Doubles Only Tennis Podcast

6d ago

Mark Bey is a US Davis Cup assistant coach and a former assistant coach to the Bryan Brothers. He has coached eight players to the #1 USTA national ranking and 13 players to ATP & WTA career highs. He's been a junior developer for 35 years, currently working at the Glenview Tennis Club in Glenview, Illinois. In 2017, Mark had five players in the US Open. In this episode, Mark shares advice for players, coaches, and parents of junior players, along with stories from the Bryan Brothers' careers. How mentorship and early wins shaped Mark’s coaching What the Bryan Brothers did as juniors to build complete skills Why doubles margins demand ruthless precision Mark's coaching pyramid from fun to pressure performance The six stages of a match and how to train them Building accountability and independence in players Common mistakes by junior coaches, players, and parents Weekly structure of Mark's academy and why it works Guidance on specialization, scheduling, and tournaments Auditing academies and improving staff, culture, and systems Ideas to grow pro doubles with smart formats and TV slots Links: Glenview Tennis Club USTA feature on Mark Mike Bryan vs Andre Agassi - 2001 US Open Bob Bryan vs Patrick Rafter - 2001 US Open Interested in an Academy Visit? Contact me, and I'll put you in touch with Mark. ----- **Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox **Become a Tennis Tribe Member** Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more. Learn More & Sign Up Here **Other Free Doubles Content** Serve Strategy Cheatsheet Return Strategy Cheatsheet Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Dec 9

Mixed doubles isn't actually much different from men's or women's doubles when it comes to developing a strategy. However, several things happen more often in mixed. It's good to know what those are and how to handle them. This episode will help you think about mixed doubles with clear rules for serve order, return sides, and court position that help you win. The differences between the girl and the guy in mixed How girls can deal with faster pace How guys can deal with slower pace and lobs Who should serve first? Not always the guy Who should play the ad side? When to adjust your return positioning Using lobs to neutralize opponents When to play two back When to target the girl Why guys need to STOP COACHING! Stories from my own mixed doubles matches If you have more questions about mixed doubles, send them my way! Links: Rally Trip at Indian Wells: https://www.therosegoldgroup.com/details-bnp ($100 off if you sign up during December) ----- **Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox **Become a Tennis Tribe Member** Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more. Learn More & Sign Up Here **Other Free Doubles Content** Serve Strategy Cheatsheet Return Strategy Cheatsheet Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Nov 28

Calvin Betton coaches ATP #3 doubles player, Henry Patten, and ATP #38, Luke Johnson. Henry and his partner, Harri Heliovaara, won the ATP Finals earlier this month. I spoke with them at Indian Wells earlier this year ( listen here ). This conversation with Calvin unpacks their title run at the ATP Finals, the idea of momentum in doubles, and how return pressure transformed late‑season results. We reflect on the 2025 season and look ahead to 2026. Lessons from variance and tight losses Why momentum misleads us in doubles scoring ATP Finals format and strategic adjustments Scouting top teams and exposing patterns Return identities and training frameworks A deepdive into the lob return: topspin vs flat vs chip lobs Off‑season planning for Henry and Luke US Open mixed doubles impact and narratives Partnership updates and 2026 outlook Learn more about Calvin & follow: Instagram Twitter Host of the Tennis Unfiltered Podcast Links: Calvin's X thread of packed doubles stadiums Previous podcast with Calvin, Luke Johnson, and Sander Arends Previous podcast with Calvin from the 2025 Australian Open ----- **Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox **Become a Tennis Tribe Member** Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more. Learn More & Sign Up Here **Other Free Doubles Content** Serve Strategy Cheatsheet Return Strategy Cheatsheet Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Nov 20

In this 'Ask Me Anything' episode, I cover a variety of your questions from Instagram, email, and the membership. Topics include 1st serve percentage, poaching, volley targets, 2-up vs 1-up 1-back, net positioning and movement, and more. In total, I answer seven questions. The first three are free to all, while you'll need to become a member for the last four. My 3-step system to improve first-serve percentage Drills for improving your first serve What to do at the net when there's a fast-paced crosscourt rally Why the triangle pattern at the net is mostly useless Should you poach anyway , even if your partner doesn't like calling plays? Members only: The best volley targets in certain situations Members only: When to hit at net player vs back deep to the baseliner Members only: When it's okay to play 2-up instead of 1-up 1-back Members only: How to handle 4.5 teams who have one player hitting high, heavy lobs, while their partner finishes at the net Links: Early-bird pricing for the Indian Wells Rally Trip ends December 1 (use coupon code TennisTribe ). Email will[at]thetennistribe.com if you're interested in a doubles camp for your team. Become a member to get the last four lessons. Already a member? Download the member podcast feed . ----- **Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox **Become a Tennis Tribe Member** Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more. Learn More & Sign Up Here **Other Free Doubles Content** Serve Strategy Cheatsheet Return Strategy Cheatsheet Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Nov 13

