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© Copyright 2002, Jim Loy
My brother, a tennis coach, tells me that the experts say that the worst formation in doubles is one up and one back (one player at the net and one player at the baseline). I agree and disagree. We are told that the two players should go to the net together and retreat together. I agree. Your partner is returning serve, and hits a weak return. You had better not be at the net, or going to the net; you should be in the back court, or the point is over. One up and one back sucks.
But, as a general principle, two back all the time is worse, in my opinion. I think the experts would agree. You can win points from the baseline, in doubles. But, if you rely on your groundstrokes to win points point after point, game after game, you will lose; you are not a doubles player. In doubles, points should be won at the net, mostly.
There are tennis players who never go to the net. They should never play doubles. Or they should force themselves to go to the net and volley.
One up and one back can actually be an interesting situation for two athletic players, one very aggressive, and one very passive. The player at the net, covers the whole net, wandering, racing, and diving at will. Partner (who hates to be at the net) must cover the whole back court, and race everywhere at a moment's notice. These two players are playing under a severe handicap, but it can be a lot of fun. Of course the smart opponents will lob, lob, lob, forever. If you don't like that, then tough; go to the net. See Doubles Tennis For Bad Volleyers.