of verbal support costs nothing and makes a real difference in tight sets.
Tactical communication between points is equally important. Use the changeover or the walk back to position to quickly discuss what you are seeing. For example, “their backhand return is going cross-court every time, so I’m going to poach next time you serve to the ad side.” These short, specific conversations give both players a plan for the next few points. Couples and partners from Newtonbrook, Lansing, and the Finch Avenue corridor in North York who play together regularly find that this between-point habit becomes second nature within a few weeks of deliberate practice.
Staying positive after mistakes is one of the hardest parts of doubles communication. The temptation to dwell on an error or silently blame your partner can poison a match quickly. Building a strong tennis mindset helps both partners move past mistakes and stay focused on the next point rather than the last one.
Where Should I Stand in Doubles?
In doubles, the server should stand within 2 to 4 feet of the centre mark, and the net player should position about halfway between the net and the service line, roughly 2 to 4 feet from the doubles alley. On the return side, the returner stands near the baseline, and the returner’s partner starts at or just behind the service line.
The most important positioning principle in doubles is moving as a unit with your partner. LTA expert coach Matt Smith explains that the four roles in doubles, server, server’s partner, returner, and returner’s partner, all require active movement throughout the point. If your partner gets pulled wide, you shift toward the middle to cover the gap. If they push in, you can hold wider. This synchronized movement is sometimes called the “rubber band” principle because the two players stretch and contract together like a rubber band connecting them.
According to O’Shannessy’s USPTA data, the serving team hits the last shot 64 percent of the time, and that team is almost always the one that moved forward to the net. Getting to the net together is the statistically correct positioning strategy, and it starts with clear communication about when and how to close in. Players near the Don Valley Parkway and Leslie Street area in North York who practise closing to the net as a pair will immediately see more points finishing in their favour.
Effective doubles positioning also depends on quick first-step reactions. The split step in tennis is the foundation of doubles readiness, and players who master it can react to any shot faster, which gives their partner more confidence that the court is covered.
What Is the Best Tactic for Doubles?
The best tactic for doubles is to control the net, hit the ball through the middle of the court, and target the feet of the opposing net player. O’Shannessy’s data shows that 84 percent of winners in doubles come from the net, and hitting down the middle creates confusion between opponents because both players must decide who takes the shot.
Communication makes this tactic work. Before the serve, agree on the plan. The server places the ball to a specific spot, the net player poaches or stays based on the signal, and both players move forward together. Without that pre-point communication, the serve goes in without purpose, the net player stands still, and the team plays reactively instead of proactively.
Recreational players across North York, from the Sheppard corridor to Bayview Village and Hillcrest Village, who adopt this simple “serve, signal, close” routine will see an immediate improvement in their doubles results. Teams that communicate their plan win more points than teams with better strokes but no plan. Private doubles coaching at Hillcrest Tennis Camp gives partners the chance to practise these tactics together with a certified coach who can run live point drills matched to their partnership.
How to Get Better at Doubles in Tennis?
To get better at doubles in tennis, focus on three areas: communication, net play, and return of serve. These three skills decide the outcome of most doubles points. The team that talks more, gets to the net first, and returns serve consistently wins the majority of recreational doubles matches regardless of individual shot quality.
Play with the same partner as often as possible. Chemistry in doubles comes from repetition. The more you play together, the better you read each other’s movements, anticipate each other’s decisions, and communicate without needing to say much at all. According to Gitnux tennis participation data, approximately 60 percent of active adult players cite socializing as a key motivator for playing tennis. Doubles, and mixed doubles in particular, maximizes this social element while building real competitive skills.
Adults near Bayview Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East in North York who train in small-group adult lessons at Hillcrest Tennis Camp develop doubles skills through structured drills that focus on positioning, communication, and match play at a 4:1 student-to-coach ratio. That level of personal attention accelerates improvement faster than casual hitting alone.