A few months ago, I trained a Dallas 3.0 team as they prepared for USTA Nationals. They won nationals a few weeks later, going 6-0. This podcast is a conversation with that team. They went from wildcards in the city playoffs, with some doubts on if they should even be there, to 2025 National Champions. They used data-driven scouting, heavy match play, a team-first mindset, and strategy. If you're a league player or USTA captain, this episode is a must-listen. Setting clear expectations for roster and roles Scouting opponents with dynamic ratings and win data Pairing doubles teams by similar skill and compatible styles How much they played leading up to Nationals Building trust through fixed partnerships and reps Reading opponents' patterns in singles and doubles How one team came back from 1-5 down Making in-match adjustments that changed momentum How to handle a team that hits hard and poaches a lot Targeting weaker opponents without forcing errors Handling pressure in semifinals Being down a Championship point and still winning Roadmap and mindset for moving up to 3.5 Links: Join me for the Indian Wells Rally Trip in 2026 (Use coupon TENNISTRIBE ) The training presentation before Nationals ----- **Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox **Become a Tennis Tribe Member** Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more. Learn More & Sign Up Here **Other Free Doubles Content** Serve Strategy Cheatsheet Return Strategy Cheatsheet Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Nov 7

Link to the Instagram Post Possibly the most important skill to have in doubles, aside from the serve and return, is poaching. In this episode, I break down the poaching mistakes I see over and over again from doubles players at all levels. We'll discuss timing, direction, and simple positioning that can flip returns into easy finishes. Members get the full five-mistake breakdown plus drills. The free preview covers the two biggest errors and how to fix them fast. Exactly when to move on your poach, and the biggest mistake club players make when poaching How skill level, pace, and opponent depth change your poach timing A common movement mistake that could be causing you to miss volleys Where to start and where you should NOT start in the service box and the “window” concept Using a quiet racket face for clean finishes Members only: How close you should be at the net Members only: How to finish your volleys and stop hitting it back to the baseline player Members only: When it's OK to cover the alley and not poach Members only: Drills to help your poaching skills To get the rest of the episode, sign up for a membership here: https://thetennistribe.com/memberships/ ----- **Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox **Become a Tennis Tribe Member** Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more. Learn More & Sign Up Here **Other Free Doubles Content** Serve Strategy Cheatsheet Return Strategy Cheatsheet Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Nov 4

David Macpherson coached the Bryan Brothers for over 15 years. He's a former #11-ranked ATP doubles player and also coached John Isner from 2018 to 2023. He's one of the smartest doubles coaches on the planet, so you'll learn a ton in this conversation. We unpack how smart scouting, sharp words, and steady culture turned the Bryan Brothers into the GOATs and made John Isner a doubles force for a short stretch in 2022. We also discussed tactics for club players. Early mentors shaping his precise coaching voice Advice for coaches on saying less, backing the plan, and owning the misses A story from the Wimbledon final where David's scouting turned out wrong Managing Bob and Mike's practice rivalry without taking sides Why groundstroke reliability helped their doubles success Club tactics on lobs, net depth, and flexible positioning Serve strategy and weighing your strengths vs the opponent's weaknesses Why Bob Bryan had to abandon the lob return vs a certain opponent and why Team chemistry as a competitive advantage Coaching John Isner around strengths, returns, and net instincts Ideas to make men’s doubles more watchable for fans Learn more about David & follow: Wikipedia Instagram ----- **Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox **Become a Tennis Tribe Member** Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more. Learn More & Sign Up Here **Other Free Doubles Content** Serve Strategy Cheatsheet Return Strategy Cheatsheet Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

Oct 22

I recently helped two 3.0 ladies' teams prepare for USTA Nationals. The 1st team actually won Nationals in the 40+ division this past weekend. We spent 30 minutes discussing strategy before playing doubles for a few hours. This episode previews the first 10 minutes of the strategy discussion with the 2nd team, who heads to Nationals next week. How doubles matches are won lost. The importance of understanding rally length. What to practice leading up to nationals. Members only: My favorite ways to force errors Members only: Team roles. Members only: The 3 things that give 3.0 to 4.0 players the most problems and how to fix them. Members only: How to win lob fests. Members only: Using the 2-back formation. To hear this full episode and watch the video, become a Tennis Tribe Member . Members can watch the video here. ----- **Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players** New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox **Become a Tennis Tribe Member** Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more. Learn More & Sign Up Here **Other Free Doubles Content** Serve Strategy Cheatsheet Return Strategy Cheatsheet Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course