Think like a pair, not two singles players
Most avoidable gaps appear when partners react independently. One player follows a ball toward the side glass while the other holds position, leaving a channel through the center. The correction is simple: imagine a short rope connecting you. When one shifts, both shift.
At the net, close the easiest lane
You do not need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder. Keep enough separation to cover your line, but bias your racket and first step toward the center. Straight winners through the middle become harder; your opponents are invited toward lower-percentage angles.
Use the lob to recover together
A good lob is not just an attacking shot. It buys time. When your team is pinned behind the service line, play high enough to move both opponents back, then advance as a pair. If only one player follows, you have traded one bad shape for another.
The one-session cue
For your next match, forget winners. Between points, ask one question: “Were we level?” If one partner was at net while the other stayed deep, fix the distance before fixing the stroke.