Tennis Hits the Books
This week’s book selection is “Women’s Winning Doubles” by Pat Blaskower. I plucked it off my shelf as the obvious next selection in the ongoing series of the tennis doubles books I own, yet never bothered to read. As much as I want to claim that this book is a part of a well-planned narrative arc through this topic, that simply isn’t the case. This book is short. In related news, it’s been a busy week.
Blaskower is also the author of the excellent doubles book Dynamite Doubles: Play Winning Tennis Today which this site recently reviewed. In fact, that book pointed to The Game of Doubles In Tennis by Bill Talbert as the best book on tennis doubles previously in existence. Imagine my surprise and amusement to discover that Blaskower herself published an earlier book on tennis doubles, yet failed to mention it at all in her new book. That probably tells you all you need to know about this volume.
Women’s Winning Doubles is narrowly targeted at “Women of a certain age.” I bristle at the idea that stroke production, tactics, and the strategy of tennis are fundamentally different for women than men. However, I own quite a few tennis books with “Women” in the title. If tennis books targeted exclusively at men exist, they are not overtly titled that way. The word “Men” in the title of a tennis book would not dissuade me from purchasing it. Tennis knowledge is not gender specific.
While I am in the age range of women targeted by Blaskower in this book, it was not written for established competitive players. It is best regarded as a time capsule of club tennis before the USTA widely deployed the NTRP system for league play. In other words, when “A, B, and C” were the defined levels of competitive play. Blaskower outlines each tier and maps how to achieve the knowledge and skills to rise up through that hierarchy.
The excellent doubles practice drills outlined in Women’s Winning Doubles will soon be inflicted on my practice partners. The mantra of “It’s coming to me and I am going to put it away” is the philosophical core of attacking doubles. Some of the tactical advice has fallen out of fashion, but Blaskower’s observations that tactics should fit the characteristics and ability of the player still resonates. That is sound advice in all instructional scenarios.
Women’s Winning Doubles is out of print. The secondary market lists a few used copies, but the current price point is a stiff premium over modern books on this topic. I paid $2.95 for my copy and it was well worth worth it at that price range.
