The best examples of mixed doubles drills: 3 practical examples that actually work

1. The “Protect and Poach” Pattern – First of 3 practical examples

When people ask for examples of mixed doubles drills: 3 practical examples that feel like real match play, this is always near the top of my list. Mixed doubles often follows a pattern: the woman is at the net on the ad side, the man starts on the baseline, and both teams are trying to attack her with heavy crosscourt balls. This drill trains the man to protect and the woman to poach without guessing.

Setup and roles

Everyone plays in their usual mixed doubles positions:

• Woman on the ad side at the net
• Man on the ad-side baseline (serving side) or slightly back
• Opponents in standard return positions

Coach or feeder stands in the deuce corner on the opposite baseline and feeds a neutral ball crosscourt to the man.

How the drill works

Think of this as one example of mixed doubles drill that runs like a mini-point with rules:

• Feed goes crosscourt to the man’s backhand or forehand (your choice, but stay consistent for a few feeds).
• The man hits a heavy, deep crosscourt ball back.
• The opposite woman at the net is looking to attack anything short.
• The woman on the serving team reads the ball and has two clear jobs:
  • If the ball is deep and strong, she stays and looks for a poach on the next ball.
  • If the ball is short or weak, she closes in and poaches aggressively.

The point is then live: everyone can hit anywhere, but the drill only “counts” if the serving team wins the point by the net player finishing (volley or overhead).

Coaching focus and variations

This first of our 3 practical examples targets two big skills:

• The man learning to hit a “protective” ball that keeps his partner safe.
• The woman learning to poach based on quality of shot, not guessing.

A few easy variations to turn this one example of a mixed doubles drill into multiple drills:

• All back vs. two up: Start with both returners on the baseline, then switch to one up/one back. Notice how much more the serving woman can poach when there’s one player back.
• Poach only on second ball: For 10 feeds, the woman can only poach on the second ball of the rally. This forces patience and better reading.
• Target zones for the man: Use cones (or mental targets) deep crosscourt and deep middle. The man gets a point only if he hits a target and his partner finishes.

If you’re keeping track, this one pattern already gives you three real examples of mixed doubles drills just by changing return positions and poach rules.

2. The “Switch and Cover” Drill – Second of 3 practical examples

The second of our examples of mixed doubles drills: 3 practical examples focuses on the chaos nobody practices enough: when someone gets lobbed and the whole team has to switch. Mixed doubles in 2024 and 2025 has gotten more lob-heavy at club and league levels, especially with players using modern, spin-friendly strings and lighter racquets. If you aren’t rehearsing your switches, you’re giving away free points.

Setup and starting pattern

Start with a standard mixed formation:

• Woman at the net on the deuce side
• Man at the baseline on the deuce side
• Opponents: one serving or feeding crosscourt, one at the net

Coach or server starts the point with a serve or feed to the man’s baseline side. Rally begins crosscourt.

After 2–3 neutral balls, the feeder or returner must throw in a lob over the woman’s head.

The rule: automatic switch

Here’s what makes this a strong example of a mixed doubles drill instead of just “playing points”:

• Any lob over the woman’s head triggers an automatic switch.
• The man must sprint forward and take the net on her side.
• The woman must retreat and cover the opposite baseline.

You play out the point, but it only counts if the switch is clean: no confusion, no both-players-at-the-same-spot moments.

Layered variations (turning 1 idea into 3–4 drills)

To get more examples of mixed doubles drills: 3 practical examples out of this pattern, change the rules slightly every 10–15 minutes:

Variation A: Predictable lobs
The feeder calls “lob coming” before they hit it. This lets both players rehearse footwork and communication without panic.

Variation B: Surprise lobs
No warning. The team has to read body language and react. This feels much more like a real USTA league match.

Variation C: Directional lobs
For one round, all lobs must go down the line. Next round, all must go crosscourt. This teaches both players to know exactly where to move without hesitating.

Variation D: Man at net, woman back
Flip roles so the man starts at the net and the woman starts back. In 2024–2025, more teams are experimenting with the woman starting on the baseline to use her return and consistency, so this variation fits modern tactics.

All of these are still part of the same second entry in our 3 practical examples, but you’re really getting four or five real examples out of it by tweaking the lob and starting positions.

3. The “Serve + First Volley Mix-Up” – Third of 3 practical examples

The last of our examples of mixed doubles drills: 3 practical examples centers around the most important pattern in mixed: serve, first volley, and who owns the middle. At almost every NTRP level, mixed doubles matches are decided in the first three shots.

Basic version: building the pattern

Start with:

• Mixed team serving
• Woman at the net on the ad side
• Man serving from the deuce side
• Opponents in standard return positions

The server hits a first serve to the returner’s weaker side (if known). The returner must hit crosscourt. After that, the point is live.

But there’s a twist that makes this a real example of a mixed doubles drill instead of just “playing sets”: the serving team has a specific goal.

• The man must hit either a serve + approach or serve + stay back, according to a pre-set rule.
• The woman must decide whether to:
  • Stay home and guard the line, or
  • Slide toward the middle and actively poach.

You run sets of 10 points where the serving team only gets credit if they win the point with one of these patterns:

• Man approaches and finishes at net.
• Woman poaches and finishes.
• Man stays back but wins by hitting a heavy crosscourt that sets up his partner.

Advanced version: three-pattern rotation

Here’s where this third entry in our 3 practical examples turns into multiple examples include style drills. Rotate through three patterns every 8–10 points:

Pattern 1 – Man attacks, woman protects
The man must serve and follow to the net. The woman stays closer to the alley, protecting from sharp returns. This is great for players who hit bigger serves.

