Lost a match 21-18 because we both called "mine!" and watched the shuttle drop between us.
Tournament quarterfinals. Score tied 18-18. Shuttle drops right between me and my partner. We both yell "mine!" at the same time, both freeze, shuttle hits the floor.
Lost 21-18. Drove home in silence. Didn't play together for two weeks.
Bad communication destroys doubles partnerships faster than skill gaps. Here's what finally fixed our issues after playing together for 8 months.
For our first six months, we used the classic system: yell "mine" if you're taking it, "yours" if your partner should.
Problem? In fast rallies, you don't have time to process language. By the time your brain registers "mine" or "yours," the shuttle is past you.
We had shuttle drops between us every match. Both go for it = collision. Both leave it = point lost. Frustrating and embarrassing.
Switched to a simpler system after watching tournament players. Only the person taking the shot speaks. Silence means "I'm not taking it."
If I'm taking it: Short, loud "YES!" or "MINE!"
If I'm not taking it: I say nothing, move to cover my position.
This system cut our miscommunication by 80% immediately. One voice means one decision. No confusion about who said what.
đĄ What Actually Helped: We practiced this during warm-up drills for 10 minutes before every session for two weeks. Hit random shots at the midline area where confusion happens. Forced ourselves to use the system even in low-pressure situations until it became automatic.
Even with a good call system, some situations are too fast for calling. We needed default rules for common scenarios.
Here's what we agreed on:
Midline shuttles: Front player takes it by default (they see it better, have better angle). Back player only calls if front player is clearly out of position.
Shuttles at the net: Player closest to the net takes it. If both are equal distance, forehand side takes it (stronger shot angle).
Overhead shuttles down the middle: Player with forehand overhead takes it (more power and accuracy than backhand overhead).
Low drives at our bodies: Whichever player is in attacking position (front of the court) takes it. Back player covers defense.
We rehearsed these scenarios during practice until they were automatic. Now we rarely need to call for these common situationsâwe just know who takes what.
We used to walk back to serve in silence after losing points. Resentment built up fast.
Now we have a strict rule: after every 3-4 points, quick check-in. Doesn't need to be long.
"You good?" / "Yeah, I'm good."
"My fault, I got the next one."
"Watch their cross-court, they hit it twice in a row."
Just acknowledging each other prevents the silent frustration that killed our partnership early on.
â ď¸ Mistake I Made: Used to give my partner "coaching" between points. "You need to move faster" or "Stop hitting it there." He hated it. Made things worse. Now I save feedback for after the match. During matches, only positive or tactical communication.
We were getting crushed on serve returns. Opponents would serve to me, I'd lift it weakly, my partner would be in the wrong position.
Implemented simple hand signals behind our backs while waiting to receive serve:
Closed fist: "I'm attacking if I get a short serve." Partner prepares for fast net exchange.
Open palm: "I'm lifting/clearing if I get a short serve." Partner drops back for defense.
Two fingers: "I'm going down the line if possible." Partner shifts to cover cross-court.
This telegraphs our strategy to each other without alerting opponents. Our return game improved instantly because my partner knew what I was planning.
Lost a match 21-14 once because I was furious at my partner. He hit three errors in a row, I stopped communicating, we both played terribly.
Here's our rule now: Mistakes are "ours," not "yours" or "mine."
Partner hits into the net? "Unlucky, shake it off."
I miss an easy smash? Partner says "Next point."
NO blame during matches. Save analysis for after. This one change saved our partnership.
We learned this from watching professional doubles. Even when one player makes an obvious error, the partner never shows frustration visibly. They tap rackets, say something encouraging, move on.
After playing together for a year, I can tell when my partner is tired, frustrated, or losing confidence just by his footwork and shot selection.
When he's tired: His clears get shorter, he stops moving back to center quickly. I start taking more shots and let him recover.
When he's frustrated: He goes for risky smashes instead of safer placement. I play more conservative to balance it out.
When he's confident: He's aggressive at the net, fast reactions. I feed him more opportunities.
This awareness only comes from playing together regularly. But once you develop it, you can adjust your strategy mid-game without speaking.
We used to just walk onto the court and play. No plan, no strategy discussion.
Now we spend 5 minutes before every match talking about:
Having a shared game plan before stepping on court makes in-game decisions easier. We're on the same page from the first serve.
Honest truth: Some partnerships don't work. I played with a guy for 4 months. We tried everything in this guide. Still lost constantly and argued after every match.
Switched partners. New guy, instant chemistry. Won 70% of our matches in the first month.
Sometimes it's not about communication systemsâit's about compatible playing styles and personalities. If you've tried for 3-4 months and still have constant conflicts, it might be time to find a better match.
Signs a partnership won't work:
My current partner and I have played together for 18 months. We've developed shorthand communication that looks like telepathy to outsiders.
This didn't happen overnight. Required:
Regular play together: At least once per week. Partnerships need reps to build chemistry.
Honest post-match analysis: After every match, we spend 10 minutes discussing what worked and what didn't. No blame, just facts.
Practicing together, not just playing: We drill specific scenarios (serve returns, midline shots, rotation patterns) during practice. Match play alone doesn't build systems.
Celebrating successes together: When we win, we acknowledge good shots from each other. Positive reinforcement builds partnership faster than anything.
Good doubles communication isn't about talking more. It's about having clear systems that reduce the need for talking.
Start with the basics: one-person-calls system, default player rules, between-point check-ins. Build from there.
Most importantly, commit to the partnership. Communication systems only work if both players buy in and practice them consistently.
After implementing these systems with my partner, we went from a 40% win rate to 65% in three months. Same skill level, same opponents. Just better communication.
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