Mixed doubles isn't actually much different from men's or women's doubles when it comes to developing a strategy. However, several things happen more often in mixed. It's good to know what those are and how to handle them.

This episode will help you think about mixed doubles with clear rules for serve order, return sides, and court position that help you win.

• The differences between the girl and the guy in mixed
• How girls can deal with faster pace
• How guys can deal with slower pace and lobs
• Who should serve first? Not always the guy
• Who should play the ad side?
• When to adjust your return positioning
• Using lobs to neutralize opponents
• When to play two back
• When to target the girl
• Why guys need to STOP COACHING!
• Stories from my own mixed doubles matches

If you have more questions about mixed doubles, send them my way!

Links:

• Rally Trip at Indian Wells: https://www.therosegoldgroup.com/details-bnp ($100 off if you sign up during December)

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**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Calvin Betton coaches ATP #3 doubles player, Henry Patten, and ATP #38, Luke Johnson. Henry and his partner, Harri Heliovaara, won the ATP Finals earlier this month. I spoke with them at Indian Wells earlier this year (listen here).

This conversation with Calvin unpacks their title run at the ATP Finals, the idea of momentum in doubles, and how return pressure transformed late‑season results. We reflect on the 2025 season and look ahead to 2026.

• Lessons from variance and tight losses
• Why momentum misleads us in doubles scoring
• ATP Finals format and strategic adjustments
• Scouting top teams and exposing patterns
• Return identities and training frameworks
• A deepdive into the lob return: topspin vs flat vs chip lobs
• Off‑season planning for Henry and Luke
• US Open mixed doubles impact and narratives
• Partnership updates and 2026 outlook

Learn more about Calvin & follow:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Host of the Tennis Unfiltered Podcast

Links:

• Calvin's X thread of packed doubles stadiums
• Previous podcast with Calvin, Luke Johnson, and Sander Arends
• Previous podcast with Calvin from the 2025 Australian Open

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

In this 'Ask Me Anything' episode, I cover a variety of your questions from Instagram, email, and the membership.

Topics include 1st serve percentage, poaching, volley targets, 2-up vs 1-up 1-back, net positioning and movement, and more. In total, I answer seven questions. The first three are free to all, while you'll need to become a member for the last four.

• My 3-step system to improve first-serve percentage
• Drills for improving your first serve
• What to do at the net when there's a fast-paced crosscourt rally
• Why the triangle pattern at the net is mostly useless
• Should you poach anyway, even if your partner doesn't like calling plays?
• Members only: The best volley targets in certain situations
• Members only: When to hit at net player vs back deep to the baseliner
• Members only: When it's okay to play 2-up instead of 1-up 1-back
• Members only: How to handle 4.5 teams who have one player hitting high, heavy lobs, while their partner finishes at the net

Links:

• Early-bird pricing for the Indian Wells Rally Trip ends December 1 (use coupon code TennisTribe).
• Email will[at]thetennistribe.com if you're interested in a doubles camp for your team.
• Become a member to get the last four lessons.
• Already a member? Download the member podcast feed.

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

A few months ago, I trained a Dallas 3.0 team as they prepared for USTA Nationals. They won nationals a few weeks later, going 6-0. This podcast is a conversation with that team.

They went from wildcards in the city playoffs, with some doubts on if they should even be there, to 2025 National Champions. They used data-driven scouting, heavy match play, a team-first mindset, and strategy.

If you're a league player or USTA captain, this episode is a must-listen.

• Setting clear expectations for roster and roles
• Scouting opponents with dynamic ratings and win data
• Pairing doubles teams by similar skill and compatible styles
• How much they played leading up to Nationals
• Building trust through fixed partnerships and reps
• Reading opponents' patterns in singles and doubles
• How one team came back from 1-5 down
• Making in-match adjustments that changed momentum
• How to handle a team that hits hard and poaches a lot
• Targeting weaker opponents without forcing errors
• Handling pressure in semifinals
• Being down a Championship point and still winning
• Roadmap and mindset for moving up to 3.5

Links:

• Join me for the Indian Wells Rally Trip in 2026 (Use coupon TENNISTRIBE)
• The training presentation before Nationals

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Link to the Instagram Post

Possibly the most important skill to have in doubles, aside from the serve and return, is poaching. In this episode, I break down the poaching mistakes I see over and over again from doubles players at all levels.

We'll discuss timing, direction, and simple positioning that can flip returns into easy finishes. Members get the full five-mistake breakdown plus drills. The free preview covers the two biggest errors and how to fix them fast.

