I recently stumbled across Killer Doubles: Strategies and Tactics for Better Tennis in a used bookstore. This title was published in 2014, which gives the foreword by Bob and Mike Bryanan ironic context in the current moment. The now-retired men’s doubles icons point out that the overwhelming majority of tennis players experience the sport through doubles, not singles. Yet professional tennis continues moving in the opposite direction, steadily reducing the prominence of doubles through broadcasting decisions, shrinking draws, and most recently renewed debates over prize money distribution. Recreational tennis and professional tennis increasingly resemble different sports. That reality makes books devoted entirely to doubles strategy more valuable than ever.
Rick Altman’s Killer Doubles embraces that mission. Rather than treating doubles as a variation of singles, Altman explores the unique tactics, psychology, and partnerships that define the discipline.
One of the book’s strengths is its willingness to move beyond conventional advice. Altman spends considerable time discussing staggered positioning, expanding that concept to include when both players are at the net in what is typically considered an “even” position. Maintaining staggered court coverage creates offensive opportunities while preserving defensive options. It is a subtle concept that experienced doubles players instinctively implement, but with a subtlety that many recreational players never fully understand.
That same practical mindset carries into his discussions of poaching. Rather than presenting poaching as simply an aggressive tactic, Altman explores the psychology behind it. More importantly, he acknowledges that tennis is a game of constant adjustment. Defending against an aggressive poacher is not about finding one magic solution. Every successful counter eventually invites another adjustment, producing the continual give-and-take that makes doubles such an engaging tactical contest.
Throughout Killer Doubles, Altman reinforces another lesson that deserves more attention than it usually receives: improvement often begins with losing. Several stories illustrate how defeats become growth opportunities when players honestly examine what happened rather than simply becoming frustrated by the result. It is a theme that extends well beyond doubles.
One section particularly stood out because I have rarely seen it covered elsewhere. Altman devotes an entire chapter to being a good teammate in league tennis. Most strategy books teach readers how to become better players. Few discuss how to become better partners or better teammates. Topics such as availability, communication, supporting the team, and understanding the captain’s perspective are all part of successful league tennis. Yet, they are often overlooked despite being every bit as important as tactical decisions on the court.
Altman also challenges readers to rethink several common assumptions. His discussion of playing in the wind argues that the greatest obstacle is often psychological rather than physical. Players who consistently perform well in difficult conditions are frequently those who refuse to let their attitudes toward externalities occupy their attention. Likewise, his thoughtful examination of whether to serve, receive, or defer after winning the racquet spin demonstrates that even decisions made before the first point deserve intentional consideration rather than habit.
The practical instruction continues throughout the later chapters. The treatment of the I formation offers clear guidance on both its advantages and when to employ it. Altman’s discussion of scouting reports recognizes that information can be valuable while also becoming counterproductive when players begin overthinking instead of competing. I also appreciated his distinction between practice matches and competitive matches. Practice should be the place to experiment, develop new skills, and accept short-term losses in pursuit of long-term improvement. Once the match counts, however, the objective shifts to winning with the tools you already own.
As with many of the best tennis books, I finished with a short list of ideas I wanted to try immediately. In this case, it was a volley-to-volley drill that I expect to incorporate into my own practice sessions over the coming week. That may be the highest compliment I can pay to an instructional book. It did not simply provide information. It changed what I plan to do the next time I step onto the court.
Killer Doubles succeeds because it recognizes that doubles is its own discipline with distinct strategies, communication, geometry, and psychology. Rick Altman captures those differences while delivering practical advice that recreational players can immediately apply. For anyone who spends most weekends playing league or club doubles, this is a book well worth adding to the tennis library.
Killer Doubles: Strategies and tactics for better tennis (<- Sponsored Link)
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