How do you handle advice from your doubles partner?

[Littlemissball]

Hi All,

Every once in a while I have to play doubles with someone who gives me all this advice when I am playing with them. It's like they think they are Steffi Graff. They try to place winner and about 70 percent of the time it does not happen, but I keep my mouth shut. I do something wrong and this person is all you need to do this, blah, blah, blah.

How do you stay gracious and patient and put your brain back in the game after constant feedback from someone who is actually trying to undermine your game in an indirect way?

Hope all well.

LMB

 

[Turbo-87]

If you don't consider it valid advice that you need, let it go in one ear and out the other. I played with a kid that was trying to coach me and analyze my hits and serves just yesterday. A polite nod later I was back to playing my game. I don't make a conversation about it and hope they shut up due to my lack of vocal response.

 

[spot]

Instead of going into it thinking that they are trying to undermine your game just listen to what they are saying and if you don't think its good advice then just ignore it.

 

[willshot]

i tell my partner to shutdahellup when he starts bablling micro managing me on the crt.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Hi All,

Every once in a while I have to play doubles with someone who gives me all this advice when I am playing with them. It's like they think they are Steffi Graff. They try to place winner and about 70 percent of the time it does not happen, but I keep my mouth shut. I do something wrong and this person is all you need to do this, blah, blah, blah.

How do you stay gracious and patient and put your brain back in the game after constant feedback from someone who is actually trying to undermine your game in an indirect way?

Hope all well.

LMB

"Show me how to do it on the next point. Just so I know what you're doing and it's not a fluke, win us a game with that tactic."

 

[beernutz]

Repeat after me, "when I want your opinion I'll beat it out of you."

 

[mykoh]

lol reminds me of the time i was 16 and just picked up the game and joined the school team for training. i partnered doubles with this other guy who i admit was better than me. we lost a few matches during training and he comes up to me and says, "hey, can you play better?" joined the bowling team after that.

 

[Ashley D]

Good Topic! I absolutely HATE it when I have a partner who does this, especially one who is very erratic themselves as the OP stated. I used to cop it sweet, sometimes I'd take it on board. These days I say "I have my own coach thanks" and leave it at that. However, there is a difference between telling you how to play and talking tactics. I have no problem if my partner suggests we play tandem on certain points, or thinks we should cross or something like that.

 

[Cindysphinx]

My husband likes photography. On the rare occasions he attends one of my matches, he brings his camera and takes pics.

You know what these pics have revealed?

My partners watch me hit. Apparently, they do this a lot, as it is rare to find a pic of me hitting at the baseline when my partner does not have her entire head swiveled around to watch me.

I think players who coach their partners a lot are probably Head Swivelers. This means they are focused more on what their partner is doing than what their opponents are doing. For some odd reason, these partners tend to be very passive at net. 'Cause they are not even looking at the opponents, perhaps?

I'd say if someone is giving you advice on stroke mechanics, they are very likely a Head Swiveler. Someday, I would love to respond to advice on mechanics with, "We'd win more points if we watched what our opponents are doing, not what our partners are doing."

 

[LuckyR]

Hi All,

Every once in a while I have to play doubles with someone who gives me all this advice when I am playing with them. It's like they think they are Steffi Graff. They try to place winner and about 70 percent of the time it does not happen, but I keep my mouth shut. I do something wrong and this person is all you need to do this, blah, blah, blah.

How do you stay gracious and patient and put your brain back in the game after constant feedback from someone who is actually trying to undermine your game in an indirect way?

Hope all well.

LMB

Sort of depends why you are standing on the court that day. Usually the purpose is to win the match. If so, then the answer is obvious: do whatever will maximize your chance of winning. If that is keeping your partner happy by smiling and nodding (because they play poorly if insulted), do that. If the advice is eating away at you to the point thatyour play is really compromised, then think of a satisfying way of telling them that it bugs you. You're on the court, you know the particulars of the personalities involved, we don't.

Of course if you are only there to make friends and the matchplay is unimportant, then you also have your answer.

 

[rabidranger]

I find in match coaching by anyone to be very distracting. It's oftentimes so detailed (move an inch over here, turn your wrist in a fraction, etc.) that implementing in a real time situation just isn't practical and more often than not throws me off. Save the advice for another time.

 

[escii_35]

I air all the dirty laundry before the first point. It tends to keep the coaching to a min.

1. My worst shot is a static volley.
2. Serving doubles style with any variety and pace to the ad side tweaks the back.
3. Pick one side per game either ad or deuce for fun times signals and strat.
4. If you have a below level serve don't expect much from me at the net.

Yes, I really stink at dubs and my results prove it. However, I tend to win at mxd because most folks are dumb enough to chose my pard in a cute skirt when both of us are at the net.

