By Brad Gilbert
From the January/February 2005 issue of TENNIS Magazine
As I started considering topics for the first of my year-long series of instruction columns, the subject I felt the need to address came as a surprise even to myself: It's doubles. Why would I write about something I had little success at as a pro? Simple: My body isn't what it used to be and I'm starting to appreciate the kind of tennis where I only need to cover half the court. And let's face it, as recreational players, it's the game we compete at most on a regular basis.
What I've come to realize about doubles is that good karma and chemistry between partners is a bigger part of the game than most rec players realize. In a doubles match pitting two accomplished singles players who never play together against experienced teammates who have a feeling for each other's games, the latter pair will win more often. Much of that connection starts with constant communication.
When I was competing, it was rare for partners to talk after every point, but now, particularly at the pro level, you see players signaling and conversing during any break in play. The best doubles teams, like the Bryan twins, Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor, and Todd Woodbridge and Jonas Bjorkman, are always communicating and setting up plays. And when you design something, such as a serve down the middle to set up a poach, and execute it successfully, it feels great. The positive energy flows within your team.
The other thing that helps is practicing together. If you play with the same partner a few times a week, you should spend one day banging out drills against each other. It doesn't have to be anything complicated. If you cover the ad side, have your partner serve to that side so you can work on your return. Play out the point using only the crosscourt half of the court. Perhaps you've got a match coming up against a team you know loves to hug the net. Now's the perfect time to practice lobs.
And to work on volleys, my partner and I stand on opposite service lines and simply volley back and forth, keeping a nice rally going with deep volleys and trying to make as many as we can in a row. It's great to hit volleys from this area of the court because that's where you hit so many first volleys in doubles. If you and your partner work at it so that you can hit 20 in a row consistently, I guarantee that your net game, as well as your teamwork, will seriously improve.
Yo sunny we should play DOUBLES
