3 Secrets to Winning Doubles, pt 2

Ken DeHart — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:46:22 +0000

Learn to do the tennis dance.

This is the second post of three consecutive posts on the secrets to winning doubles in tennis.

Secret #2 “Tennis Dance” Where to move & when to move there!

Dance of the server’s partner:

Find the middle of the service box, half way between the net and the service line, the center service line and the singles side line. When the server serves, move forward toward the direction of served the ball to be in the best position to poach the return of serve.
Be ready to poach by going forward at a diagonal toward the net and center service lie or to defend your alley on a wide serve.
If the ball is returned past you, slide back diagonally toward the service line and the center service line while facing the opponent at the net diagonally across from you.
If the return by your partner passes the opponent at the net, move back toward the net in the direction of the returned ball and be prepared to distract or poach again.
Repeat this part of the dance until you can poach to win the point or the opponents lose the point.

Dance of the receiver’s partner:

The receiver stands near the service line and near the center service line to intercept any poach volleys up the middle by the opposing poaching net player and to call the service line for their partner.
If the serve is in and is returned past the opposing net player – cross court, move up and forward toward the middle of the service box to put pressure on the server’s return of your partners shot.
If the server returns back cross court to your partner, slide back on defense toward the service line and center service line depending upon the speed and direction of the return by the server.
Repeat the dance until you can poach or one team wins the point.

Dance of the Receiver:

The receiver should select a position to return serve that allow them to take advantage of their best return shot as well as selecting a position that forces the serve to serve where they do not want serve rather than allowing the server to dictate the play.
Start well back behind the baseline in a sprinters stance with one foot forward, when the ball is tossed, begin to move forward, split step or do adjusting steps as the ball is about to be contacted. This will allow you to move toward the direction of the serve to make a stronger return.
The receiver can also change their starting position as the server’s toss goes up to get better position to make the return or influence the server’s choice of serves.

Dance of the Circle:

Once the ball is put in play, keep the feet in motion as if you were moving around a cone on the ground. The small circular motion enables the player to have a feel for “being in motion” and to change directions quickly.

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3 Secrets to Winning Doubles, pt 1

Ken DeHart — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:57:27 +0000

Tennis Talk

This is the first post of three consecutive posts on the secrets to winning doubles in tennis.

Secret #1 “Tennis Talk” – What to say and when to say it!

Before the match:

Decide with your partner ahead of time if you want to serve first, receive first, and choose which end to play from or let them choose so when you spin you will already have a plan.
Decide who will serve first for your team, who will serve from the sunny side or the strongest serving combination to start the match.
Decide on a “game plan” for the first 3 games of the match to take control (serve and volley, use the “I” formation, Australian formation, two back, lob and take the net and etc.)

During the match:

Compliment what you are doing as a team to win so you will know why you are winning and what to continue to do as the match progresses.
“High 5″s” after each lost point to reconnect with your partner and get their mind off the lost point.
Make your partner tell you their plan for the next point to stay in the present and to get your partner ready at the net or after the return of serve.

After the match:

Ask the “5 Essential Questions”
1. What did we do best in the match?
2. What did they do best in the match?
3. What was our weakness in the match?
4. What was their weakness in the match?
5. If we could replay the match again right now, how would we play differently?