What percentage of college and professional doubles teams have brief huddles before serving points? If you answered 100%, you are correct. The natural second question is why. Actually, there are a number of reasons. It allows for the planning of the next point. Without planning, players are more strangers than partners.
The server is the dictator and says where she intends to serve. The partner says she’ll fake or poach. The huddle provides some breathing space where the duo can forget the last point and focus on the next one. It allows players to be cheerleaders for each other so neither gets too discouraged. The huddle can create the intensity whereby the team owns the energy on the court.
If you decide to try this, be sure that it’s brief and occurs between the 3/4 area and the baseline. When the server’s partner breaks from the huddle it needs to be with a positive jog to the net position. Just google a pro doubles match of The Bryan Brothers and you’ll see how it’s best performed.
You are either partners or strangers. You either own the energy on the court or forfeit it.
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