Wimbledon 2026: What do doubles hand signals mean in tennis?

Doubles tennis relies on sophisticated communication between partners, with hand signals playing a crucial role in coordinating tactics during matches. Before each serve, the net player on the serving side can indicate to the server how they should play the shot by making a signal behind their back, obscured from view of the opposition.

While there are no set rules for what signals are used, there are typically three different ways to indicate the suggested direction of shot and two to indicate what direction the net player will move in once it has been played. Right-handed players will typically use their free left hand to signal and vice versa.

The net player will usually indicate serve direction first followed by the movement signal. The signals used for each will vary depending on whether the serve is coming from the deuce side, the right-hand side of the court from the server's perspective, or the advantage side, the left-hand side.

The server can vocally indicate agreement with the net player but they do not have to go along with their suggestion. In this case they can vocally suggest the net player changes their signal until an agreement is reached.

Players will not usually have time to verbally confer with each other during a match, meaning hand signals can be an efficient and clear way of deciding tactics. They are also performed fully hidden from view of the opponents, reducing the chance of strategy being revealed.

Decisions on direction and movement can also be changed in the last second up to a serve, allowing for quick adaptation and catching opponents off guard. This flexibility gives doubles partnerships the ability to respond dynamically to their opposition's positioning and tactics throughout the match.