Tennis Tips

Northland Age, Volume 4, Issue 9, 30 November 1934, Page 9

Tennis Tips

XII WATCH GOOD DOUBLES PLAY TO LEARN TACTICS Teamwork ! That, in brief, is the first law of successful doubles play. You and your partner must know and understand each other. \ou must both combine intelligently, and concentrate on a common purpose—that of building up and scoring the winning point. The game of doubles consists mainly of keeping the ball in play ; leading up to an opening through a series of plays ; and then, when the opportunity arrives, punching through the scoring shot. This continues, giving the combined wits of both partners plenty of opportunity to function.

Many tennis fans state that there is more enjoyment in watching or playing doubles than singles. There are many reasons why they are right; and as many, also, why doubles is a very difficult game to play at all. In doubles, teamwork and co-opera-tion wholly outweigh, in value, any individual brilliance. Two average players, working together in harmony, and playing in perfect combination, can often defeat a team composed of two individually brilliant stars. What Is Good Doubles Play ? What is good doubles play? Perhaps the best way for an ambitious doubles team to learn this is to watch good doubles when it is being played. If you do this, you and your partner will soon find yourselves thinking good doubles. When you start thinking good doubles play, on and off the court, you will, before long, find yourselves playing better doubles. This is what other combinations have done to gain success.

Select, as a model, the best doubles team you can. Figure out their methods. Determine whether or not any of them can be applied to your own play. Even their errors will give you a clue to what should be done.

Some of the fundamentals to be observed in good doubles play and put into practice, are :

Keeping the Bad in Play.—This is not altogether simple. It entails siowing down, but r.ot softening, your strokes. It requires patience in waiting for the proper opportunity, which may not arrive until four, five, or more shots have been played. Then you can “lean” on the ball for a scoring point. It also requires that you scramble for the ball when your opponents are hammering away, and finding unprotected spots in your court. If you keep the ball in play during a hectic session and weather the storm, the moment will soon follow when you and your partner can sweep to the attack and win the point which your opponents were confident was theirs.

Making Sure of the Return of Service.—The server in doubles has the advantage not only of his own delivery, but also the position of his partner at the net to cut off weak returns. Make your returns of service certain and steady to the most unprotected part of your opponents’ court. A good wide drive which the server will have to handle is effective, as is a deep lob over the net man’s head. Pick out some good shots and practice them continually.

Keep Parallel With the Net

Keeping as Nearly as Possible Side by Side.—You and your partner must keep parallel to the net in order to present the strongest front. If you are placed one in back of the other, even though on your respective sides, you will leave an opening of which any alert pair of opponents will soon take advantage. The centre of your court is one place where you must never be caught! It is “quicksand” and the first thing you know your opponents will be placing their shots at your feet or those of your partner.

Use of the Lob.—The lob is con-

sidered by the majority of experts to be the most effective weapon in doubles. In the hands of any thinking player, it may become an extremely offensive weapon. When correctly used, it will break up the strongest net attack, and can often reduce a pair of smashing, rip-roaring opponents to mild-mannered types. Do not lob when unnecessary. Mix your lobs with unexpected drives off the forehand or backhand. Many a good doubles team has cracked on drop shots just over the net, which have brought them up running, to be caught there while well-placed lobs were sent to the baseline. Try it out. The fun alone is worth the effort spent.

The Net Game.—No doubles team can thrive or survive solely on backcourt play. The team must develop a strong, consistent net attack. It is the ultimate end of every maneuver

in doubles. Good doubles players must be good volleyers, and partners must be at the net volleying together. Do not go haphazardly to the net. Your position there must be planned. It is the place where your “kill” is made, and the point most often won. It is a sound policy for you to go to the net at your first opportunity. The team serving first, has the.advantage for one player is already stationed there. The server should advance to be in line with the partner at the net as soon as possible. Otherwise, the partner at the net will be left stranded, and your opponents free to move in. In most instances they will need no second invitation!

The art and pleasure of doubles might serve to fill several volumes. Perhaps the best advice to any tennis enthusiast is to go out and play intelligently, and thus write your own personal chapters !