Seven small doubles games: practise one pattern at a time
Simple rule changes for a normal doubles game, taken from the BWF manual, that push a pair to practise serving, returning, rally length and lifting.
How to use them
Each game is an ordinary doubles game with one change to the rules or the scoring. Play a few minutes of a game, stop, and talk with your partner about what worked. These are practice games only; they are not match rules.
1. Low serves only
Everyone serves low. The receivers wait in their normal place but may shift their starting position a little (wider or more central) and carry the racket in different places (wide on the forehand side, in front of the body, wide on the backhand side). They must not move before the serve is struck and should not hit hard at the server's head. The servers must vary where they serve in answer.
2. Bonus for the third shot
Scored as normal, but the serving side gets two points if they win the rally with the third shot of the rally (serve, return, then their own shot). It rewards a serve that sets up an attack.
3. Bonus for the fourth shot
Scored as normal, but the receiving side gets two points if they win the rally with the fourth shot. It rewards a return that takes control.
4. Five-shot rallies
No rally may last longer than five shots. After five, stop the rally and give the point to the pair that is attacking or in control. Some lets may occur. It teaches you to build an attack quickly and to read who is in control.
5. Flick serves welcome
Play with more flick serves than usual. Either side gets bonus points if they win a rally that began with a flick serve. It makes both servers and receivers practise this variation.
6. No lifting off smashes
Nobody may lift a smash. You must find other answers, such as blocks and drives, to turn defence into attack. Afterwards, talk about what was easy and what was hard.
7. Lift against the direction
Two versions, one at a time: lift only cross-court off straight attacking shots; or lift only straight off cross-court attacking shots. Then talk about the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Limits
The manual presents these as coaching games and does not say how long to play them or what the scores should be. Adapt them to your group, and stop any game that makes players hit hard at one another or hurts.
General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.