Most doubles sessions aren’t really doubles sessions

There is a moment in almost every traditional doubles session that should make us uncomfortable as coaches. Four players spend twenty minutes moving through a tidy volley drill. The ball travels exactly where everyone expects it to travel, the rotations run smoothly, and the coach can see plenty of successful repetitions. It looks productive and, from the side of the court, it certainly looks like doubles. Then the players begin a set. Suddenly, they are late to move, unsure when to cross,...