• Exactly when to move on your poach, and the biggest mistake club players make when poaching
• How skill level, pace, and opponent depth change your poach timing
• A common movement mistake that could be causing you to miss volleys
• Where to start and where you should NOT start in the service box and the “window” concept
• Using a quiet racket face for clean finishes
• Members only: How close you should be at the net
• Members only: How to finish your volleys and stop hitting it back to the baseline player
• Members only: When it's OK to cover the alley and not poach
• Members only:  Drills to help your poaching skills

To get the rest of the episode, sign up for a membership here: https://thetennistribe.com/memberships/

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

David Macpherson coached the Bryan Brothers for over 15 years. He's a former #11-ranked ATP doubles player and also coached John Isner from 2018 to 2023. He's one of the smartest doubles coaches on the planet, so you'll learn a ton in this conversation.

We unpack how smart scouting, sharp words, and steady culture turned the Bryan Brothers into the GOATs and made John Isner a doubles force for a short stretch in 2022. We also discussed tactics for club players.

• Early mentors shaping his precise coaching voice
• Advice for coaches on saying less, backing the plan, and owning the misses
• A story from the Wimbledon final where David's scouting turned out wrong
• Managing Bob and Mike's practice rivalry without taking sides
• Why groundstroke reliability helped their doubles success
• Club tactics on lobs, net depth, and flexible positioning
• Serve strategy and weighing your strengths vs the opponent's weaknesses
• Why Bob Bryan had to abandon the lob return vs a certain opponent and why
• Team chemistry as a competitive advantage
• Coaching John Isner around strengths, returns, and net instincts
• Ideas to make men’s doubles more watchable for fans

Learn more about David & follow:

• Wikipedia
• Instagram

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

I recently helped two 3.0 ladies' teams prepare for USTA Nationals. The 1st team actually won Nationals in the 40+ division this past weekend.

We spent 30 minutes discussing strategy before playing doubles for a few hours. This episode previews the first 10 minutes of the strategy discussion with the 2nd team, who heads to Nationals next week.

• How doubles matches are won lost.
• The importance of understanding rally length.
• What to practice leading up to nationals.
• Members only: My favorite ways to force errors
• Members only: Team roles.
• Members only: The 3 things that give 3.0 to 4.0 players the most problems and how to fix them.
• Members only: How to win lob fests.
• Members only: Using the 2-back formation.

To hear this full episode and watch the video, become a Tennis Tribe Member.

• Members can watch the video here.

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Peter Freeman is one of my favorite tennis coaches to speak with because he has so much experience coaching club doubles players. Like me, Peter creates a ton of online content, including one of the largest online tennis conferences, Tennis Con. I've presented at Tennis Con for the past 3 years and cannot recommend it enough for club players.

👉 Join Tennis Con 9 for Free »

I spoke with Peter to preview Tennis Con 9, which is a little different this year. We also discussed some takeaways from our doubles camp earlier this summer, including the two types of serves at the club level, building a chip return, and fixing your overhead.

• How TennisCon started and what’s new this year
• Challenges, Easter eggs, leaderboard, and prizes (including a free ball machine)
• The importance of learning from many coaches, not one
• Continental vs pancake serves
• How high should your ball toss actually be?
• Executing the chip return
• Overhead rules to help you not miss
• What tennis can learn from pickleball culture

You can watch TennisCon for free for 48 hours once it starts on the 27th. Upgrade to the Lifetime Pass to keep access and play the game.

👉 Join Tennis Con 9 for Free »

**Tennis Tribe earns a percentage of sales if you buy the lifetime pass.

Learn more about Peter & follow:

• Instagram
• Crunch Time Coaching

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

I recently posted an Instagram video asking why club doubles players don't use I-Formation. It now has over 210,000 views and 100 comments, many of which are excuses.

In this episode, I break down the five most common excuses and share my rebuttal. I hope that this will convince some of you to start using serve formations more often to help you win matches.

Here are the excuses...

1. "Our serves aren't good enough."
2. "I'll get hit in the back of the head by my partner's serve."
3. "Club players are too slow."
4. "The net player would be too scared." OR "the net position isn't fun."
5. "The returner will rip down the line."
6. At the end, I share the only valid reason to never use I-Formation.

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

I share seven strategy lessons gathered from recent experiences at the US Open, Davis Cup, and coaching club players heading to Nationals. These lessons are particularly helpful for the 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 level doubles players who tend to get some of these things wrong.

Note: Tennis Tribe Members get access to all seven lessons, while everyone can preview the first three.

• Focusing on what happens most - and why we get this wrong.
• How to think about getting to the net.
• Scouting what your opponents do and don't do, plus how to handle the lob.
• Members Only: Statistics on hitting down the line - this data will surprise you.
• Members Only: A lesson on poaching, including my new favorite drill.
• Members Only: One simple thing to focus on early in the point that will have a huge impact.
• Members Only: A counter-adjustment I noticed in the US Open final, leading to a Grand Slam Title.

To access all seven lessons, sign up for any membership level at https://thetennistribe.com/memberships/

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**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course