Every Tuesday, this site takes a look at a training or technology concept that shapes how tennis is played. This week’s inspiration comes from a recent USTA Coaching “Drill of the Week” featuring Mat Cloer. At first glance, it looks very familiar. Two players are playing out crosscourt points starting with a serve, a staple doubles drill that most players have executed numerous times. It is simple, effective, and directly applicable to match play. But this version includes a subtle twist that makes it far more useful in real-world warm-up scenarios.
Instead of two or four players, this drill is designed for three. That immediately solves one of the most common logistical problems in recreational doubles tennis. Warming up serves with two or four players on a court is easy. However, when there are only three, that creates awkward and inefficient hitting patterns. Serving practice becomes disjointed, balls end up scattered in the unoccupied corner of the court, and one player is inevitably left standing around or wasting precious time walking back and forth between sides retrieving stray balls.
The structure of this drill eliminates that problem through a simple but elegant rotational pattern. Two players begin on the serving end of the court, with one player on the opposite end receiving. The drill starts with a serve to the deuce court, and the point is played out crosscourt. When the point ends, the pattern repeats on the ad side. The opening rotation has the server play two points before heading over to the receiving end. However, the receiver stays in place to play an additional two points from the new server. From that point on, every player plays four points before heading to the other end.
Over the course of the sequence, each player serves, returns, and plays out multiple crosscourt points without stopping the flow of the drill. The result is continuous movement and constant engagement for all three players.
From a practical standpoint, this is an ideal warm-up structure for USTA League play when there are an odd number of players. It ensures that each person gets meaningful reps on the serve, which is an important focus before a match. More importantly, it also incorporates return practice, which is frequently overlooked. In many warm-ups, returns are either rushed or ignored entirely, even though they are one of the most critical shots in doubles.
There is also an efficiency component that should not be overlooked. Because the drill is contained within a crosscourt pattern and maintains a steady rhythm, it minimizes ball chaos. This pattern creates fewer interruptions, reduces stray balls, and increases productive hitting time. That alone makes it a worthwhile addition to any team’s pre-match routine.
It is also worth taking a step back to recognize the broader value of the USTA Coaching initiative. These weekly drills are a great example of how the program translates high-level coaching concepts into practical, accessible formats for everyday players and coaches. They consistently emphasize structure, repetition, and purpose, rather than flash. That aligns well with how skill is actually developed in tennis. The drills are easy to implement, adaptable to different levels, and grounded in the realities of how recreational tennis is played.
As with many effective drills, the brilliance here lies in the structure rather than the complexity. It takes something familiar and makes it more adaptable to real-world conditions. That is often where the best training ideas live.
Now the real challenge is not understanding the drill. It is getting your teams to actually embrace it.
