George Wachtel over at SeniorTennisandFitness put out a great article on what to do when you have a weak doubles partner. (Or when you are that person!) You might want to go over there and sign up. George always has something interesting going on! (I have one tip after George is done)
How do you cope with playing with a weak doubles partner? We all have been put in that situation at some time … you go on the court for an arranged doubles match and three of you are about equal; but the partner you have been assigned is significantly weaker. What do you do? If you are playing with really considerate and sensitive opponents, they will see the situation and try to balance play. But in most cases, there is the need (or just the desire) to win the match; and your opponents will continually pound the ball at your weaker opponent. What should you do? Some thoughts:- Don’t overplay. Too often the instinct is to try to put away every shot, so the ball won’t come back in play. Or to try to cover too much court to “save” your partner. Be aggressive and solid, but don’t over-hit.
- Accept the situation. Don’t fret and get over emotional about “How come I got stuck with this guy.” Recognize that you are still playing a game that you love and have a good time.
- Practice shots. Accept that you probably won’t win and take this opportunity to practice some of the strokes you have been working on.
- Don’t over-coach. If your partner is agreeable, you can make some minor court-positioning suggestions; but don’t think you are going to dramatically improve this guy in 90 minutes on the court.
Thanks for letting me vent, great article Thanks Beth for the reply! Mike
I am the weaker player ( for now anyway) and last night my partner was breaking all of these rules, he is very competitive – knew I was the weaker player going in – and he overplayed, missed a lot of shots, and did not trust me to be there – he tried coaching me on the court, I can’t learn something out there in a match – tell me later – it was frustrating for me, cause by his own admission, I am better than he thought and could have made a lot of the shots he missed. He also told me that since he was playing lousy ( yah thinK?, he double faulted more than I did!), I played almost as well as he. Preparing for the match I had taken some lessons, practiced with my son on specific things – trying to get ready for every shot being hit at me. He never talked to me accept to say good shot – or criticize me – I think this is good advice for the stronger player, but I would add, since you may lose anyway, let the weaker player hit – they may surprise you and how else will they improve their game. I asked him about calling shots and yelling switch etc. and he said “I have been playing doubles for years, no need for that.” Well, I haven’t – so my other advice to better players is CALL the shots –
Thanks for letting me vent, great article
The author was right on point. Betty, even though I would agree to most of your comments, there are a few key items I want to point out which would help players like you.
1. It is not a shot practice. For shot practice, you need to go and hit the board. Or have a hitting session. Doubles is not about learning your shots/technique. It is about movement. Taking the doubles as your hitting session is a waste of time for 3 other folks.
2. You commented ” I could have made a lot of the shots he missed”. I bet that you here behind your partner in the baseline, and you were frustrated that your partner stole the ball from you at net and made an error. This is just another addon to the point#1, you were supposed to move forward, and not wait for shots in baseline. Obviously the baseline is more open and that is were most neutral balls will go and the person at net will get “attacked”. Also “making your shots in” is not enough in doubles, especially from baseline.
The best bet for a weak player is to close IN to net, and let the better player take care of baseline. If you do just that one thing a lot of frustration can be avoided. How can another player steal a shot from you, when you are that close to net.
Great post Betty! I too am “the weaker player”. Every “strong player” should read your post.
Michael Jordan was a prolific scorer at the beginning of his career but he did not become truly great until he figured out how to make everyone (team mates) great around him.
“Strong players”, remember that you all started off as the a “weaker player”. Also, someone will always be stronger or weaker. Every strong player doesn’t always make great shots and every weaker player doesn’t always make poor shots.
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
– African Proverb
If a captain is going to waste my time putting me with a weak doubles player I’m going to start practicing poaching, practicing shots. Especially if it’s the type of partner that refuses to play the net, but also can’t do much from the baseline. I don’t want to be relegated to a “place holder” while they sit there hitting a few balls and eventually missing or getting pinned so far back on the baseline that I get creamed at the net. So I’ve decided from now on I’m just going to practice relentlessly (poaching, crazy shots) because we’re going to lose anyway, and too much of my time has been wasted over the years in matches like these, so I might as well have some fun and look out for number 1!
Wow, I couldn’t agree more. I hate getting roped into a match, league or not, where my partner is so weak that I just stand there while they pound him. I’m out there to play….not stand around. Great comment!!!
There will always be a stronger and weaker player , accept it and play the game. If you continually get put with the same partner speak to the captain or sit out a match or two. If the situation continues then play more singles or change clubs as sometimes its the only thing you can do, alot of clubs have had the same four in a team for years and outsiders are not welcome even if you are better.
The club you are in should work for every level of ability but peer pressure and sometimes sheer incompetence are to blame for poor pairings and hence results.
This scenario ( playing with 3 similar levels and 1 weaker player) has been happening for a while to me. If we were playing in a league or tournament I can see ( sorta) the win at all cost and hit 90% to the weaker player. But we are playing for fun w friends on free courts. I get annoyed when partners will tell me “just don’t hit it to x player”. I hit to the open space or the next tennis shot regardless of who can get it. No one wins when this happens all it does is tire out the weakest player, can embarrass that player and make it not an enjoyable for everyone.. be aware of the situation and just play.
You are spot on Noah. I think most people forget the goal is to have fun out there! Hitting to the weaker player 90% of the time (even in a ‘real’ match) doesn’t make it fun for anyone. I will just try to work on other aspects of my game against the stronger opponent. Or like you said, just hit the smart tennis shot regardless of who is on the other side of the net.