Customer Reviews

Vic Braden's Laugh and Win at Doubles

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My doubles partner and I read this book together and we won 30% more of our matches from then on. Also, Vic Braden's sense of humor makes the book a quick read and entertaining.

There are some good basic concepts and drills, but it doesn't go deep enough on many levels. And Braden constantly refers to things that the pros do in situations, and since the pros are not likely this book's audience, should give what club players should do as well. For example, he indicates that a club player could return the serve using a short angled slice ball, but that many pros use a hard top spin return. The pros don't use the slice ball that often as another pro could easily read it coming and make mince meat out of it, not so at the club level. This would have been a perfect opportunity to capitalize on the avg club players weaknesses while empowering the avg club return of serve and go into detail about the slice return and how useful it would be. He talks only superficially about defending against the lob and foot work--areas that should get more attention in a doubles book for club players. The black and white photos in the book could be better as well. Many of them showing partners out of position (return of serve partern at the net or not facing the net man, etc.) Perhap at the very beginner level, this book has a place. I do agree with the previous reviewer that he keeps things light and fun to read.