Pairs who want to sharpen their volley skills at the net will also benefit from working on drop shots with touch and timing, which are key weapons in doubles for pulling opponents forward and creating easy put-away volleys.
Can Tennis Lower Cortisol?
Yes, tennis can lower cortisol. Cortisol is the body’s primary stress hormone, and regular physical exercise, including tennis, reduces cortisol levels while increasing endorphins, the brain’s natural mood-boosting chemicals. According to Northwell Health, regular tennis play lowers cortisol levels, reduces stress and anxiety, and builds emotional resilience through the competitive demands of the sport.
WebMD reports that 75 to 90 percent of doctor visits are related to stress, and that 20 to 30 minutes of exercise per day, including tennis, can make people feel calmer for several hours afterward. Mayo Clinic confirms that aerobic activities like tennis pump up endorphin production and cut down the negative effects of stress. A study conducted by USTA National found that tennis players showed significantly lower levels of stress, depression, and anxiety compared to non-players.
Doubles tennis adds an extra layer of stress relief because of the social connection with a partner. Playing with someone you communicate well with turns each session into both a workout and a social outlet. Adults from the Willowdale, Oriole, and Cummer Park areas in North York who play doubles two to three times a week are getting both the physical and mental health benefits that keep cortisol in check. Tennis is one of the few sports that combines cardio, strategy, social interaction, and outdoor activity all at once, and the coaching team at Hillcrest Tennis Camp builds programs around all of these elements.
What Are the 5 C’s in Tennis?
The 5 C’s in tennis are Consistency, Control, Court awareness, Communication, and Confidence. In doubles, communication and court awareness carry even more weight than in singles because you are coordinating with a partner while managing two opponents.
Consistency means keeping the ball in play and reducing unforced errors. Control means placing your shots with intention. Court awareness means knowing where all four players are and adjusting your position in real time. Communication means talking to your partner constantly and using signals to stay on the same page. Confidence means trusting your shots, trusting your partner, and staying mentally tough during tight moments. Doubles teams near Edwards Gardens and the East Don Parklands in North York who focus on all 5 C’s during practice will see their match results improve faster than teams that focus only on hitting harder.
Building confidence under pressure is one of the hardest parts of doubles, especially in tiebreaks and deuce games. Players who want to strengthen their mental game will find practical strategies in handling pressure points in a tennis match, which applies directly to high-stakes doubles situations.
Doubles Communication Checklist: Before, During, and After Points
| Timing | What to Communicate | How to Communicate It |
|---|---|---|
| Before the Match | Game plan, serving order, which side each player takes, known opponent weaknesses | Verbal conversation during warm-up |
| Before Each Serve (Serving Team) | Serve direction (wide, T, body), net player movement (stay or poach) | Hand signals behind back, quick whisper |
| Before Each Return (Returning Team) | Return target (cross-court, middle, lob), partner positioning | Hand signals, quick verbal cue |
| During the Point | “Mine” or “yours” on shared balls, “switch” after lobs, “bounce” to let out balls go | Loud verbal calls, body positioning |
| Between Points | Encouragement, tactical observations, plan for next point | Quick verbal exchange, fist bump, racquet tap |
| On Changeovers | Serve order adjustments, pattern recognition, strategy changes | Sit-down conversation, eye contact, positive tone |
Sources: Craig O’Shannessy, USPTA doubles strategy analysis; Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) doubles tactics guide; Tennis Creative hand signals guide; Athletes Untapped communication drills framework.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need to Use Hand Signals in Recreational Doubles?
No, you do not need to use hand signals in recreational doubles, but they help a lot even at the beginner level. Starting with one simple signal, such as “I’m going to poach” or “I’m staying,” gives both players a clear plan before the serve and reduces confusion during the point. Players at courts near Cresthaven Park and Bayview Avenue in North York who start using even one or two signals will notice a difference in their coordination right away.
How Do I Stop Arguing With My Doubles Partner on the Court?
