LOOKING AT MORE ADVANCED DOUBLES PLAY.

Before looking at specific areas of play, I want to raise the need to:

Generate Power.

There are several forces involved when you hit a ball.  The power generated by the step you take just before hitting the ball is called linear momentum. Stepping in at a 45o angle rather than a 90o angle puts the power of linear momentum behind your shot.

If you step sideways when you are attempting to hit forward, this energy is diverted from your shot. Bio mechanically, your body is working against itself, resulting in a weak shot.

If you step in the direction you are hitting the ball, you are taking full advantage of the force created by linear momentum. In the case of a wide shot, a 45o step enables you to utilize this force to the greatest extent possible.

A second force, which will enable you to strike the ball harder, is ‘Elastic Energy’, however, incorrectly used it will also reduce your hitting power.

When taking the racket back in preparation to hit the ball, you should use a small loop and as this is being done, the body should turn from the waist in the direction of the take-back. Elastic energy is built up between the shoulder and the neck. As you use the kinetic chain to produce your shot, legs first – waist – torso – shoulders and arm.

You can add another 10% power. However, there must be no stopping in the complete movement. if the racket stops behind you for 1 second you lose 20% of your hitting power, and 4 seconds or more 50% of your power. This is why it is so important to have a clean pure hitting motion.

The major point in raising this issue is, that you can judge the effectiveness of your return to determine how much to attack your opponents.

Isolate the Player.

This is an advanced doubles tactic and if executed well, will win your team plenty of points.

You and your partner are at the net and you have contained the opponents on their baseline.  When the opportunity arises and one of your opponents is under pressure, you and your partner should play every ball in the area of that opponent, obviously making it most difficult for that player and endeavouring to hit the winner.

This ploy effectively cuts the other opponent out of the point.

Australian Formation.

This is a tactic that many players are aware of but which they seldom use.  Your partner at the net takes up a position on the same side as you, when you are serving,

You will serve from near the middle of the court and then move to the opposite side to your partner. It is important that your partner sets themself up in the correct position and this would be a place dissecting the angle of return crosscourt. Your partner should also be roughly 6 – 8 feet back from the net.

The advantages in this play are:

1/.        To disrupt your opponents rhythm

2/.        If the opponent is left handed and is hitting winners crosscourt.

3/.        The opponent has a good backhand shot.

4/.        Your partner prefers only to play in the deuce court.

This strategy can be effective on both the deuce and ad. sides of the court.

The ‘I’ Formation.

The advantage in using an I formation, is that your opponents do not know which way the net player is going to move. I have seen this strategy work extremely well, when the net player is very quick and agile, supporting a player who is perhaps the least proficient of all four players.

The I formation can also be very effective in disrupting the opponent’s game, especially if they are not used to playing against such format.

The first priority is for the partners to have some form of signalling system, I favour this rather than verbal setting as then you don’t have to confer for the second serve, having already committed the move on a first failed serve.

Some players do still confer prior to starting the serve; this is useful to discus where the serve is being placed.

The second important point is that the serve acknowledges to the net player that they are aware of the decision.

A common signal is for a clenched fist, which indicates the net player is moving to the normal side, where they would usually start, and with fingers pointing outward, they would go the other way, (keep in mind that if they are using their left hand for the signal and they would normally be in the right hand box, whilst the fingers point to the right, they will actually be moving to the left, the server will be slightly to the left of the centre line.

The position the net player takes up is on the centre line, about 1 foot (300 mm) from the service line, they would be crouching down in order not to be hit by the ball, but in a dynamic position so that they can move quickly as they hear the server strike the ball, about half a second afterwards, they must not commit and give away their direction too soon but must be in a position to cut off the ball.

The server stands just to the side of the centre line to serve, and as the net player goes one way, the server goes the opposite.

Try out both of the above formations; see how they go for you and your partner. I would however say that you do need to practice these with a regular partner.

Playing in no man’s land.

The area near the service line is commonly called no man’s land which implies that no one should be there. This is not true. When in the transition stage of going from the baseline to the net, you will often find yourself in the area, when you have to do a split-spring in preparation for your next shot, usually an approach shot.

There are a number of times when this is precisely the area where you should be. As an example, suppose you are at the net, the ball is behind you, and one or both your opponents approach the net, you must retreat to this area.

Playing in the area around the service line demands a high level of skill because of the type of shots you must execute from that position; long volleys, half volleys etc. It is difficult to win a point from that area, so you should try to take only one hit from there are move to a more advantageous position.

Good doubles players must know how to play there; therefore arrange some drills that will help you learn to play capably and confidently. Seek advice from your coach.