 

[Baxter]

He doesn't give me advice anymore. I beat him at love or 1 when we play singles these days. That shut him right up.

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

I'd say if someone is giving you advice on stroke mechanics, they are very likely a Head Swiveler. Someday, I would love to respond to advice on mechanics with, "We'd win more points if we watched what our opponents are doing, not what our partners are doing."

Once I started reading and posting on this forum I also thought the same and believed my eyes should be forward almost always. However, reading posts by seemingly knowledgeable folks here and watching youtube videos it turns out that very, very often good players do turn to watch their partner hit. I have begun to do this also ... I like it. offered up as evidence ...

Bryan Bothers
Leander Paes

Now I realized not every player on the ATP does this and there are plenty of examples where partners keep eyes front but I like to take a quick glance at my partner to determine if a drive, lob, or volley is going to be the next shot.

 

[Maui19]

Now I realized not every player on the ATP does this and there are plenty of examples where partners keep eyes front but I like to take a quick glance at my partner to determine if a drive, lob, or volley is going to be the next shot.

This       

 

[Cindysphinx]

I used to be in the opposite camp. Meaning I believed I should look at my partner to see what shot she is going to hit.

I've changed my mind. Now I think you should only look back if you would have a good answer to: "What information are you hoping to gain by looking back?"

I always look back if I call a switch on a lob. I need to know if my partner is in trouble so that I can come to the baseline. If she is not in trouble, I can stay at the net.

I try to keep my eyes on both net players if they come to net. I think Head Swiveling in that situation will make you volley very poorly. There simply isn't time.

 

[Maui19]

I used to be in the opposite camp. Meaning I believed I should look at my partner to see what shot she is going to hit.

I've changed my mind. Now I think you should only look back if you would have a good answer to: "What information are you hoping to gain by looking back?"

I always look back if I call a switch on a lob. I need to know if my partner is in trouble so that I can come to the baseline. If she is not in trouble, I can stay at the net.

I try to keep my eyes on both net players if they come to net. I think Head Swiveling in that situation will make you volley very poorly. There simply isn't time.

Actually you used to be in the "never look back" camp, then you switched back to the "look back" camp, now you've moved back again.

Me? I look back. I don't want to be the last person on the court to know where the ball is going. And if my partner hits a mediocre shot, which happens with some regularity at my level, I get a little extra time to get into a better position.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Actually you used to be in the "never look back" camp, then you switched back to the "look back" camp, now you've moved back again.

Me? I look back. I don't want to be the last person on the court to know where the ball is going. And if my partner hits a mediocre shot, which happens with some regularity at my level, I get a little extra time to get into a better position.

Ha! No I think I started off as a Head Swiveler, then I have changed to Rarely Look. I have found it helps my reaction volleys and poaching. If I glance, I don't pick up much useful information. If I watch my partner hit, I could conceivably judge the direction and strength of her ball, but the tradeoff in readiness just hasn't been worth it for me.

 

[user92626]

Its very easy to avoid advisers, Head Swivelers. Just team up with those who suck more than you do.

 

[Maui19]

Ha! No I think I started off as a Head Swiveler, then I have changed to Rarely Look. I have found it helps my reaction volleys and poaching. If I glance, I don't pick up much useful information. If I watch my partner hit, I could conceivably judge the direction and strength of her ball, but the tradeoff in readiness just hasn't been worth it for me.

Don't make me stalk you with the search feature! :lol: I remember clearly when this came up, and you were shocked to find that the Bryan brothers watched each other hit the ball.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Don't make me stalk you with the search feature! :lol: I remember clearly when this came up, and you were shocked to find that the Bryan brothers watched each other hit the ball.

:snort:

Search all you want. You will find I have taken opposite positions on pretty much every issue.

Mitt Romney is my mentor.

 

[luvn10is]

I was part of one of those 'don't look back' conversations. I said I don't it. But about 2 months ago I played a USTA match that afterwards had me thinking about my post. I realized I look back more than I think I do. I always look to help my partner make close calls. I look when we're momentarily confused, like maybe we need to switch after a lob or I let something get past that I know I should've cut off. I look when I think my partner might be in trouble. But I don't look back at rally balls when I think I know what my partner's going to do with them. I watch the opponents and try to read and capitalize on their reactions. I only lost 1 USTA match this Summer and I felt like I watched every ball that partner hit. I had no clue what she was going to do because that chick hardly ever did what I expected her to. So I modify my standpoint. I do look back, but only if I have to.

 

[luvn10is]

:snort:

Search all you want. You will find I have taken opposite positions on pretty much every issue.

Mitt Romney is my mentor.

LOL! Cindy for President!