Women’s Doubles and Your Doubles

How do changes in equipment affect doubles at the pro, and at the club level? When most people talk tennis, they talk about singles.  When most people play tennis, they play doubles.  With that in mind, I will make 3 statements about doubles that you may or may not agree with:  Professional doubles (men’s and women’s), has changed as much or more than singles over the past 10 years.  The return of serve is more of a weapon that at any time in the history of tennis.    Changes in equipment and stroke production make doubles at all levels much more complex.  There are now more potential viable strategies.  Shots that at one time were low percentage or ill advised may now be very sound options.   The Women's Model? In an earlier article I suggested that modern women’s singles was often a better model for the club player.  I also believe that, in many cases, the same is true in women’s doubles, especially when it comes to the new options.   The truth is that the world of women’s tennis is full of reluctant volleyers. For many players, their returns and groundstrokes are much better than their net play.  Women's...