A standing weekly doubles game is one of the best things in recreational tennis. It's also fragile. One week the court isn't booked, the next week someone cancels at the last minute, and soon the group fizzles. Here's how to build a doubles group that keeps going.
Start with a core of players at a similar level
Doubles is most fun when everyone on court is close in ability. In the US, many players know their NTRP rating; if your group doesn't, describe the level in plain terms: "solid rallies, consistent serve, comfortable at the net."
A strong weekly group usually has:
- Four to six regulars who commit to most weeks.
- A sub list of four or more players at the same level who can fill in.
- One organizer, or two who alternate, responsible for courts and the weekly lineup.
Starting with more than four regulars means you can still play when someone is away. With six or eight regulars, you can run two courts or rotate who plays each week.
Fix the time and place
Consistency is what makes a weekly game work. Pick one day, one time and one location, and keep them the same. People plan around a fixed slot; they forget about a game that moves every week.
When you choose a time, consider:
- Court availability: popular evening and weekend slots fill up first.
- Light and weather: outdoor courts without lights limit evening play in shorter months.
- Travel time for the regulars.
Book courts reliably
Find out how your courts are reserved and book as far ahead as the facility allows. Ask:
- How far in advance can you reserve?
- Can you hold a recurring weekly reservation?
- What is the cancellation policy, and is there a fee for late cancellation?
- Are there guest fees for players who aren't members?
If the facility allows recurring bookings, use them. If not, set a reminder to book on the day reservations open.
Make the weekly lineup routine
Each week, the organizer needs to know who is in. A simple routine:
- Post the session a few days ahead with date, time and court.
- Set a reply deadline, such as the evening before.
- Fill gaps from the sub list in a fixed order, so the same sub isn't always asked first.
- Confirm the final four (or eight) once the deadline passes.
Ask regulars to give as much notice as possible when they can't make it. A clear expectation, such as "let us know 24 hours ahead," helps more than any reminder.
Rotate partners
Fixed partnerships can create lopsided matches and can feel cliquey. Rotating partners keeps games competitive and social. Common approaches:
- Change partners every set. With four players, three sets let everyone partner everyone once.
- Mix strong and newer players as partners when levels vary within the group.
- Keep a light record of results if the group enjoys some competition, so you can see who's been partnered with whom.
Agree on the format
Decide how long you'll play and how you'll score:
- Sets or timed play. With a 90-minute court, two or three sets is typical.
- Tiebreaks at six games all, or a match tiebreak instead of a third set to save time.
- Scoring: standard advantage scoring or no-ad scoring, where the next point at deuce wins the game. No-ad scoring speeds things up.
Whatever you choose, agree once and keep it consistent.
Handle court costs and balls fairly
Money is a small thing that can cause big friction in a recurring group. Make it simple:
- Split court fees evenly among the players each week.
- Rotate who brings new balls, or buy them in bulk and split the cost.
- Collect in advance for the month, or settle every week, but don't let one person carry the costs for weeks on end.
- Agree on late-cancellation charges. If the facility charges for a late cancellation, decide whether the person who cancelled covers it.
Our guide on splitting costs on a group trip has more ideas for keeping shared costs painless.
Plan for weather
For outdoor courts, set a weather rule in advance: who decides whether to play, by when, and how everyone is told. If your facility has indoor courts, know how to switch your booking and what it costs.
Keep it social
The groups that last are the ones people look forward to. Celebrate milestones, grab food after play occasionally, and invite subs who fit in to become regulars. Some groups plan an annual trip together. If that's on your mind, our guide to planning a tennis weekend with friends is a good next read.
A weekly doubles game doesn't need much: a fixed time, a booked court, a reliable lineup and fair money. Get those right and it can run for years.