Pattern 2 – Woman attacks, man stabilizes
The woman is free to poach aggressively on any return that sits up. The man serves and stays back, focusing on playing a heavy, safe ball crosscourt. This is common in modern mixed when the woman has strong reflexes and the man is consistent from the back.

Pattern 3 – Middle first
The team’s only goal is to own the middle third of the court. Any winner through the middle is worth two points in your scoring. This trains both players to stop overprotecting the alleys and start trusting angles.

Each of these patterns is another clear example of a mixed doubles drill that you can run on its own or inside a longer practice.

Extra drill ideas: more than just 3 practical examples

So far we’ve walked through three core entries in our examples of mixed doubles drills: 3 practical examples list. But let’s stretch that into a fuller menu by adding a few quick-hit ideas you can plug in between those bigger drills.

“Three-ball hold” consistency drill

This is a short, sharp example of a mixed doubles drill for nervous servers or returners:

• Start a point with serve or return.
• The rule: each team must keep the ball in play at least three shots before trying to finish.

This is especially useful for league players who overhit early in the rally. You can even track unforced errors for a practice stats sheet. For guidance on managing intensity and avoiding overtraining while running longer drills, sources like the U.S. National Library of Medicine and NIH offer helpful info on exercise and recovery principles (NIH).

“Target the weaker backhand” decision drill

Mixed doubles is often about smart targeting, not just power. In this example of a mixed doubles drill, both teams agree on a “target backhand” before the point starts.

• Any ball hit to the target backhand earns a bonus point, even if the rally continues.
• Winners away from the target still count, but are worth fewer points.

This teaches you to see the court like a chessboard rather than just trading forehands.

“Pressure tiebreak” with mixed rules

Turn any of the earlier 3 practical examples into a pressure game:

• Play a race to 7, tiebreak-style.
• Serving team must use the pattern you’re working on (for example, automatic switch on lobs, or forced poach on second ball).
• If they forget the rule, they lose the point automatically.

This adds the kind of mental stress you feel in real league or tournament tiebreaks, but in a controlled way. If you’re playing in heat or humidity, remember basic hydration guidelines from sources like the CDC (CDC hydration page) so your fun pressure drills don’t turn into heat issues.

How to structure a full practice using these 3 practical examples

Let’s put all of these real examples of mixed doubles drills into a simple 90-minute practice that feels organized but not rigid.

Warm-up (10–15 minutes)
Regular mini-tennis, then crosscourt rallying in mixed positions (woman at net, man back). No special rules yet, just rhythm.

Block 1 – Protect and Poach (20 minutes)
Run the first of our 3 practical examples with its variations. Focus on:

• Man hitting deep, heavy balls.
• Woman reading and timing poaches.

Block 2 – Switch and Cover (20 minutes)
Use predictable lobs for 10 minutes, then surprise lobs for 10 minutes. Emphasize loud, clear communication: “Switch!” “Mine!” “You!”

Block 3 – Serve + First Volley Mix-Up (20 minutes)
Rotate through the three patterns:

• Man attacks
• Woman attacks
• Middle first

Track how many points each pattern wins. Over a few weeks, you’ll start to see which pattern fits your team identity.

Block 4 – Short games with extra drills (15–20 minutes)
Finish with:

• “Three-ball hold” for one short game to 7.
• “Target the weaker backhand” for another game.

This way you’re not just running examples include style drills in a vacuum; you’re testing them in a game-like setting.

If you’re stacking practices during a season, it’s smart to think about overall training load, especially if you’re cross-training in the gym. Organizations like the American Council on Exercise and resources referenced by Mayo Clinic (Mayo Clinic exercise basics) offer practical guidance on balancing cardio, strength, and skill work.

FAQ: Common questions about mixed doubles drills

What are some good examples of mixed doubles drills for beginners?

For newer players, start with simplified versions of the three drills above. A great beginner example of a mixed doubles drill is the “three-ball hold” rule added to simple crosscourt rallies: both teams must keep the ball in play three times before going for a winner. Another beginner-friendly option is a soft “Protect and Poach” where everyone hits at 50% speed, just learning positions and footwork.

How often should we practice these 3 practical examples?

If you play mixed doubles regularly, once a week is a good starting point. Rotate through the 3 practical examples in a single 60–90 minute session, spending 15–20 minutes on each. Over a month, you’ll get enough repetition for patterns to feel natural without getting bored.

Can these examples of mixed doubles drills help with singles?

Indirectly, yes. The “Switch and Cover” and “Serve + First Volley Mix-Up” drills improve footwork, anticipation, and serve + first shot patterns, which carry over to singles. But for pure singles improvement, you’ll still want drills designed for covering the whole court on your own.

Do we need a coach to run these real examples of mixed doubles drills?

A coach helps with feedback and feeding, but you can absolutely run these real examples of mixed doubles drills with just four players. Rotate who feeds or serves, agree on the rules before each block, and keep score to stay focused. Videoing a few points on your phone can act as your “coach” for later review.

What’s one simple example of a mixed doubles drill we can use before a match?

Before a match, keep it light. One easy example of a mixed doubles drill is a five-minute “Protect and Poach” warm-up: man hits controlled crosscourt from the baseline, woman practices soft poaches and volley angles, opponents defend. Low pace, high focus on timing and communication.

Mixed doubles rewards teams that treat practice like rehearsal, not just exercise. Use these examples of mixed doubles drills: 3 practical examples as your base, then keep adding little twists and rules that match your style. The more specific your practice, the more your mixed matches will feel like you’ve already played them before.