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More Tennis

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Each time I play social doubles I am reminded of how misunderstood the choice of shot from certain areas of the tennis court is for the majority of doubles players.

The risk-versus-reward equation is what the game of tennis is based upon, once players possess reasonably solid fundamental skills.

The absolute need to know where the opponent is positioned and what their potential is to damage you is paramount to the shot selection process.

The evolutionary process of turning from a beginner to an intermediate and then onward to become a truly advanced doubles player hinges on the concept that as you play higher level players you must adjust the tactics to respect their level.

Any attempt to hit a low driving groundstroke up the line past a technically competent and well positioned net player is at best foolish if not downright arrogant.

Remember that back when you were playing lower level players, they probably didn't even want to be at the net because they didn't possess the racket skills and positioning knowledge to exploit your misguided ploy.

As you go up the competitive ladder to the 3.5 and 4.0 levels they will feast on your previously-effective play and punish your partner with aggressive volleys that the lower level opponent wouldn't have been able to execute.

When I hear players say, "I wanted that shot!" or, " How did I miss that? It's my favorite shot!" or, "I thought I had him that time," -or any of a dozen other exhortations after choosing and playing a less than tactically logical shot- I chuckle to myself thinking that we might have won the point if my partner had lifted it over the net player and set me up to hit an aggressive volley or overhead off of the opponents response to a deep and high bouncing lob.

Good doubles isn't about hitting the shots you enjoy hitting. It's about hitting the shots that the tactical situation demands in order to give the point a logical structure and in turn give you the best chance to win.

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Howie Burnett is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association and tennis director at the Island Country Club on Marco Island. Burnett welcomes questions on strokes, tactics or etiquette. To reach him, call the tennis shop at 394-4464 or e-mail him at islandclubtennis@hotmail.com.