Take Your Doubles Game to the Next Level!\ Whether you're trying to improve your doubles game or are just getting started playing tennis with a partner, The Art of Doubles is the book for you. Author Pat Blaskower is your personal coach, guiding and encouraging you and your partner to play winning tennis by showing you how to:\ \ choose a compatible partner\ determine your jobs on the court\ learn poaching skills\ communicate with each other and opposing teams\ maintain mental toughness\ use...
Take Your Doubles Game to the Next Level! Whether you're trying to improve your doubles game or are just getting started playing tennis with a partner, The Art of Doubles is the book for you. Author Pat Blaskower is your personal coach, guiding and encouraging you and your partner to play winning tennis by showing you how to: choose a compatible partner determine your jobs on the court learn poaching skills communicate with each other and opposing teams maintain mental toughness use various formations and strategies pick your shots intelligently decide where to play: tournaments or leagues and much, much more! The book also includes detailed court diagrams that show you how to execute offense, defense, and tactical plays; checklists that summarize the most important points of each chapter; and on-court drills to help you improve and refine your skills. The Art of Doubles is loaded with practical, proven tennis strategies that you can put to work immediately to see improvements in your own doubles game!
Introduction 1Creating and Nurturing a Balanced Doubles Team 6The Dream TeamWho Plays Which Court?Nurture Team CharacterThe DumpDo You Need a Coach?Keep Your Team's Communication Lines Open 17Communication Begins Off-CourtLearn Proper Court Position 28What Exactly is Proper Court Position?The Offensive Court PositionThe Defensive Court PositionWin With Intelligent Shot Selection 45Percentage TennisThe Beginning StageThe Middle StageAim for the Right TargetsOther Targets to Aim ForPoaching the BallClosing the NetMaking Low-Percentage Tennis Pay OffKnow When to Bail Out of a ShotThe Shots You NeedThe Shots You Don't NeedDevelop Superior Poaching Skills 67Plan to PoachReasons to Abort a PoachStrategies for PoachingWhere to Hit a PoachHow Your Partner Figures into a PoachTo Signal or Not to SignalKeeping Control of the Net 84Handling the Dreaded Service Return LobDefending Against Lobs Other Than Service ReturnsUnderstanding Your Jobs on the Court 98Consider Yourself "On the Job"The ServerThe Server's PartnerThe RecieverThe Reciever's PartnerFlexibility: A Powerful Weapon 114Flexibility Requires ConfidenceAsk Yourself a CoupleKey QuestionsRecognize Your Own Predictable StrokesThe Australian Serving FormationThe "I" Formation Defending Against theAustralian FormationDefending Against the "I" FormationHow to Defend Against a Monster ServeAn Effective Tactic Against Impenetrable OpponenetsFlexibility in the Face of Lob QueensIn the End, Be a Gracious LoserGaining Command of the Intangibles 129Time: There Never Seems to Be EnoughWhen to Use Depth, Pace or FinesseCultivate the Drop or Underspin VolleyAnticipation Means No More ScramblingTwo Rules of Proper Court MovementThe Gift of Great HandsThe Sum of the PartsAchieving Mental Toughness 145The Angst and Agony of ChokingConquering the Two Greatest Fears on CourtConquer the Fear of WinningThe ZoneRemember These Final WisdomsLet's Talk About Winning and Losing 160The Ten Most Common Reasons Doubles Teams Lose MatchesThe Three Keys to WinningChoosing the Better Arena to Showcase Your Team's Skills 170League TennisTournament TennisDrills for Honing Your Skills 176Emotional, Technical, and Balance, Communication, and Mental ToughnessProper Court Position,and Net ControlIntelligent Shot SelectionSuperior Poaching SkillsJobs on the CourtFlexibilityCommand of the Intangibles and Timing SpaceCharting ProgressDrills for the Highest Levels of Competition 198Match and Clock ManagementGroundhog Day DrillsWhy Did You Lose that Game?The Momentum ChartWho Are Those Guys?Looking for Tells