Doubles or Singles...
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tennisjon
Professional
Singles is worth more points overall, but doubles really sets the tone in college. Whoever wins the last doubles match certainly has some momentum leading to singles, even if you are down 1-2. Sweeping doubles really makes the other team feel out of it. For this reason, where I coach, Drew University, we emphasize doubles. I feel doubles play translates more to singles rather than the other way.
Doubles
Legend
I think so too. In my opinion, doubles helps your singles game become more complete. I don't believe that this works the other way around, however...
Larrysümmers
Hall of Fame
Are doubles just the tie break decider? Or do you get a point for each doubles win?
I do think doubs helps out more. More volleys and footwork, the finer things in tennis I think. Instead of baseline bashing the whole time
I do think doubs helps out more. More volleys and footwork, the finer things in tennis I think. Instead of baseline bashing the whole time
Doubles.
Look @ today's Southern California (5) vs Ohio State (4) matchup as an example. This should be a real close match.
Doubles scoring is the first team to win 2 out of 3 8 game pro-sets wins the first point of the match. To win the match, you need to win 4 out of 7 of the points - where each singles match counts as a point. Doubles is key for timing and momentum as others mentioned.
SC & OSU split 2 & 3 doubles. 1st doubles is @ 6-6 and SC breaks to win 8-6.
Going into singles - the OSU #1 doubles team is playing #1 and #3 singles, and from 1st set singles scores - they look demoralized. Collectively they win _1_ game in the 1st set of both of their singles matches, meanwhile SC wins 5 of the 6 1st sets, and is currently up 3-0 in the match after winning 3 and 4 singles and the doubles point.
K_I
Look @ today's Southern California (5) vs Ohio State (4) matchup as an example. This should be a real close match.
Doubles scoring is the first team to win 2 out of 3 8 game pro-sets wins the first point of the match. To win the match, you need to win 4 out of 7 of the points - where each singles match counts as a point. Doubles is key for timing and momentum as others mentioned.
SC & OSU split 2 & 3 doubles. 1st doubles is @ 6-6 and SC breaks to win 8-6.
Going into singles - the OSU #1 doubles team is playing #1 and #3 singles, and from 1st set singles scores - they look demoralized. Collectively they win _1_ game in the 1st set of both of their singles matches, meanwhile SC wins 5 of the 6 1st sets, and is currently up 3-0 in the match after winning 3 and 4 singles and the doubles point.
K_I
Puredrivetennis
Rookie
Doubles for sure... Most teams are evenly matched at singles (more or less), and the dubbs point goes a LONG way in deciding. Moreover, stealing the doubles point is a huge momentum boost when beginning singles.
In reality very few incoming freshman are true doubles specialists and identified as such by college coaches. Sure there as some but they are very much the exception. My advice to the OP would be to work hard to be an immediate impact/contributor to the doubles line-up but set a goal to achieve real improvement in the singles game at the same time. College coaches would approve of this attitude and the effort.
tennisjon
Professional
Yes, very true. In the past, we have had 1st singles players that could barely crack the doubles lineup. Sometimes good players only play singles in high school but the middle of the lineup players got to play doubles in high school and therefore have some better skills and positioning. Usually, the talent of the best players win out over the less talented players even if their doubles skill set isn't as good, but that is not always the case. Return of serve, which is a major component of doubles, can't just be a 'put the ball back in play' return and still be successful against good competition. Overall, freshmen, if they know how to play doubles, have a much better chance of cracking the starting lineup.
goran_ace
Hall of Fame
In DI singles is way more important. In my four years I can only think of maybe 5-6 matches where the outcome was decided by the doubles point. I can't see anyone getting a lot playing time as purely a doubles specialist, they need to be able to hold their own in singles AND they would have to be significantly better at doubles than one of the top 6/7 singles guys to justify bringing an extra guy on the road.
tennis08tarheels
Hall of Fame
I don't know when you played (and I'm sure you're not just lying to us or anything), but these days it's pretty uncommon for teams not to have at least 1, but usually 2 guys who only play in the doubles lineup. Depends on the depth of the team, of course, but mostly I'm talking about the top teams who can afford to do that because of their superior depth. It keeps guys fresh and allows those players (and the players that play singles only) to be more focused on their specific role throughout the season. Pretty common in probably the top half of the schools in each division.
goran_ace
Hall of Fame
tarheel, I played over a decade ago at a mid-major. At a program with a bigger budget and a lot of depth like UNC I could definitely see it happening, but we just didn't have roster space/available scholarship money for a pure doubles specialist. When we used guys for doubles who didn't play singles there was usually some other reason such as playing a lot of matches that week or hot/humid weather conditions, but in important matches our coach believed in playing the top 6 guys at both singles and doubles.
I find it really hard to say that doubles is more important than singles. I could see someone saying that doubles is just as important, but I don't buy into that myself because the simple fact is that two or three doubles wins is still only worth 1 point. Momentum is nice to have but no one is going to be heartbroken by losing the doubles point. There's still a lot of tennis to be played and everyone still has a job to do in singles.
I find it really hard to say that doubles is more important than singles. I could see someone saying that doubles is just as important, but I don't buy into that myself because the simple fact is that two or three doubles wins is still only worth 1 point. Momentum is nice to have but no one is going to be heartbroken by losing the doubles point. There's still a lot of tennis to be played and everyone still has a job to do in singles.
Doubles in important but I think its a mistake to over-estimate the value of 1 point verses 6 singles points. Sure it helps with momentum but lets be real, momentum is not real its perceived.
Look at last nights USC vs. UT final. UT won the doubles, had two doubles specialist in the line up which means that 2 of the starting singles guys are rested and it still did not work. Also, I know another mid-major D1 team that played 2 doubles specialist most matches and they took doubles points off a number of ranked teams only to lose the singles.
I'm not trying to burst your bubble but rather encourage you to take a more balanced approach to how your view college singles and doubles. If you go into college thinking your a doubles only player you may be limiting your chances.
tennisjon
Professional
I agree with you tarheels, although many schools do not have the scholarships to give full rides to lots of players, that's not how most men's teams are done. Most teams split up their athletic scholarships and have players in the 7-9 spots who might just be the equal to or very close in ability to the 4-6 guys and therefore can provide some relief to those guys by playing in the doubles.
Doubles
Legend
Assuming that I might get to play college tennis (doubtful) I would see myself as a doubles specialist. I'm not a terrible singles player, don't get me wrong. My playing style is just better suited for doubles. When it comes time for me to go to college (I will have two more years) if I am good enough to play college tennis, I would definately look into a place that would value me as a doubles specialist...
Puredrivetennis
Rookie
there are certainly some smaller schools that you could look into.. you might play higher in dubbs lineup and low in the singles.
Doubles
Legend
Sounds awesome! I doubt I'll ever be able to play college tennis though, I'm not a tremendous talent, though I'm not crappy either...
With two years to improve I think you are being way to presumptious that doubles is your best avenue to play college tennis. Keep the doubles attitude and be more positive about your chances to improve your singles. Sounds like with a little practice just like any tennis playing junior you can play both singles and doubles at a realistic college of your choice. Just be open minded to many different colleges that have a tennis program and you can find the right fit.
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