Serving in the System

If you understand the principles of serving in doubles, you can hold consistently.

Many if not most club players struggle mightily to hold serve in doubles, and especially when it counts most. But the fact is, if players really understand serving, most can hold on a consistent basis.

Holding serve makes everything easier. There is less stress in your service games, and you can be more aggressive in your return games. This creates mental and emotional advantages.

There are several basic problems that prevent most teams from holding serve. In fact some of the most common beliefs about serving make it difficult or impossible to hold on a consistent basis.

The most common misconception is that being a good server means overpowering your opponents. In fact, powerful serves can actually be a liability in playing attacking doubles.

Why? Because fast serves lead to fast returns, limit the server’s ability to reach the net, and tend to force difficult low volleys.

Most club players have an unreliable flat first serve. They overhit it wildly and it rarely goes in. They also tend to have a second serve with significantly slower racket speed.

In general, they have little serve variety and little…