Doubles Domination: The Best of the Best Tips, Tactics & Strategies by Bob Allcorn
I just finished the book by Bob Allcorn, a self-professed 4.5 player reduced to a 3.5 level by injuries. As an avid lesson-taker and student of the game, he has culled the wisdom of many teachers (over $100,000 spent on lessons!) into a very readable book for players of a wide range of levels. Even the Bryan brothers, the greatest doubles team in history, liked it!
Unlike many instructional tennis books, Doubles Domination focuses primarily, but not exclusively, on strategy and tactics rather than strokes. This is as it should be, since strokes are simply the means by which strategy and tactics are carried out. Too often players get tangled in a web of technique specifics without seeing the bigger picture. There ain’t no style points in tennis. The more versatile and effective a player can become with their shot technique, the greater the variety of tactics he’ll be able to employ.
In less than 100 pages, Allcorn covers the essentials of doubles positioning and shot selection. The responsibilities and possibilities of each player on the court are made clear. His suggestions are concise and well-explained. Probably he speaks most effectively to better players who are capable of carrying out alternative choices in situations that arise in play.
However, there are a lot of good time-tested tips that can help any player improve. The author also gives us suggestions on how to get more out of our practices, how to perform well in matches, how to communicate with your partner, and how to use some set plays to bedevil your opponents. He even provides a list of match tips that he recommends you copy and refer to on changeovers!
Alcorn promises to give you no diagrams, but I have to admit that my favorite doubles book of all-time provided numerous diagrams of actual points from matches played by top players of the era. Some of you are too young to be familiar with Billy Talbert’s comprehensive The Game of Tennis in Doubles written in 1956. It is still relevant and remains the seminal book in the field.
I honestly don’t know how you could read Doubles Domination without becoming a better doubles player. And all for less than $100,000! Regardless of how experienced you are, there is bound to be something in there that will stimulate your creative doubles thinking. I sure hope my future opponents haven’t read it!