To stop arguing with your doubles partner on the court, agree on a game plan before the match, keep all communication positive during play, and save tactical feedback for changeovers. Never criticize a mistake in the moment. A simple “no worries, next point” keeps the energy moving forward. According to the Tennis-Liga communication guide, good listening and positive language prevent most doubles disagreements. Partners from Willowdale, Lansing, and the Don Mills corridor who focus on encouragement instead of blame see better results and enjoy the match more.
What Should I Do if My Partner and I Both Go for the Same Ball?
If you and your partner both go for the same ball, the solution is to call “mine” or “yours” louder and earlier on the next point. After the collision, laugh it off and agree on a rule: whoever has the forehand takes the middle ball, or the player closer to the net takes priority. Pick one system, commit to it, and reinforce it by calling every ball for the rest of the match. Doubles teams near the Sheppard and Leslie intersection in North York who make this one adjustment typically stop crashing into each other within the first set.
Is Doubles Tennis Good for Mental Health?
Yes, doubles tennis is excellent for mental health. According to a USTA National study, tennis players showed significantly lower levels of stress, depression, and anxiety compared to non-players. The Tennis Industry Association found that 74 percent of players reported increased happiness after playing regularly. Doubles adds the social connection of a partner, which further reduces feelings of isolation. Adults from the Bayview Village and Earl Bales Park areas in North York who play doubles two to three times a week combine cardiovascular exercise with social interaction, both of which are proven to lower cortisol and improve mood.
Can a Coach Help My Partner and Me Improve Our Doubles Communication?
Yes, a coach can significantly improve your doubles communication. A certified instructor can run live-point drills where both partners are on the court at the same time, practising hand signals, positioning, and in-point calls in a controlled environment. Private tennis coaching at Hillcrest Tennis Camp in North York offers one-on-one and semi-private sessions where couples, friends, or regular partners can work on their doubles game together with a coach who provides immediate feedback.
How Often Should Doubles Partners Communicate During a Match?
Doubles partners should communicate before every serve, after every point, and during every changeover. During the point itself, verbal calls are needed whenever the ball comes near the shared middle zone. Venus Williams has emphasized that doubles partners who are not talking to each other every few points are playing without a plan. Players near Finch Avenue and Don Mills Road in North York who commit to communicating on every point will see a measurable improvement in their doubles win rate within weeks.
Where Can I Play Doubles and Improve My Communication in North York?
You can play doubles and improve your communication at Hillcrest Tennis Camp, located at 37 Cresthaven Dr in North York near Bayview Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East. The adult group lesson program includes doubles-specific drills, positioning exercises, and match play scenarios led by certified coaches at a 4:1 student-to-coach ratio.
The facility also hosts weekly round-robin events through the club membership, which give adults regular opportunities to play doubles and build partnerships with other members from across North York.
Mastering Tennis Doubles Communication for Better Results
Doubles communication is not a nice-to-have skill. It is the foundation that every other doubles tactic depends on. The data from O’Shannessy’s USPTA research is clear: 84 percent of doubles winners come from the net, 81 percent of points end in four shots or fewer, and the serving team hits the last shot 64 percent of the time. None of those advantages matter if you and your partner are not on the same page. Talk before every serve. Call every ball during the point. Encourage your partner between points. Use hand signals to stay one step ahead of the other team. These habits separate winning doubles teams from losing ones at every level.
If you want to improve your doubles game in North York, Hillcrest Tennis Camp at 37 Cresthaven Dr has the coaching, the courts, and the community to help you get there. With a Tennis Canada National Coach, a former Davis Cup player, a 4:1 ratio in adult programs, and a welcoming atmosphere for players at every level, it is the right place to build your doubles skills from the ground up.
Call 647-335-7473 or visit the contact page to book a lesson or join a group session. The courts near Bayview Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East are open seven days a week from spring through fall. Bring your partner, or come alone and find one here.
