VETERANS DOUBLES: 7 TIPS TO BOOST YOUR GAME
It's a thrill for me to coach veteran players. Veteran players are all so open and receptive to the lesson. Perfect students!
Because tennis singles is such a physical game, doubles is the most popular form of tennis for veteran players.
Here are 7 doubles tips for veteran players that will help boost your game immediately.
1.
Serve Wide
When you start the point serving
wide you are positioning your opponent off-court from the first ball. The Returner now has 3 options, a more difficult cross-court return, a risky attempt at a down-the-line passing shot or a lob.
All 3 of these options put you the server at an advantage!
2.
Keep the Ball Low
This will
help in two important ways… it limits your opponents' ability to attack the
ball and will also provide you with many more opportunities to attack the resulting
high balls (high volleys & overheads)
3.
Get Fitter
One of the
biggest factors in Veterans Tennis is the physical limitations that come with
age. Speed, strength, endurance and recovery time are all factors that affect
your performance.
Commit to getting in better shape.
4.
Dominate Cross-court
The team
that dominate the cross-court contest will dominate the match. Dominating the
cross-court exchange forces your opponents to change direction down the line or to lob,
both play into your hands!
5.
Make Your Opponents Lift the Ball
Look for
ways to force your opponents to lift the ball. Think "one-two punch" by either keeping
the ball low or hitting to your opponents’ feet. Both these tactics will force
your opponents to lift the ball.
Any ball that you can contact high puts you in an attacking position .
6.
Focus on the Serve and Return
The two most
important shots in doubles are the serve and the return. In both cases, if you
serve or return well, you will be giving yourself an excellent chance to win
the point. When serving, focus on getting a high percentage of first serves in play.
When returning, focus on consistency, getting lots of balls back into play. consistent returning puts pressure on the serving team.
7.
Keep Their Feet Deep
If you are
playing a very strong team, or any team for that matter, its important to keep
their feet deep in the court when they hit the ball. If your opponents are
hitting their shots while standing inside the baseline, chances are that they
are dominating the match.
Keep their feet deep and make them play their shots
from behind the baseline.
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