Cum sa fii un Partener Bun

Articol scris de:
Barry Boren
Tennis Professional
Laguna Niguel Racquet Club


I remember when I first started playing doubles, I hated it. I was a singles player and didn’t know much about doubles.
As I played more doubles and began to understand the tactics and strategy of the game, I began to enjoy it more and more.
The one thing that took me a long time to learn was that I can get my partner to play their best by being a good partner.

How can you be a good partner? Practice the following:
1. Warm up with your partner:
The five minute warm-up that you get with your opponents is just part of the introduction. Do not use these 5 minutes to warm up for your match. Before you arrive at your match warm up with your partner, alone, (cross court) for at least 30. Warming up with your partner, alone, allows you to bond as a team.
2. Communicate:
Talk to each other before, during and after a point. Signals are a form of communication. Let your partner know what you are going to do when they are serving, when you are serving and when you are returning serve. Call it! (High balls), “Mine”, “Yours”, “Bounce it”, “Switch”, even if the situation is obvious. I have found that many players hold their breath during a point. Talking starts the breathing process. When you hold your breath, your muscles tighten and you get out of breath.
3. No Coaching:
Coaching your partner is one of the leading causes of teams falling apart in a match, especially in Mixed. Everyone seems to play their best when they are not thinking. The things you should say after a point are: Nice shot! Or, its ok lets get this next point.
4. High Five and Low Five for Energy:
If you watch the top teams, they respond to every point with high energy. They either High Five when they win the point or they Low Five when they lose the point. Why? When you High Five after a good shot, your team gets energized and your brain takes a picture of the good shot which increases your chances of repeating it. When you Low Five after an error, it lets your partner know that it is ok, that you are not upset with them and keeps the team’s energy up.
5. Stay Together on the Change Over:
When you change sides, walk together, sit down together and get up together.
6. Play at Your Level:
There are going to be times when your partner will not be playing as well as you would like. Do not wait for them to come up to your level. By the time they do, the match is over. If you are the stronger player that day, take over the court and pull your partner up to your level. Take more overheads and poach more.
7. Firm Hand Shake:
When the match has ended, win or lose, walk over to your partner first and give them a firm handshake or if you are the hugging type, give them a firm hug. Especially after a loss, your partners will remember the last thing you say or do when the match is over.

Be sure to leave the court on a positive note. Practice the above and you will be able to play with any partner and everyone will want to play with you.