I've been a tennis pro for 25 years, you didn't ask for my opinion-i know how some pros can be- but you did an amazing job of explaining what (in my terminology) shifting is.. great way to simplify with the toss and catch... really well done, I'm late to your videos but can't tell you how much I enjoyed the pro lesson rip off (i tell my clients to watch it honestly) and other talking points videos you/your guys have done...I don't know if you have but I think alot of guys would enjoy seeing an independent contractor vs "corporate club"?? keep up the good work and if you're ever in Dallas area shoot me a message...I watched the backhand video
This helped me and my partner immensely. As soon as we implemented it, we immediately raised our game one level up. We used to struggle to dominate against another pair that we usually play against; once we employed this technique, we crushed them. Hell, they were so bewildered by the chaos we created at their end, we ended one of the sets 6-0, wow! :-O And all of this, thanks to a very very simple moving tactic. Thank you so so so much!
This was a very good video on doubles tactics. I used the ideas presented here in a mixed doubles match today and it was awesome. The consistent movement allowed my team to easily cover the high percentage hitting areas on most points. It looked like we worked on strategy together, ( which we did not do in this case). Fun time.
Thanks so much for this video guys, can't wait to try them later this week! Just one question though - a player in my club is really great at hitting accurate deep DTL lobs, so how do I adapt these movements to account for him when I'm at the net?
Such precious advice. The combination of the rationale for a strategy, along with the demonstration, implants wonderful advice firmly in my noodle. Tennis lessons help with technique. But these videos provide the intuitive feel of strategic dynamics, totally separate from shot-making technique. Just brilliant.
This is the best advice on doubles strategy I have viewed. I played today using this strategy and won all my doubles matches. Thanks so much for explaining this strategy and doing it so well !!
Great tips. I'm a singles player and its hard working as a pair. I am trying to fix in my head that I need to be anticipating the other pairs returns. So I need just enough runway to respond to the short ball and close enough to poach the long ball :)
What you called shading I used the term “slide to the side “ ( where the ball is going). The up and back is basic Zone defense or offense if you want to cut off the shot before in lands in your partner’s zone. Coaching High School tennis my basketball and hockey players were better at employing these tactics in doubles. I noticed a carry over from their training in these other sports. Personally I like to use other sports as cross training references. Personally I played a great deal of organized basketball as a kid so zone defense moving towards the ball and of course going to the net was like driving to the hoop. You had to be aggressive, cover the court and plan the point. When I learned to play tennis there was a natural cross over for me. This was extremely useful when I got into coaching tennis.
I used to play mostly singles. But lately I've been a dubious player. Not pretty. I used chaos, as in random and confused. Let's see if dubious can become doubles, and chaos can become percentage strategy.
Super good tactics!!! But how the net player cover the down-line ball(passing shot) when he is followling the ball up and back? My commnet is depending the angle and speed of the rally. If it is a short/easy ball to your opponenet, you have to be more careful it is a passing shot (saying you are on AD side in the net), at this time I prefer to stay at the down-line. Only if my partner's ball pushes the opponenet, I'll quickly move forwards to steal the ball return. Does that make sense to you?
Nice video, I learned a lot. Just a question regarding 13:25 the guys Iam playing with usually hit a long line shot or even slightly slices ball that goes around me. If I stand where you are I never have a chance to reach the ball in time but if I move outwards too much I leave the middle open and never have a chance to intercept the ball. Any tips? Thanks and keep up the good work!
The lady who said "yeah, I'm still practicing" drives me crazy. SHUT UP AND LISTEN! Obviously you are still practicing... It's insulting to the coach to even say those words. He is trying to tell you something. And if you think you already know it, then why are you even there?
I'm pretty sure this guy knows a lot about tennis but... I can't help thinking he thinks too much. Sometimes, Tennis is a game of strategy but it's not a game of Go.
Surely I am not the only person who sees a spitting image of Richard Hendricks from Silicon Valley in this guy, right? Anyway, thanks for this great video - very helpful!
Essential Tennis - Lessons and Instruction for Passionate Players awesome thanks very much im going to the court on thursday should i practice both western and semi western and see what one feels better and also would practicing air swings of both help? I think my current grip is something like eastern because i push through the ball pretty flat and it's pretty much a diagonal 45 degree swing from low to high if that makes sense so the going upwards would be a big difference im guessing, are there any good drills to practice the swinging up motion i saw somewhere that you turn a doorknob to the right or something for the wrist snap, sorry for my super long comment thanks very much both this video and the topspin grip explanation were very useful
I had an instructor teach and drill the exact same things at a free clinic this past summer, since more people in the area play doubles. I doubt that I will ever get the quality that this instructor provided ever again at a free clinic. The video was a good reminder for me of the things that I had put in place and some of the things that I was a bit off. I know that I am late at recognizing when to retreat to cover the middle as the net player. That will be something I look forward to working on the next time out. Thanks for the awesome video.
that was cool, i always constant on.net in doubles, irrespective of where ball going, this video gave ne good tips. i was not dynamic according to.ball, now i will try this pro active approach, thanks.
This style of play is not taught and it is very effective, when playing comp this could be difference between finishing first and getting knocked out first round
Once again my mind is saying, Oh NOW I get what my past coaches meant ... You demonstrate & explain the why behind the what's and my brain gets it now!! Thank you again!! This helps me understand so I can start implementing your great info. Ian you are just my favorite!!
