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2. Play Winning Tennis Today! By Helle Sparre Viragh
DYNAMITE DOUBLES
Play Winning Tennis Today!
By Helle Sparre Viragh

3. Introduction
This presentation will introduce the main contents of the book by Helle Sparre Viragh.
Charts & Visuals will be direct from the book with page references
It is recommended to buy the book, read the book & use it as a reference book as you learn the system

4. Learn the Zones There are 4 Zones:
Defense, Transition, Offense, Attack
Zones extend beyond the court lines
The lines are for the ball, the zones are for the players
Page 26

5. Know Your Homes Each Player has 2 “Homes”
Depending on where the ball is in your opponent’s court, you and your partner need to be in one of your homes
Page 27

6. The Offense Zone This is where you and your partner want to be
This is where you’ll build up the points
You can get any ball your opponents hit from here
You’ll be able to volley most shots from here
You’re in charge from the Offense Zone
This is a “major” zone
Page 33

7. The Defense Zone This is the other “major” zone
Notice how little of the actual court is in this zone
Players play from zones, not from sections of the court
Page 33

8. The Transition Zone
This is where you transition from one major zone to another
This is where most opponent shots land
Stand here and you won’t be able to hit a volley or a ground shot
You should hit only one shot from here – then move to a major zone, either Offense or Defense
Page 34

9. The Attack Zone This too is a one shot zone
Hit a winner and then move out
Get prepared in another zone in case your “winner” is returned
Page 35

10. Playing From the Defense Zone
Playing only from here and you will:
-Work Hard
-Play Tired
-Only win a point when your opponent makes a mistake
Page 36

11. Playing From the Defense Zone
Sometimes you have to play from here
You have more time in the Defense Zone
You can slow play down to regain control
If you get in trouble in this zone, your partner needs to be there, too
Page 37

12. Playing From the Defense Zone
If you stay in the Defense Zone while your partner is in the Offense Zone, the gap is huge
The gap between partners is the main thing to protect and defend against
Page 38

13. Closing the Gap
With both partners in the Offense Zone, the gap is smaller and harder for the opponents to bisect the plane between them
Getting both partners into the same major zone (Offense or Defense) narrows the gap
This may take time
BE PATIENT!
Page 39

14. Playing Through the Transition Zone
It’s a one-shot zone
Either continue through it to the Offense Zone or retreat to the Defense Zone
Both partners must be in a major zone before your opponent hits the ball
Page 41

15. What to Hit in the Transition Zone
Don’t depend on winning shots from here
Build up the point, have patience
Use your one shot to help you and your partner to both get to a major zone
Page 41

16. Playing From The Offense Zone
The main goal is for you & your partner to be together in the Offense Zone
You Can:
Move forward for a put-away volley
Stay for a reflex/defensive volley, or
Back up for a deep lob in the Transition Zone
Always try to volley from the Offense Zone
Don’t plan on hitting a winner from here
Page 44

17. Playing From the Attack Zone
Playing in the Attack Zone can be hazardous
This is a one shot zone
Don’t stand in this zone waiting for the ball
Move towards the ball and hit down on the ball
Hit the shot:
Between your opponents, or
Angled short & wide, or
At your closest opponent’s feet
Hit and move quickly back to the Offense Zone
Page 48

18. Court Coverage
The biggest mistake in Doubles: Partners trying to cover the same shot
As partners, you have to cover as close to 100% of the court at all times
The Offense Zone is the best area to be in as a team
In Dynamite Doubles, you and your partner are never side-by-side, parallel to the net
Page 54

19. Partnership Roles
The crosscourt player is farther back than the partner
The crosscourt player has more court to cover
The crosscourt player has to deal with more shots
The crosscourt player is called the Workhorse
Page 56

20. Partnership Roles
The head-on player is closer to the net, has less court to cover and fewer possible shots
The head-on player can take more chances
The head-on player is called the Terminator
Page 56

21. Up and Back the Diagonal Way
The Workhorse is always diagonal from the ball on the opposite side of the net
Player A is the Workhorse
Player B is the Terminator
Page 56

22. Up and Back the Diagonal Way
Each time your team changes the direction of the ball, each of you must also change position
Player B is now the Workhorse
Player A is now the Terminator
Page 57

23. Up and Back the Diagonal Way
The Workhorse is responsible for:
Crosscourt returns
Down the middle shots
All lobs
The Terminator is responsible for drives down the line
Page 58

24. Playing Dynamite Doubles on Paper
Dynamite Doubles winning tennis is knowing where to position yourselves:
After partner A serves, A moves into the Transition Zone
Partner B moves forward toward the Attack Zone, ready to poach
If receiver C returns crosscourt toward server A, partner B moves back into the Offense Zone
Page 68

25. Playing Dynamite Doubles on Paper
Server A volleys from the Transition Zone back crosscourt and moves into the Offense Zone
Partner B moves forward again
Page 68

26. Playing Dynamite Doubles on Paper
Partners A and B have worked their way into the Offense Zone, facing the ball
Partner A is the Workhorse and partner B is the Terminator because the ball is crosscourt from A
Partners are never side-by-side
Page 70

27. Moving Together
The crosscourt player is always a little behind her partner and facing the ball in a “V” angle
The Terminator creates her own “V”
Both partners move right after either hits the ball in order to maintain control
Move with your partner and always face the ball
Page 74

28. Moving Together Here is how you can get in trouble
Note how big the gap is for the opponent hitting the ball
Notice also that B is too far back to volley the ball if C decides to drive the shot down the line
Page 75

