The Vulnerable Area in Each Formation
Contributed by Kathy Krajco of OperationDoubles.com.
Every formation has a chink in its armor, an Achilles heel. In the Both-Back Formation, this vulnerable area is the wings. In the Up-and-Back Formation it's the Hole. In the Both-Up Formation it's the rear.
The Wings in the Both-Back Formation
The Both-Back Formation covers less territory than either of the other formations, exposing its wings. That's because both partners are back-players, so neither dares to position wide of the singles sideline. But the wings are targetable only from the forecourt. And both-back players can greatly narrow these openings by playing shallow to hit shots on the rise.
The Hole in the Up-and-Back Formation
Billions and billions of doubles players don't see the Hole in the Up-and-Back Formation. But because of the angles, the Hole is huge and easy to hit for those who know it's there. It's quickly closed, however. (More on this later.) And it's open to only one opponent (the up-player) and only when he or she gets a swing at the ball, which should be seldom.
The Rear in the Both-Up Formation
Because it's behind lines, the rear in the Both-Up Formation is harder to hit than the wings in the Both-Back Formation or the Hole in the Up-and-Back Formation. Also, a lob to the rear has less margin for error than a volley to the Hole or an angle-volley to the wings, and it must clear a net player's overhead. Nonetheless, the risk of a winner-lob is greater than many Both-Up players realize. That's partly because the rear is an opening that can't be closed. It's also partly because the rear is more visible and targetable than the soft spots in other formations.
The wings in the Both-Back Formation are treacherous, because they look bigger than they are. The Hole in the Up-and-Back Formation is usually unavailable and is quickly closed. But the rear in the Both-Up Formation is open to a lob by either opponent, from any angle, anytime. That's high vulnerability.
Bottom line: Don't confuse strength with power. Power is the ability to apply force, and strength is the ability to withstand force. The most powerful formation (the Both-Up Formation) is also the most vulnerable and therefore MUST be played aggressively.
Hit to The Hole to Pocket the Point
Here's the simplest shot selection in tennis and the only time I'll tell you where to hit the ball: When you get a chance to volley against a team in the Up-and-Back Formation, you should almost always hit to the Hole. It doesn't matter if the opposition knows that's what you're going to do, because they can't stop this shot. Even if they do make a return, it's usually just a setup for another chance to put the ball away.
If you're new to the game, you'll soon find that an opposing up-player is usually in or near the Hole. But you still have every right to try to win the point by hitting there. (And don't let anybody con you into thinking otherwise. If that opposing net player can't take the heat, she should get out of the kitchen.) Conventional wisdom says to "aim at that opposing net player's feet." But that's exactly correct only when she stands IN The Hole. Your target is the Hole, not her. Aim into it at the depth of her feet.
That way, if she should get hit, it would be on a foot or lower leg. True, that opposing net player is more likely to get a racket on a shot at her feet than one at her body or face. But it's just a game. Plus, all too often, we don't volley these shots to the Hole as well as we should. So, if you always aim low, your shot always goes in and the worst you can get is a return hit UP to you, which is just another chance to put the ball away.
You will also find that the Hole isn't always crosscourt. Sometimes it's reverse-crosscourt. But, volleying to the Hole is so important that being able to volley reverse-crosscourt is an absolute must for doubles players. Opportunities to score are precious. Every time you fail to capitalize on a chance to score through the Hole, you multiply your odds of losing the point.
Related Articles From Operation Doubles
Check out these related articles for more doubles strategy and tactics from Operation Doubles:
The Three Basic Doubles Formations
Closing the Hole: Offensive and Defensive Modes
Kathy Krajco of Operation Doubles at www.OperationDoubles.com may be reached via email at kathy@...
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Every formation has a chink in its armor, an Achilles heel. In the Both-Back Formation, this vulnerable area is the wings. In the Up-and-Back Formation it's the Hole. In the Both-Up Formation it's the rear.
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The Wings in the Both-Back Formation
The Both-Back Formation covers less territory than either of the other formations, exposing its wings. That's because both partners are back-players, so neither dares to position wide of the singles sideline. But the wings are targetable only from the forecourt. And both-back players can greatly narrow these openings by playing shallow to hit shots on the rise.
The Hole in the Up-and-Back Formation
Billions and billions of doubles players don't see the Hole in the Up-and-Back Formation. But because of the angles, the Hole is huge and easy to hit for those who know it's there. It's quickly closed, however. (More on this later.) And it's open to only one opponent (the up-player) and only when he or she gets a swing at the ball, which should be seldom.
The Rear in the Both-Up Formation
Because it's behind lines, the rear in the Both-Up Formation is harder to hit than the wings in the Both-Back Formation or the Hole in the Up-and-Back Formation. Also, a lob to the rear has less margin for error than a volley to the Hole or an angle-volley to the wings, and it must clear a net player's overhead. Nonetheless, the risk of a winner-lob is greater than many Both-Up players realize. That's partly because the rear is an opening that can't be closed. It's also partly because the rear is more visible and targetable than the soft spots in other formations.
The wings in the Both-Back Formation are treacherous, because they look bigger than they are. The Hole in the Up-and-Back Formation is usually unavailable and is quickly closed. But the rear in the Both-Up Formation is open to a lob by either opponent, from any angle, anytime. That's high vulnerability.
Bottom line: Don't confuse strength with power. Power is the ability to apply force, and strength is the ability to withstand force. The most powerful formation (the Both-Up Formation) is also the most vulnerable and therefore MUST be played aggressively.
Hit to The Hole to Pocket the Point
Here's the simplest shot selection in tennis and the only time I'll tell you where to hit the ball: When you get a chance to volley against a team in the Up-and-Back Formation, you should almost always hit to the Hole. It doesn't matter if the opposition knows that's what you're going to do, because they can't stop this shot. Even if they do make a return, it's usually just a setup for another chance to put the ball away.
If you're new to the game, you'll soon find that an opposing up-player is usually in or near the Hole. But you still have every right to try to win the point by hitting there. (And don't let anybody con you into thinking otherwise. If that opposing net player can't take the heat, she should get out of the kitchen.) Conventional wisdom says to "aim at that opposing net player's feet." But that's exactly correct only when she stands IN The Hole. Your target is the Hole, not her. Aim into it at the depth of her feet.
That way, if she should get hit, it would be on a foot or lower leg. True, that opposing net player is more likely to get a racket on a shot at her feet than one at her body or face. But it's just a game. Plus, all too often, we don't volley these shots to the Hole as well as we should. So, if you always aim low, your shot always goes in and the worst you can get is a return hit UP to you, which is just another chance to put the ball away.
You will also find that the Hole isn't always crosscourt. Sometimes it's reverse-crosscourt. But, volleying to the Hole is so important that being able to volley reverse-crosscourt is an absolute must for doubles players. Opportunities to score are precious. Every time you fail to capitalize on a chance to score through the Hole, you multiply your odds of losing the point.
Related Articles From Operation Doubles
Check out these related articles for more doubles strategy and tactics from Operation Doubles:
The Three Basic Doubles Formations
Closing the Hole: Offensive and Defensive Modes
Kathy Krajco of Operation Doubles at www.OperationDoubles.com may be reached via email at kathy@...
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