| Perhaps one of the biggest reasons that people fail in | | | | opposite net player who can poach it or for the |
| their quest to play great tennis doubles is that they | | | | oncoming voleyer. If you possess a sharply dipping |
| have the wrong shots. Ok, let's get things straight, I | | | | topspin shot that you can angle or put at the feet of |
| have 1 objective for you (and you should have 1 | | | | the opposition then you are ok, but if all you have is the |
| objective for yourself and that is this). | | | | sinles like groundstroke then you are in trouble. |
| To play winning doubles!! No more and no less than | | | | Also, if you can't get the ball to dip at the feet of an |
| that. Anything else good that comes along should be | | | | oncoming player you will only be presenting them with |
| viewed as a bonus, but if we only have one thing that | | | | a mid court ball that they can hit on the rise and make |
| we are aiming for then let it be that. That being said, | | | | life difficult for you. You may also have a problem |
| there are certain shots I see people trying to hit when | | | | changing grips when/if you come to volley/half volley if |
| they play doubles that are just not the best shots they | | | | you have a semi-western or western grip because |
| could play. | | | | that helps you hit topspin. |
| And maybe worse still, they spend a whole load of | | | | You DO need a sliced backhand & forehand |
| time (and money) trying to improve those shots. To be | | | | Having a sliced shot on both wings (especially the |
| honest, I was in the same boat a while ago and it | | | | backhand) will prove invaluable. You can play a slice |
| wasn't until someone (thanks Nick G) took me aside | | | | without rotating your upper body which does several |
| and pointed all this stuff out that I knew and | | | | great things for you. It means you can deal with a fast |
| understood it. We ended up playing together and won | | | | oncoming ball in less time (no rotation needed). You |
| several titles together. I'm under no illusions that he was | | | | can also play it while moving forwards (again no |
| the superior partner, a bit like the John McEnroe in the | | | | rotation needed) so getting to the net quicker |
| McEnroe & Fleming partnership, but hey, someone has | | | | becomes easier. |
| to be. | | | | And you can get the ball down low to the feet of the |
| But he made sure that we both "read off the same | | | | opposition much easier making things much more |
| hymn book" so to speak and I know I was more than | | | | difficult. It will also help the "feel" on your volleys as it is |
| good enough to back him up so I can sleep at night:-) | | | | played pretty much in the same way. |
| So, I want to do the same for you. I want to give | | | | Nick and I would play many practise sessions/matches |
| some of that wisdom to you, because without it you | | | | only using sliced forehands and backhands and the |
| are nowhere near the doubles player you could be | | | | associated volleys and you would be surprised how |
| and it doesn't take that much to turn things around. | | | | successful we were with that tactic. |
| So, back to the shots. If our only objective is to play | | | | 3. You DON'T need a smash |
| winning doubles then here are some shots you need | | | | This freaks many people out. They get used to |
| to put time into developing and improving versus some | | | | coming to the net and up goes the lob. They go for |
| shots you don't need the extra time to improve. | | | | the smash and it comes back maybe over their heads. |
| If you already have them sorted, then that's great but | | | | They smash again (a bit harder) and the same thing |
| there are certain things you need to be doing to | | | | happens and/or they miss. It shouldn't take you long to |
| improve your doubles tactics and they are not them!! | | | | realize that many of the people that lob a lot are in |
| (is that correct English??). | | | | fact very good at returning the flat smash. |
| Ok, let's go!! | | | | They do it because they are good at it and because |
| 1. You DON'T need a big flat serve | | | | they know people will just try to hit the ball harder and |
| The biggest problem with the big fast serve is this - It | | | | often miss. It's the same principle as not needing a hard |
| reduces the time you have to get ready for the ball | | | | flat serve. The returners of the smash often don't |
| coming back. Returners get the chance to tee off at | | | | move much and just use the pace you give them to |
| the ball, using the pace and often without having to | | | | give you an even higher deeper ball to smash again. |
| move their feet much so they retain their court position. | | | | You've got to be really good to win this game. |
| Yes, if you are playing a pair of a much lesser | | | | You Do need a variable overhead |
| standard and you already have a big flat serve then | | | | I make the distinction between the two for the |
| great, but if you don't already have full command over | | | | following reason. The smash is a shot that says it all - |
| one then concentrate on the opposite option. | | | | a smash!! An overhead implies that you do several |
| You DO need a good spin serve | | | | different things with a ball that is - overhead. When |
| A good spin serve does everything a hard flat serve | | | | you are faced with a lob and your opponents are at |
| doesn't do. It gives you more time to get ready for the | | | | the baseline waiting for your smash, what you need is |
| next shot (hopefully a volley). It doesn't give the | | | | this. |
| returner as much pace to work with and it will force | | | | A sliced or anled overhead landing around the service |
| them to move. If it's good enough then a weak return | | | | line. Not only is that nearly impossible to pick up from |
| is always the result of a player forced to move their | | | | behind the baseline it means that if they do go for it |
| feet and off balance. It will bring your partner into play | | | | they are on the move (control then difficult) and also |
| more often to poach and will open up more gaps on | | | | they leave massive gaps on the court. |
| the court (as they have to move to get the ball) for | | | | Just like the serving example I gave you earlier!! I hope |
| you to exploit. | | | | this made sense. It really is just a matter of tennis |
| 2. You DON'T need Topspin groundstrokes | | | | doubles strategy, intelligent play & knowing what to do. |
| This is a funny one, because this is a shot you | | | | Not trying hard. |
| definitely need for singles. But for doubles strategy the | | | | As I said at the beginning, I was lucky enough to be |
| concept of hitting high looping shots from the back of | | | | told this stuff by someone else and it transformed my |
| the court is a no - no and here is why! | | | | doubles tactics and therefore my game. |
| Shots travelling deep to the back of the court with | | | | Hopefully this will do the same for you. |
| topspin become a nice easy volley either for the | | | | |