29. A Review of the Dynamite Doubles System
Dynamite Doubles demands diagonal decisions
The Workhorse must be ready to take:
Anything crosscourt
Deep lobs
Down-the-middle shots
The Terminator should not take:
A shot out of reach down the middle
A crosscourt shot that can’t be turned into something offensive or positive
Page 78

30. A Review of the Dynamite Doubles System
Always try to be in the same major zone when the ball bounces in your opponents’ court
Always stay positioned diagonally (staggered) to each other
Both face the ball and the opponent who is going to hit it
Be ready and balanced at the right place before the opponent’s next shot
Page 78

31. A Review of the Dynamite Doubles System
The Dynamite Doubles system helps answer those four basic questions that plague doubles tennis players:
What should I have done?
Knowing what shot to make from where
2. Where should I have been?
Knowing where to position yourself with partner
3. How could I have gotten that?
Covering 100% of the court before opponent hits
4. Whose was that?
Partner roles determines each partner’s responsibilities
Page 84

32. Playing from the Defense Zone, Advanced
Your main goal is to vary your shots, mix up the pace, spins and the height of the ball to take control
Always let the ball bounce
Work at making opponents move forward & back, rather than side-to-side
Surprise works
Make them move
Page 86

33. Playing from the Defense Zone, Advanced
Try to force a mistake from your opponent, rather than trying a grandstand winning shot
Watch the opponent’s feet, body & racquet
Will it be an overhead smash?
Will it be a backhand shot?
Will the ball bounce before being hit?
Will it be a return lob?
Cover the Defense Zone with your partner and be ready to move together through the Transition Zone
Page 91

34. “Turning the Court” Always face where the ball is coming from
Your court coverage, your “V” changes each time you face a different spot
You “turn the court” as you move
You and your partner will always know which part of the court each is responsible for
Page 95

35. Where Do I Serve, Coach?
If you serve up the middle, you decrease the angle at which your opponent can return the ball
Also, serving to the backhand is very effective and results in a more predictable return
The graph shows the author’s preferences from the deuce and ad courts
Page 96

36. Where Should I Stand to Serve?
The best place to serve from in doubles is about halfway between the doubles line and the center mark
Run forward in a slight diagonal line following your ball after you serve
Page 97

37. Where Should I Stand to Receive Serve?
Draw an imaginary line from the server to one corner of the service box
Draw another line to the other corner of the box
Position yourself in the middle of those two lines for the best possible coverage
Page 99

38. Where Should I Stand to Receive Serve?
Adjust to the server’s pattern, left or right-server, where they serve from, etc.
Page 99

39. Where Should I Stand to Receive Serve?
Adjust to the server’s pattern, left or right-server, where they serve from, etc.
Page 99

40. Basic Rules of Doubles Tennis
Get the ball over the net
2. Stay away from the net person
Page 101

41. Targets for the Returner
Crosscourt, back toward the server
Lob in a straight line over the net person
Short angle crosscourt
Page 100

42. The Author’s Basic Rules to Play Winning Doubles - TODAY
Always face where the ball is coming from and let the ball come into your “V”
Know your “home” positions on the court – 2 in Offense Zone , 2 in Defense Zone, depending on whether you are the Workhorse or the Terminator
Know your responsibilities as a Terminator and as a Workhorse
Recover to a major zone AFTER your hit and BEFORE your opponent’s hit
READY, READ and REACT!
A point is never over until the ball bounces the second time. Never give up. There are no put-aways! HANG IN THERE. The ball is always coming back!
Doubles is a game of angles and percentages. And Patience.
Page 106

43. Triangles and Diamonds
Visualize four triangles on the other side of the court: 1, 2, 3 & 4
The hypotenuse of each triangle forms one side of a large diamond
Depending on where you are, to avoid the opponent’s net person, hit your shot from:
Your Triangle to your opponent’s Triangle
Your Offensive Diamond to opponent’s Diamond
Your Defensive Diamond to opponent’s Triangle
NEVER your Defensive Triangle to opponent’s Diamond
Page 107

44. Subtract One Triangle
Only three of the four Triangles should be your target:
Crosscourt Deep
Crosscourt Short
Deep down the Line
Play the high percentage shots and let your opponents make the mistakes
Page 110

45. Shot Selection & Targets
The easiest Triangle to aim for is your opponent’s #1 Triangle
Depth is important – if you hit short, the ball will land in the Diamond and your opponents will take control
The second choice is the short crosscourt to Triangle #4
Last choice from your Triangle #1 is Triangle #2, usually a lob
Page 120

46. Shot Selection & Targets
From your #2 Triangle, the shot selection is the same – the target Triangles are just numbered differently
Page 120

47. Dynamite Doubles Partners’ Contract
I will play in the same major zone as my partner
I will get my first serve in
I will get my return over the net
I will stay in the point until it is over
I will make my lobs high, knowing height is more important than depth
I will always make my Split-Step just before my opponent hits the ball
I will BISECT THE PLANE of our opponents when I am the Terminator
I will hit a minimum of 3 shots with patience when I am the Workhorse
I will be positive and focused and in-the-game at all times
I will let go of the last point played. I will not worry about the end result
I will stay in the moment and play One Point At A Time
Page 124

48. The End
That was just the highlights of the Dynamite Doubles System of playing winning doubles tennis
We suggest you do the following:
Buy the book
Read the book many times
Practice the system when you play
Encourage others to play the system