importance while serving. Errors on the serve must be eliminated as much as possible. With the new rally scoring system, the server is not rewarded for aggressive or risky maneuvers. The drive and flick serves may give your opponents a different look and keep them more honest while they are receiving the serve. You can use either the forehand or backhand serving motion effectively. Because the low serve is used most often, it is important to hit a safe, conservative return of serve that will keep your opponents honest and cause them to lift your return. The new scoring system does not seem to reward riskier returns of serve that result in unforced errors or have little chance for success.
Your position in doubles to a great extent deter- mines the type of return that you or your partner will make and how effectively you will both be able to get to your opponents’ return. Figure 10.1 shows the beginning position for both teams as the serve is delivered. Both the server and the receiver are trying to get their opponents to lift the shuttle up to them or to their partners.
Initially, both teams are vying for the offensive position, so they both start up and back. Because you can score on every point, it is necessary to develop an accurate and consistent low serve while standing as close to the short service line and the centerline as possible. Errors on the serve now result in a point for the receiving team so consistency and accuracy are of even more
Figure 10.1 Beginning positions for doubles players. Both teams begin play in up and back positions.
Doubles Play
Misstep
You consistently serve the shuttle too short or too high.
Correction
This error can lead you to lack confidence in the short serve, leading to a lack of success.
Practice the short serve with both forehand and backhand deliveries until you are consistent and confident.
or her to hit the shuttle up. The half-court drive or push return is your best overall answer to a good serve. Half-court returns and drives are the safest choices during men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles play. The main objectives are to keep the shuttle going downward, gain the of- fensive position, and keep it. Figures 10.2 and 10.3 illustrate the rotational system of doubles court coverage.
One of the following three returns should be successful: a push shot, a midcourt drive, or a net drop shot. Direct the midcourt drive or push shot past the partner at the net to cause the back partner to contact the shuttle low and force him or her to lift the shuttle upward. However, if the partner who is up does not play aggressively toward the net after serving, then a hairpin or tumble drop shot at the net should force him
Figure 10.2 Doubles positions using an up-and-back offense and defense after a service return.
Misstep
You and your partner have indecision about who should make the return.
Correction
Try to consistently be in the proper position. When returns are hit down the middle of the court, the partner who has the shuttle on his or her forehand side should make the return.
Figure 10.3 Doubles positions during a rally using an up-and-back offense and a side-by-side defense.
The up-and-back system is preferable when you have the shuttle going down into your op- ponents’ court or when your opponents are forced to hit upward. The side-by-side formation provides a better defense and allows you and your partner to more easily return any of your opponents’ shots that are hit downward. Gener-
ally speaking, every return you or your partner make should have the objective of forcing your opponents to lift or clear their return. However, the rotational system, in which you change from being up and back to being side by side, allows transition between offensive and defensive rallies.
Doubles Play
Misstep
Too many of your returns are hit upward.
Correction
When in doubt, smash!
At times you or your partner will have to lift or clear the shuttle. In this case, you should shift to the side-by-side formation. If you or your partner is able to hit a return downward and force your opponents to lift the shuttle, then you should shift into the up-and-back formation.
Another example of shifting to the up-and- back formation would be on a high serve de- livered to you or your partner. As soon as the high serve is delivered to your partner, change places. From his or her up position receiving
the serve, he or she moves back to return the high serve. From your back position straddling the centerline, move to the net and prepare for any net returns from your partner’s downward return of serve. The same is true in reverse when either you or your partner initiates a high serve.
When a high serve is delivered from the server’s up position, he or she rotates back into the side- by-side formation. As soon as you recognize your partner’s high serve, you move opposite your partner, side by side, to cover the other side.