How to steal a Set in Doubles

Posted by Jay Jackson

Jay is the Memorial Northwest HOA President. Jay has been on the HOA board since 2016 and has served as an Area Director, 1st Vice President and currently the President.

1. In the eight game of a set you lead 4 games to 3, apply pressure on the big point(s) to win the game.

2. Then speed up the tempo of the match .

In step one , you capitalize on the pressure inherent in the moment with pressure tactics . The elements of surprise and uncertainty create pressure . So this is a good time to do something unusual . Aggression creates pressure . So this is the strategic time to show it. Which pressure tactics you use depends on your game .

Keep that increase momentum going four to five straight points.

Why? Because in less than a minute , a 4-3 set has been running neck to neck for 45 min . Can suddenly be history at 6-3. It happens before the opposition feels like they’re loosing . That’s because it happens during a letdown.

It happens so fast that the losing team invariably seems surprised by the loss of the set . They literally blink with jaw-droops that seem to say , ” How did that happen?”

Mentally , yes they had known the score , but that knowledge lacked the appropriate emotional impact so, they didn’t yet appreciate their imminent danger of losing the set. It’s like you stole it while they slept.

Try it . It works!

Good luck!

Tennis Pro
Gilberto Arcay

0 Comments