What to Do When Your Partner
Won't Come to the Net
by Steve Tourdo
Doubles brings a component to the game of tennis that can often be very
challenging. Especially, if your partner's approach to the game is very different from
yours - so different, you'd swear they were really on your opponent's team. In this
month's lesson we will address what you can do when your doubles partner
won't come to the net.
It is common for two players, who seldom play together, to have different ideas on how to emerge victorious.
Let's clarify the two basic means to emerge victorious as outlined in part
2 of this series:
- Beat your opponents with superior shot making.
- Ask your opponents to lose to you by making unforced errors.
When poaching, be patient and selective of your opportunities. If your partner is
steady, there is no need to rush. Wait until the opponent is in some trouble.
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Both of these are valid routes to victory and should be available to a fully functioning doubles
team.
Partner Stays Back
When your partner doesn't come to the net, you should recognize that
he/she plans to play a steady game and wait for an error. This strategy is reflected by
partner's baseline court position. Your partner plans to stay back to have time to pick up on the
opponent's shots and block or lob them back. Recognize your partner's baseline strategy and, when
successful, you will emerge victorious despite your need to attack.
If your baseline partner is successful and the opponents are indeed losing, perhaps you should put your
aggressiveness ideas on hold and join your partner at the baseline. Boredom aside, your newfound position
may provide a good opportunity to practice consistency and besides, why
tinker with success!
It's safe to move when the opponent's eyes are off you. Move
diagonally if they're hitting hard and laterally across the service line
if they're blooping the ball. Take this valuable opportunity to end the
point by volleying into an opening near the net playing opponent.
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On the other hand, when your opponents remain steady and recognize your partner
isn't trying to beat them, joining your partner at the baseline would most
likely result in a loss.
Once you've tried your partner's baseline technique and met with failure,
it's only fair your partner tries your more aggressive ideas. Discuss this fact and attempt to get your partner to
change tactics and move to the net. If your partner still won't come into the net,
or agrees to but remains on the baseline, you must single-handedly represent your team in the more aggressive net position.
To do this, pay attention and take advantage of opportunities that allow
you to move aggressively at the net. Your court position will play a major role in your success. Take a
stance that's near the service line to help ward off your baseline opponent's
urge to lob. Pick and choose your opportunities to move out and poach the ball.
When you see your opponent's eyes come off you to make their final focus
on the ball they intend for your partner, move out between the hitting opponent and your partner to intercept the ball.
To summarize: work with your partner's style. If it's not working and they
won't change, head for victory on your own by playing carefully planned poaches.
Enjoy your challenges and good luck until next time.
For a more complete explanation of this concept, see Steve
Tourdo's book: Unlimited Doubles!!
The above article is an excerpt from the first chapter of Unlimited
Doubles! For more detailed explanation of this concept and to improve your doubles game
refer to the book.
Your comments are welcome. Let us know what you think about Steve
Tourdo's article by emailing us
here at TennisONE.
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