Tennis Hits the Books
I have an improbably large collection of tennis books on doubles strategy. To even the most casual observer of my doubles matches… it is patently obvious that I have not actually read any of them. That is, until last week when I embarked on a journey to correct that oversight. This week’s book is “Dynamite Doubles: Play Winning Tennis Today!” The selection was an absolute stroke of luck because it is very closely related to the book that was reviewed just last week.
Seven days ago I wrote the following two sentences about modern staggered positional doubles strategy:
Blaskower does not claim to have invented the strategy, but there is a very real possibility that she was the first to clearly articulate the principles in her book. I am on the lookout for earlier credible sources.
Excerpt from “The Art of Doubles: Winning Tennis Strategies and Drills” reviewed last week.
I was just a few pages into Dynamite Doubles before having the realization this book is the “earlier credible source” that I was seeking. In fact, Pat Blaskower derived her positional strategy from the author of Dynamite Doubles, Helle Sparre Viragh who taught the strategy to her students for years. I am slow that way sometimes. Consequently, I have arrived at the conclusion that the two books are best consumed in tandem. Additionally, I am convinced that I read them in the wrong order. Such is the nature of life.
The sequencing between the publication of the two books is intriguing. Blaskower cites Viragh for teaching the strategy before Blaskower published The Art of Doubles in 1994. Viragh’s Dynamite Doubles came out in 2004, ten years later. Shortly thereafter, the second edition of the Art of Doubles was released in 2007.
Dynamite Doubles delivers the philosophical foundations for modern court positioning strategy. In some cases, the words used to describe the techniques are more sharply defined in that book than those used in The Art of Doubles. A great example is how the crosscourt player is awkwardly referred to as the “setter-upper” by Blaskower. Viragh uses the less campy and equally descriptive term “workhorse.”
Viragh established the foundational strategy and reasons that underpin modern staggered doubles positioning strategy. Blaskower’s extended the art by articulating the proper positioning by establishing landmarks on the court that are universally easy to understand.
In essence, Viragh’s Dynamite Doubles: Play Winning Tennis Today! explains the “Why” of modern staggered positional strategy. Blaskower’s The Art of Doubles: Winning Tennis Strategies & Drills extends the art by detailing the “How.” Together both books present a complete picture required for a complete understanding of the foundations and implementation of the strategy.
 | Dynamite Doubles: Play Winning Tennis Today! |
 | The Art of Doubles: Winning Tennis Strategies and Drills |
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