Real Doubles Strategies for Real Doubles Players

Doubles is a team game, obviously; however it seems that many partners have forgotten this basic tenet of tennis. This article will look into some of the various areas and skills that doubles partners are lacking in or at the very least can improve. There are several things that a good doubles partner does that a not-so-good doubles partner does not. Again like the previous articles in this series, if you are thin skinned or are easily offended then well either suck it up and improve or stop reading right now. Good you are still reading, then let's move.

The very first thing, the most important thing a good doubles player knows is that they are not a coach. Coincidentally this is the exact opposite for the bad doubles partner. The bad doubles partner thinks or even believes they are a coach and they know best. They are always quick to offer unsolicited advice. The bad doubles partner is always quick to offer strategy and tactical adjustments. Keep in mind that when I say offer I really mean tell. What the bad doubles partner needs to know is that they are not a coach, even if that is what their occupation is! During a match, each player makes up part of a team; that's all.

The second point that almost universally all bad doubles partners partake in is what I call the critical correct. What is the critical correct? It is when one partner makes an error and immediately the bad partner gives critical tips to correct for future errors. For example, let's suppose a player hits a ball long. The bad partner would critically correct with a tip such as just hit the ball in the court. Really? Hit the ball in? Is that what I'm supposed to do? DUH! This type of correcting only leads to negative feelings by both partners; the one that made the error now feels inadequate and stupid while the bad partner feels frustrated and resentful that they are stuck with such an inferior player.

The third point that again almost all bad partners exhibit is bad body language. It is natural to feel frustrated or even upset with your partner for making a mistake. But mistakes happen, get over it! I'm sure if the bad partner is honest with themselves they will even see that they, on occasion, have been known to make a mistake on court once in a blue moon. Just keep in mind that most human communication is non-verbal; so an eye roll, a heavy sigh, or even the slumping of shoulders can go a long way to affecting your partner's play and confidence. Again your partner may already feel bad enough for making the mistake, don't add to it with poor body language.

Finally the biggest characteristic or trait of the bad doubles partner is the do as I say partner. This partner just loves to tell you what to do and how to do it, right when you are in the process of doing it! For example, you are about to hit an overhead and your partner blurts out, 'put it away!' Really? You think I should try to win the point here? DUH! Take it from me being a coach is hard enough; trying to be a coach smack in the middle of a point is darn near impossible! Plus your partner will almost always respond negatively to your untimely advice. So please keep your comments to yourself during points unless they are the accepted and appreciated comments of 'bounce it', 'mine', 'yours', 'switch' and 'duck'. Even these commands need to be timed correctly to be effective and at the last possible second is never the right time.

By this point I'm sure you are all thinking that this guy is all doom and gloom on doubles partners. No not all doubles partners, just the bad ones. But the silver lining in all this is that you do not have to be a bad partner. The first step to partner recovery is admitting that you have a problem. Take stock in yourself and your own game. Acknowledge that your game does have some flaws, that you do make mistakes. Once this is done now you are free to work on being a good doubles partner.

Instead of telling your partner how to play; work together to discuss tactics and strategies that apply to both of you. Really make it a point to self-monitor and not offer critical correcting even if your partner asks for it! This by far will be the hardest point to work on; by nature we want to help. So if you cannot resist helping then offer mild tips or suggestions and not full blown technique work. Another way to progress to the good doubles partner is to work on keeping a positive attitude and body language. Mistakes are part of the game, they are going to happen. How you react to them will go a long way for both players in winning matches and enjoying playing the game. It is after all just a game. If you double fault on match point, what is the worst thing that happens? You lose the match. You don't lose a million dollars. Your family isn't relocated. The world doesn't explode. All that happens is that you lose that match; there is another match coming right behind it. The moral of the story is that doubles is a fun competitive team game. You want to be the partner people love to be paired up with not because of a super great serve or because you can run all day, but because you are a team player that enjoys playing the game. You want to be known as the partner that supports the team and is in it from start to finish no matter what the outcome. Nobody likes the spoiled brat player, no matter how good they can hit the ball. The fact of the matter is, eventually, if you are the bad partner you will end up playing only singles.