A Successful Doubles Partner

Being a good doubles partner, means being there for your partner, both physically and mentally.

These are key points for your success to create a supportive and successful doubles team.

• Every word counts. The things you say to your partner, and the manner in which you say them can greatly affect how he or she plays - and how you fare as a team. Get a sense for what your doubles partner need to hear in order to play well.

  For example lighten the mood with a joke or other times you might need to manufacture tension if you sense there is a dangerous relaxation in your team's focus. Perhaps you need to add energy and motivate your partner especially if he or she lost a difficult singles match. And other times it might be obvious that your partner is in the "zone" and the best thing you could do is to keep your trap shut, hop on board, and see where his or her play might take you.

• The power of suggestion. Understanding your partner's moods and figuring it out what the situation calls for is a skill that will improve as you play more matches together.

  Here are some things that have worked for me in the past:

  Be positive - you don't have to be phony, but do your best to energize your doubles partners. If they are struggling, make sure you say something like "Good shot!" when they actually hit one. Never say something like "Finally!" or "it's about time," even as a joke. Conversely, you should look to turn a partner's error into an opportunity for motivation. After I missed a return, I liked it when my partner said, "Good rip!" and if my partner missed a return on break point, I often said something like "No problem, one more coming!."

  Never ever be negative - I mean never. Showing even the smallest indication of disappointment over partner's miscues can be devastating to their performance. For example I see often partners skaking their head or drop their shoulders after a partner's errant return or missed first serve. Such reactions only add pressure and make a player more uptight. Try to remain supportive and keep a very even keel when dealing with your teammate.

• Gauge your partner's emotions. Sometimes you have to perform a little on-court psychiatry with your doubles partners. If they are upset or chocking, try to make them smile or even laugh. If you sense that they are obsessing over a stroke or some technique, attempt to distract them by suggesting that they just try to make solid contact. If they get down about losing serve, let them know that there will be chances to break back. Don't let them struggle out there all alone. Bottom line: if your partners are running too hot, to too cold, it's your job to bring them back to their ideal playing temperature.



• Read your partner's body language. In certain situations, it's very difficult to assess what partners are thinking or feeling. How they carry themselves can sometimes be a better measuring stick. If they are rushing and unsure of their shots, they are probably nervous. Your job is to slow them down with a discussion of strategy. If their shoulders are slumped, say or do something to get them charged up again. Bad body language will not only negatively affect their play but will most likely be a source of inspiration to your opponents as well.
• Share the blame and deflect the praise. It's very important to let your doubles partners know that it's a team that wins or loses. After a defeat, they might harp on the last point or game in which they blew a big opportunity. Perhaps the fact might be that you were the better player that day. But it's smart to point out some of your own squandered chances. When partners praise you for a good shot, make sure they know they had a hand in it. For example tell them that the great volley you just hit only happened because of their serve or return that set it up. Everyone likes to feel as though they've contributed.
• Just play nice. Well, all I'm really describing here is the way an attuned person stays in touch and responds to how a friend business associate, sibling, or spouse is feeling. If they are down we try to pep them up. If they want to be left alone for a while, we give them space. But when we're competing and worried about our own performance, even the most basic interpersonal skills can sometimes be forgotten. This is why tennis, specifically doubles, can be invaluable for the development of interpersonal skills of young people. In this environment they'll learn how to interact and cooperate with others at the same time that they're dealing with competitive pressures.

It takes time to learn how to relate to your doubles partner. While you won't always be able to read and respond correctly to everyone, the more you can understand and react to what your partner is going through, the more effective and successful you'll be as a team player.

Remember that a hug is always a sign of a great doubles team!

Back from Doubles Partner to Tennis-Mind-Training