Best doubles point of all time….Again!
Lessons to Learn from Mike and Bob Bryan’s Play
I have watched Mike and Bob play for years. They have played my players in college and on tour and they always amaze me. But this clip is just amazing craftsmanship. Watch it, and watch it again. Then after the video scroll down for some observations.
Too early to call doubles rally of the year…? 😱@Bryanbros @Bryanbrothers #DBOpen pic.twitter.com/mrfx5sqqfn
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 21, 2019
Within the first 3 seconds several lessons learned.
- Mike hits FIRST serve. Key.
- Bob makes a move to middle to get return but does not get it nor was he doing what I call a “called poach” (going regardless so Mike covers his side). He was just looking for an “opportunity poach.” The right move! Some players say they are staying (using signals, talked about, or just a given) but never move. Great doubles players are like viscous eels in coral. If you ever scuba dive deep, the eels come in and out of their holes, back and forth, just looking for something to eat. Eery things for sure. Bob is looking to eat up your ball. But he stays.
- Mike is focused–many players would be distracted by Bob’s significant movement and think he is getting the ball. Mike hits a high backhand volley/overhead. He hits it plainly to deep man. The right shot! He did not go at the net man–too weak a shot. He did not try some fancy low percentage angle. (Only 3 seconds have transpired and you get 1 hours worth of lesson work to practice right here).
- At the 8 second mark Mike is back in the middle of the court to hit an overhead off a good deep lob from opponents. Notice Bob is still at net looking to chomp on a reply. Both opponents are back. Where would you hit the overhead? Mike his slice (he is a righty) to deuce court. Right Shot! He could have gone middle but or add but Bob is almost on the same side and the would leave open the add side. Slicing it A) assures it goes in. Too many players try and over hit it but both opponents are back and Mike is pretty far back as well, B) and it gets the player off the court opening up the court for Team Bryan.
- Now Bob does what I try and get all my players to do and so many have an aversion to this and think (or say) “there is no way I can or shout have gotten that.” Wrong mindset. Bob makes the right move. When one players hits the overhead from deep in the backcourt, the other player’s job is to close and try and get the reply. Bob does that. But what I like, and it is doable, is he is in the deuce service box but volliies the reply in the add doubles alley!!! Yes that is a long way to go but if you are intentional about it, athletic, and anticipate, that is what you do. Besides, Mike is back to cover Bob’s behind. So not problem.
- Now the next shot is very telling. Bob doesn’t quite put it away and the opponent hits his shot to Mike who is deeper. Right shot. Too often players are told to hit it at the net person. Wrong. If you cannot “hurt” the net person you need to go deep. And he was not really set up to hit an aggressive groundstroke so he hit it deep. I have a saying and it is this “If you are going to hit it at the net person end their career, otherwise no where near.” I have to credit Wayne Bryan, their dad and coach for many years with the “end the career” phrase though. The next shot is a lob over an opponent who runs around and hits a forehand up the middle. RIGHT SHOT!!! Again RIGHT SHOT! Why so emphatic. By running around it he can SEE Mike and Bob, he is not blinded by a backhand shot and he does not hit a tweener and is still in the point (same guy who makes the blunder at the end of the point by the way).
- They get in an insane exchange with all four players at net (and we already have had 2 hours of lesson drill time we could spend working on stuff!). But three points here. A) they have relaxed hands and posture. We get feel and quickness from being relaxed. Let your hands be relaxed, not a death grip. I call it a 4-5 out of 10. 10 is white knuckle death grip. 1 is a baby can pull the stick out of your hand. B) feet are wide apart and bouncy, ready to move but agile if the ball is hit at you. C) Most balls are to the middle in hopes to open the angles. Just great hands and shot selection and some crazy saves. Which brings me to the last two shots.
- Bob hits a reaction lob over the opposing team and one of the opponents runs it down. He should have done what he did just what I talked about in point 6 above–run around it and hit forehand or a chip/chop lob or something. But nope. He hits a tweener. WRONG SHOT. Point over.
Great doubles point. I have seen some of Mike and Bob’s doubles compilation dvds over the years as well and this point ranks up there as one of the best. Great job boys.
Let ‘er rip.
Steve Clark, PhD.
Contact me at steve@coachsteveclarkphd.com or browse my website podcasts and blogs at CoachSteveClarkPhD.com You can even listen to Mike and Bob Bryan’s dad, Wayne and I talk about Raising Champions in tennis, school, and life on my podcast page or clicking here. Wayne did my first ever podcast for my show and he does the intro narration for the show while Mike and Bob’s band does the music!