“Dynamite Doubles” is our favorite doubles book.

The main ideas are summarized in this powerpoint presentation

Here’s an index to the powerpoint presentation:

    DYNAMITE DOUBLES Play Winning Tennis Today! By Helle Sparre Viragh

3)     Introduction • This presentation will introduce the main contents of the book by Helle Sparre Viragh. • Charts & Visuals will be direct from the book with page references • It is recommended to buy the book, read the book & use it as a reference book as you learn the system
4)     Learn the Zones There are 4 Zones: Defense, Transition, Offense, Attack Zones extend beyond the court lines The lines are for the ball, the zones are for the players Page 26
5)     Know Your Homes • Each Player has 2 “Homes” • Depending on where the ball is in your opponent’s court, you and your partner need to be in one of your homes Page 27
6)     The Offense Zone • This is where you and your partner want to be • This is where you’ll build up the points • You can get any ball your opponents hit from here • You’ll be able to volley most shots from here • You’re in charge from the Offense Zone • This is a “major” zone Page33
7)     The Defense Zone • This is the other “major” zone • Notice how little of the actual court is in this zone • Players play from zones, not from sections of the court Page 33
8)     The Transition Zone • This is where you transition from one major zone to another • This is where most opponent shots land • Stand here and you won’t be able to hit a volley or a ground shot • You should hit only one shot from here – then move to a major zone, either Offense or Defense Page 34
9)     The Attack Zone • This too is a one shot zone • Hit a winner and then move out • Get prepared in another zone in case your “winner” is returned Page 35
10)     Playing From the Defense Zone • Playing only from here and you will: • -Work Hard • -Play Tired • -Only win a point when your opponent makes a mistake Page 36
11)     Playing From the Defense Zone • Sometimes you have to play from here • You have more time in the Defense Zone • You can slow play down to regain control • If you get in trouble in this zone, your partner needs to be there, too Page 37
12)     Playing From the Defense Zone • If you stay in the Defense Zone while your partner is in the Offense Zone, the gap is huge • The gap between partners is the main thing to protect and defend against Page 38
13)     Closing the Gap • With both partners in the Offense Zone, the gap is smaller and harder for the opponents to bisect the plane between them • Getting both partners into the same major zone (Offense or Defense) narrows the gap • This may take time • BE PATIENT! Page 39
14)     Playing Through the Transition Zone • It’s a one-shot zone • Either continue through it to the Offense Zone or retreat to the Defense Zone • Both partners must be in a major zone before your opponent hits the ball Page 41
15)     What to Hit in the Transition Zone • Don’t depend on winning shots from here • Build up the point, have patience • Use your one shot to help you and your partner to both get to a major zone Page 41
16)     Playing From The Offense Zone • The main goal is for you & your partner to be together in the Offense Zone • You Can: • Move forward for a put-away volley • Stay for a reflex/defensive volley, or • Back up for a deep lob in the Transition Zone • Always try to volley from the Offense Zone • Don’t plan on hitting a winner from here Page 44
17)     Playing From the Attack Zone • Playing in the Attack Zone can be hazardous • This is a one shot zone • Don’t stand in this zone waiting for the ball • Move towards the ball and hit down on the ball • Hit the shot: • Between your opponents, or • Angled short & wide, or • At your closest opponent’s feet • Hit and move quickly back to the Offense Zone Page 48
18)     Court Coverage • The biggest mistake in Doubles: Partners trying to cover the same shot • As partners, you have to cover as close to 100% of the court at all times • The Offense Zone is the best area to be in as a team • In Dynamite Doubles, you and your partner are never side-by-side, parallel to the net Page 54
19)     Partnership Roles • The crosscourt player is farther back than the partner • The crosscourt player has more court to cover • The crosscourt player has to deal with more shots • The crosscourt player is called the Workhorse Page 56
20)     Partnership Roles • The head-on player is closer to the net, has less court to cover and fewer possible shots • The head-on player can take more chances • The head-on player is called the Terminator Page 56
21)     Up and Back the Diagonal Way • The Workhorse is always diagonal from the ball on the opposite side of the net Player A is the Workhorse Player B is the Terminator Page 56
22)     Up and Back the Diagonal Way • Each time your team changes the direction of the ball, each of you must also change position Player B is now the Workhorse Player A is now the Terminator Page 57
23)     Up and Back the Diagonal Way • The Workhorse is responsible for: • Crosscourt returns • Down the middle shots • All lobs • The Terminator is responsible for drives down the line Page 58
24)     Playing Dynamite Doubles on Paper • Dynamite Doubles winning tennis is knowing where to position yourselves: • After partner A serves, A moves into the Transition Zone • Partner B moves forward toward the Attack Zone, ready to poach • If receiver C returns crosscourt toward server A, partner B moves back into the Offense Zone Page 68
25)     Playing Dynamite Doubles on Paper • Server A volleys from the Transition Zone back crosscourt and moves into the Offense Zone • Partner B moves forward again Page 68
26)     Playing Dynamite Doubles on Paper • Partners A and B have worked their way into the Offense Zone, facing the ball • Partner A is the Workhorse and partner B is the Terminator because the ball is crosscourt from A • Partners are never side-by-side Page 70
27)     Moving Together • The crosscourt player is always a little behind her partner and facing the ball in a “V” angle • The Terminator creates her own “V” • Both partners move right after either hits the ball in order to maintain control • Move with your partner and always face the ball Page 74
