Effect of Center Theory in Doubles Match
Center theory in a doubles game is that you literally hit to the middle of the opponent’s pair.
What’s good about Center Theory is that you can reduce mistakes.
The tennis court has a structure that makes it easier to enter in the middle than on both sides.
The reason is that the height of the net is lower in the middle than on both sides.
Also, even if you try to aim for an angle shot, it is difficult to aim because the court is narrow.
Therefore, the theory of aiming at the center with few mistakes is the center theory.
But that’s not the only merit of Center Theory.
Strategy to prevent the opponent from attacking
By hitting the center, your opponent will be less likely to attack.
It will be difficult for the opponent’s back player to pass the straight from the center.
This is because if you hit from the center, you need to hit at an angle.
Since the opponent has to hit to an angled straight, there is a high probability of going out to the side.
Also, cross shots are difficult to hit at an angle.
As you can see in the figure, by performing the center theory, it is difficult for the opponent to aim at the course, so the probability of getting points is low.
When you are in pain, if you hit the ball to the center and let the opponent’s back player hit it, and the opponent will be harder to attack.
Allies’ front players are easy to get out on the pouch
As mentioned in the previous section, it is difficult for the opponent to aim from the center to straight course.
Therefore, the front player can boldly go out on the poach near the center.
Normally, the front player will go out on the poach the moment the opponent hits.
But, in this case, the front player can move near the center before the opponent’s back player hits from the center.
It means that you can go out to the pouch with flying start.
You can move to the same position as your opponent’s back player before hitting.
It’s easy to make mistakes because a pair of opponents make concessions
If the opponent pair is parallel team, if you aim at the center, the opponent will not know which ball it is and it will be easier to make concessions to each other.
If you can make a certain amount of stance and hit firmly, an attack aimed at the center of the parallel team with a stroke is effective.
However, it also depends on the level of the opponent pair.
If the reaction of the opponent pair is good, or if the division of roles is clear, the center aim may not work.
It depends on the speed and quality of your stroke.
If the center aim by stroke does not work, avoid forcibly aiming.
Be careful not to be volleyed by the opponent’s front player
The disadvantage of Center Theory is that it is easy for the opponent’s front player to volley.
If you aim only at the center, the opponent’s front player will go out on the poach.
When you aim at the center, be careful not to let the opponent’s front player volley.
For example, you can sometimes hit to a straight course to alert your opponent’s front player.
It’s hard for your opponent to go out on the pouch just by knowing that you may hit to the straight course.
By making a stance as soon as possible and hitting to the center with a stance to hit straight, the opponent will be even more difficult to go out on the poach.
When the opponent’s ball enters deep into the court and you cannot hit it in good time, it is also effective to raise the lob to the center.
When aiming at the center, be careful not to be volleyed by the opponent’s front player.
Center aim is effective even in serve
Serve is the only shot that the opponent’s front player cannot hit.
Therefore, the attack method of hitting a serve toward the center and the front player volleying the opponent’s return is a pattern that makes it easy to score points.
It is difficult to enter the serve that hits to the wide course, but it should be easy to enter because the net is low on the center course.
Serve is a more powerful ball than other shots, so if you can control it well, it will be a very good attack pattern.
If you’re not good at controlling the serve to the center, it’s worth practicing.
summary
Center theory is literally that you hit to the center.
By hitting to the center, there are various merits such as making it harder for the opponent to attack and making it easier for the front player to go out on the poach.
However, when aiming at the center, you must be careful not to be volleyed by the opponent’s front player.
If you make a mistake, you will be the prey of the opponent’s front player.
So, I tried to summarize when the center aim is effective and when it is not effective.
When aiming at the center is effective
- When the ball hit by the opponent is short
- When the opponent’s front player does not go out on the poach too much
- When the opponent is a parallel team
- When you can afford to pose to hit
- When you hit a serve
However, if the opponent’s level is high and the front player volleys, do not aim at the center.
When the center aim is not effective
- When the opponent’s ball enters deep into the court
- When the opponent’s front player moves well
- When the opponent hits a short cross shot
The ball goes to the cross even if you hit it to the center of the net from a short cross.
There will be a space in the middle of your pair, so it’s a good idea to raise the lob for the time being.
In other cases, if you can’t afford it, raising the lob to the center will make it harder for your opponent to attack.
Center theory is a very effective method, so please use it in the game as well.