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Are you actually playing doubles when you play doubles?

There are very specific positioning concepts that many people who play doubles just don't understand - or understand but choose to not apply.

I often see players at the net when their partner is about to serve; they tap the net with their racket as if to test their positioning prior to the beginning of the point.

That little idiosyncrasy may have helped remind you, as a beginner, to be in the front court ready to volley away a winner off of a weak return.

However, as you advance to higher levels of play, it only serves to alert your opponents that you are much too close to the net and you have actually advertised that now is perfect time to lob you!

Another mistake the server's partner makes is to stand much too close to the alley.

That position assures that no ball will get past them up the line, but it also takes the pressure off of the returner to keep the ball low, and allows them to just float the return back over the middle of the net with impunity.

The server's partner must be positioned, as a general guideline, midway back in the serve box and halfway between the centerline and the doubles sideline.

The attitude of the server's partner must be that of a prowling predator, not a cowering lamb.

If your volleying skills are such that you want to be farther back than I have suggested in order to have enough reaction time, you would be much better off at the baseline with the server rather than positioned around the half-court line, which further exposes any insufficiency you my have in your net game.

Good, logic-based positioning is at least half of the doubles game.

Try to get a handle on the reasoning and tactical purpose of where you should be at the beginning of the point and the adjustments to make as the point unfolds.

If you improve your understanding of these concepts, you will be in high demand as a doubles partner.

Howie Burnett is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association and tennis director at the Island Country Club on Marco Island. Burnett welcomes questions on strokes, tactics or etiquette. To reach him, call the tennis shop at 394-4464 or e-mail him at islandclubtennis@hotmail.com.