How to choose a doubles partner: the best partner is not always the best player

In doubles, choosing the best player you know as your partner does not always make the strongest team, because a doubles result depends on what both players can do and on how well they play together. THE SET. explains how to choose a partner for doubles events: what to choose on, how to tell whether you play well together, and whether the two of you need to be the same level. The answers are in this article.

Key takeaways

• Before you enter a doubles event in Bangkok, settle on your partner. It need not be the best player you know, but it should be the one you play best with.
• A good doubles pair communicates clearly, agrees who does what before the match, handles pressure during it, and adapts well to what happens.
• Doubles partners have to work as a team: plan the match together, with a main plan and a back-up, know each other's strengths and weaknesses, and adjust their games to support each other.
• Before you enter a doubles event, in Bangkok or anywhere else, find a partner who suits you, and practise and play matches together often, so you can adjust to the different situations a match brings.
• Doubles partners do not need the same level of ability, but they should be close, or able to play together in balance.

Why the best player may not be the best partner

If you have no doubles partner and do not know what to do, look for someone who plays well and plays well with you, rather than simply the strongest player you can find. In doubles the two players have to plan, communicate, and build on each other's strengths while covering each other's weaknesses. A very strong player whose style does not fit yours, who does not communicate, or who plays only for themselves can make the team lose, or make every match harder.

So what makes a good doubles partner?

Joining a Tennis Community Bangkok gives you a place to play with people of many styles, which makes it easier to see who would suit you as a doubles partner. A good partner is not judged on level alone; several things need to come together.

• They communicate well. You plan before the match together, based mainly on both your playing styles, and agree who takes which ball and who moves where, so there is less confusion in play.
• They know each other's strengths and weaknesses. If one of you is at home at the net and the other controls the game from the baseline, for example, the roles are easier to split.
• Their styles complement each other. You do not need to play the same way, but each of you should be able to adjust your game to cover what the other is less comfortable with.
• They understand court positions: when to come to the net, when to drop back, and when to switch, so that together you close down the space on court.
• They have a good attitude towards each other. No blaming each other for mistakes, and plenty of encouragement, because positive talk helps a team refocus on the next point faster.

How do you know whether someone is the right doubles partner for you?

If you want to enter doubles events in Bangkok, do not judge a partner on a single practice session. Play together in different situations, such as close games, big points, or a spell when your team is behind, and see whether your rhythm still holds together. Notice whether play feels awkward, how often one of you has to cover for the other's timing, and how quickly you adapt to each other when the plan has to change mid-game. Some pairs look right in practice and then struggle to play together under real pressure, so trying several matches shows much more clearly whether this person really is the right doubles partner for you.

Do doubles partners need the same level of ability?

A Tennis Community Bangkok lets you meet players of many levels, but choosing a partner for doubles events needs more care. The two of you do not need the same level of ability, but you should be close in level, or able to play together in balance. Doubles can pair players whose levels differ slightly, and some events allow players of different levels to enter together. What matters is that each of you knows what you are good at and brings those strengths into the plan for the match, because communication and knowing your partner's strengths and weaknesses directly affect how you play doubles.

No doubles partner? Where to start looking

If you are worried about having no doubles partner, start by practising regularly with friends, people you know, or the players you see at the courts most weeks. It will show you more clearly whether their level and rhythm suit yours. Another way is to join a Tennis Community Bangkok or Social Tennis sessions; there are now many groups in Bangkok that give players the chance to meet new people and play doubles together.

If you want a better chance of meeting a partner close to your level and playing style, THE SET. is another tennis community in Bangkok, with players of many levels and styles. If you want an experience that is more than playing tennis, ask for details and sign up at https://theset.life/membership

In short

No doubles partner? Start by looking for someone who is not just a good player, but who can communicate, plan and match their rhythm with yours, because doubles is a team game: knowing each other's strengths and weaknesses, sharing out the roles, and handling pressure together. If you are looking for a place to practise, an event to enter, or a partner who suits you, talk to THE SET. for an experience that is more than playing tennis.