Stan Smith's Winning Doubles (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Doubles is the game most tennis players play today, but too many players play doubles as if they were playing singles on a doubles court..." (more)
Key Phrases: quick shoulder turn, side deuce side, returner hits, Davis Cup, Bob Lutz, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Let one of the all-time great tennis doubles players improve your game! Pro coach and former Grand Slam champion Stan Smith details the technique, shot selection, and strategy that will help you play doubles at its highest level. With Stan as your guide, you’ll be able to

• find the style of doubles play that’s right for you and your partner;

• cover the angles, positioning, and court movement that will keep your opponents off balance;

• learn communication strategies that will have you and your partner working as one; and

• adjust your tactics to exploit the opposing team’s weakness and counter different playing styles.

Smith provides anecdotes from his own experiences and profiles top men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles teams, highlighting what made each team so successful.

If you want to win more matches, let Stan Smith be your personal doubles coach. With Stan Smith’s Winning Doubles you’ll play better and enjoy the game more than ever.

About the Author

Stan Smith has played or coached tennis at the professional level for more than 30 years. He has won the most prestigious tournaments in both singles and doubles and has coached elite players and juniors. From 1988 to 1995 Smith served as director of coaching for the USTA Player Development Program, and in 2000 he was the head coach of the men’s U.S. Olympic team at the Sydney Olympics.

Smith has played in 11 Grand Slam finals and has won a remarkable 61 pro doubles titles. He has a 12–1 Davis Cup doubles record, and he’s a four-time U.S. Open doubles winner. He and his frequent doubles partner, Bob Lutz, are the only team ever to have won the national championship on all four surfaces.

Smith has been a contributing editor of Tennis magazine for 19 years, is the author of Inside Tennis, and is coauthor of Modern Doubles. He still plays doubles in the senior Grand Slam events, where he continues to enjoy competing against some very familiar rivals. He and his wife, Margie, live in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics (June 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736030077
• ISBN-13: 978-0736030076
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #319,997 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insights that only a true doubles player would know., November 11, 2004

By	John Togasaki "Doubles-Experts" (Mountain View, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's clear when reading this book that Stan put a lot of time and energy into making sure the book was filled with good information and no fluff. Many tennis books present the same things you can get from taking groups lessons from your local parks and recreation department. This book, on the other hand, contains the type of insights into doubles that you can only get from expensive private lessons from an experienced pro. It contains so many nuggets though, that there's no way you could get them all from a pro. That's why this book is great to refer back to over and over.

Stan covers the nuances of doubles, and explains in detail most situations you can expect to see in doubles. He talks about your options in each situation: the types of shots you can hit, where to hit them, the proper techinque for each type of shot, the psychology of a doubles match between you, your partner and your opponents, and explains the reasons for (and consequences of) hitting certain shots in certain situations.

I teach doubles clinics myself, and I often refer back to this book for new ideas to teach my students. It is an excellent reference for the advanced player as well as a great source for players just starting to learn doubles to get an idea of what they need to do to get to the next level.

0 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money, August 7, 2006

By	A. Ferenchik - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was absolutely terrible. Boring, stiff, way too complicated. You can totally tell this guy is no fun to play with. I didn't learn anything. Definitely not for the beginner. I also purchased Dynamite Doubles and it was great. Easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to apply. It was a great, fun read.