28)     Moving Together • Here is how you can get in trouble • Note how big the gap is for the opponent hitting the ball • Notice also that B is too far back to volley the ball if C decides to drive the shot down the line Page 75
29)     A Review of the Dynamite Doubles System • Dynamite Doubles demands diagonal decisions • The Workhorse must be ready to take: • Anything crosscourt • Deep lobs • Down-the-middle shots • The Terminator should not take: • A shot out of reach down the middle • A crosscourt shot that can’t be turned into something offensive or positive Page 78
30)     A Review of the Dynamite Doubles System • Always try to be in the same major zone when the ball bounces in your opponents’ court • Always stay positioned diagonally (staggered) to each other • Both face the ball and the opponent who is going to hit it • Be ready and balanced at the right place before the opponent’s next shot Page 78
31)     A Review of the Dynamite Doubles System • The Dynamite Doubles system helps answer those four basic questions that plague doubles tennis players: • What should I have done? Knowing what shot to make from where 2. Where should I have been? Knowing where to position yourself with partner 3. How could I have gotten that? Covering 100% of the court before opponent hits 4. Whose was that? Partner roles determines each partner’s responsibilities Page 84
32)     Playing from the Defense Zone, Advanced • Your main goal is to vary your shots, mix up the pace, spins and the height of the ball to take control • Always let the ball bounce • Work at making opponents move forward & back, rather than side-to-side • Surprise works • Make them move Page 86
33)     Playing from the Defense Zone, Advanced • Try to force a mistake from your opponent, rather than trying a grandstand winning shot • Watch the opponent’s feet, body & racquet • Will it be an overhead smash? • Will it be a backhand shot? • Will the ball bounce before being hit? • Will it be a return lob? • Cover the Defense Zone with your partner and be ready to move together through the Transition Zone Page 91
34)     “Turning the Court” • Always face where the ball is coming from • Your court coverage, your “V” changes each time you face a different spot • You “turn the court” as you move • You and your partner will always know which part of the court each is responsible for Page 95
35)     Where Do I Serve, Coach? • If you serve up the middle, you decrease the angle at which your opponent can return the ball • Also, serving to the backhand is very effective and results in a more predictable return • The graph shows the author’s preferences from the deuce and ad courts Page 96
36)     Where Should I Stand to Serve? • The best place to serve from in doubles is about halfway between the doubles line and the center mark • Run forward in a slight diagonal line following your ball after you serve Page 97
37)     Where Should I Stand to Receive Serve? • Draw an imaginary line from the server to one corner of the service box • Draw another line to the other corner of the box • Position yourself in the middle of those two lines for the best possible coverage Page 99
38)     Where Should I Stand to Receive Serve? • Adjust to the server’s pattern, left or right-server, where they serve from, etc. Page 99
39)     Where Should I Stand to Receive Serve? • Adjust to the server’s pattern, left or right-server, where they serve from, etc. Page 99
40)     Basic Rules of Doubles Tennis • Get the ball over the net 2. Stay away from the net person Page 101
41)     Targets for the Returner • Crosscourt, back toward the server • Lob in a straight line over the net person • Short angle crosscourt Page 100
42)     The Author’s Basic Rules to Play Winning Doubles - TODAY • Always face where the ball is coming from and let the ball come into your “V” • Know your “home” positions on the court – 2 in Offense Zone , 2 in Defense Zone, depending on whether you are the Workhorse or the Terminator • Know your responsibilities as a Terminator and as a Workhorse • Recover to a major zone AFTER your hit and BEFORE your opponent’s hit • READY, READ and REACT! • A point is never over until the ball bounces the second time. Never give up. There are no put-aways! HANG IN THERE. The ball is always coming back! • Doubles is a game of angles and percentages. And Patience. Page 106
43)     Triangles and Diamonds • Visualize four triangles on the other side of the court: 1, 2, 3 & 4 • The hypotenuse of each triangle forms one side of a large diamond • Depending on where you are, to avoid the opponent’s net person, hit your shot from: • Your Triangle to your opponent’s Triangle • Your Offensive Diamond to opponent’s Diamond • Your Defensive Diamond to opponent’s Triangle • NEVER your Defensive Triangle to opponent’s Diamond Page 107
44)     Subtract One Triangle • Only three of the four Triangles should be your target: • Crosscourt Deep • Crosscourt Short • Deep down the Line • Play the high percentage shots and let your opponents make the mistakes Page 110
45)     Shot Selection & Targets • The easiest Triangle to aim for is your opponent’s #1 Triangle • Depth is important – if you hit short, the ball will land in the Diamond and your opponents will take control • The second choice is the short crosscourt to Triangle #4 • Last choice from your Triangle #1 is Triangle #2, usually a lob Page 120
46)     Shot Selection & Targets • From your #2 Triangle, the shot selection is the same – the target Triangles are just numbered differently Page 120
47)     Dynamite Doubles Partners’ Contract I will play in the same major zone as my partner I will get my first serve in I will get my return over the net I will stay in the point until it is over I will make my lobs high, knowing height is more important than depth I will always make my Split-Step just before my opponent hits the ball I will BISECT THE PLANE of our opponents when I am the Terminator I will hit a minimum of 3 shots with patience when I am the Workhorse I will be positive and focused and in-the-game at all times I will let go of the last point played. I will not worry about the end result I will stay in the moment and play One Point At A Time Page 124
48) The End • That was just the highlights of the Dynamite Doubles System of playing winning doubles tennis • We suggest you do the following: • Buy the book • Read the book many times • Practice the system when you play • Encourage others to play the system