January - February 1997: Volume 8, Number 1
January - February 1997: Volume 8, Number 1
Doubles. Notice that the word is very close to "couples." And with good reason. When individual athletes join forces to form a doubles team, that bond can become greater than many marriages and closer than most sibling relationships. The partnership is sometimes fleeting, sometimes lifelong, but always very important to those involved.
In sports such as racquetball, tennis or bowling, the athlete is usually on their own. Winning or losing is dependent upon that individual's talent, preparation and effort. The athlete is solely responsible for the outcome. The player has no one to blame if the result is a loss, and does not have to share the credit with anyone when victorious.
But that all changes in doubles. Ideally, the two players are of near ability level. When one player is much stronger than the other player, it adds strain to the partnership. The weaker player usually is under a great deal of pressure to hold up their side of the court and the stronger player often times overcompensates and takes risky chances. Whatever the skill differences between the partners, the team loses if both players can not hold up their ends of the proverbial bargain.
In racquetball, doubles teams are even more intimate, if you will. Unlike other sports, racquetball teams are thrown together in a confined space. There is no way to hide the grimaces when a partner misses an easy shot; the groans when a partner skips an easy return are easily audible; there is no place to look in an effort to hide the aggravation or frustration that builds up in a player, unhappy with a choice of doubles partner.
Psychologists would have a field day analyzing the reasons why some doubles teams are successful and others are not. There also seems to be no rhyme or reason behind what makes a player successful with one doubles partner and not successful with another. It's well known that two great singles players do not necessarily make for a doubly-great doubles team.
There are literally a million stories about doubles teams and doubles partners in the Naked City, and here are a just a few of them.
First, what makes a successful doubles team?
"The most important thing is communication," said Jim Hiser, Associate Executive Director of the United States Racquetball Association. "That is the key."
The world's number one ranked women's singles player, Michelle Gould, agreed.
"You have to be able to communicate with your doubles partner," said Gould, who recently won the National Doubles title with Cheryl Gudinas. "Compatibility is also very important. Some people just don't play well with other players."
Communication was the trait mentioned the most by players of all ability levels when asked about the qualities of a good doubles team.
Larry Daub, an A Division doubles player, said he looks for someone "I like," when picking a doubles partner. Daub also said that the roles of the team have to be clear.
"I think that one of the partners has to be the leader," he said. "It can make it pretty difficult if both players are trying to be in charge of calling the shots and setting the strategy."
Robin Levine, currently one of the top ten women players in the world, said that the best teams "just gel better."
"You have to have confidence in your partner," she said. "It's pretty tough to be successful if you don't have confidence in each other."
Okay, communication is vital; compatibilty seems to be important to make up a good doubles tandom; you must "gel," as a team, and maybe there is some actual strategy reasons behind the successful doubles team. For some excellent advice on picking a good doubles partner and on being a good doubles partner, see the July/August issue of Racquetball Magazine and check out the 'Cardinal Rules' offered by Lynn Adams.
"I think you want to complement the other player," said Kory Duarte, who lives in Oklahoma City and plays in the Open Division. "If your partner has a great backhand, then they play the backhand. If one player is really aggressive and goes for a lot of winners, I think they need a partner that is a little more consistent."
Illinois State President Geoff Peters says he would rather play with a friend in doubles, looking at doubles as "more of social thing."
"I think teams tend to play better if the players have different styles," Peters said. "Compatibility is very important to a good doubles team, at least at the recreational level. If you're at the top, then I think the styles matter more than if players like each other. At that level, it's about winning."
Now, not every team is successful of course. And, there comes a time when doubles partners cease playing with each other. When the doubles partnership is dissolved, it is not a stretch to compare the ending with a divorce. In some case, it is amicable. In some instances, the decision to break up the partnership is a mutual one. In many case, however, there is a feeling of rejection and/or betrayal -- at least on the part of the "dumpee." For the (such a terrible phrase) "dumper," if you will, there is guilt, anxiety, and often feelings of consternation over whether or not it was the right decision.
Sometimes, the decision to end the doubles relationship is made quickly - in the hallway immediately following a poor performance in a tournament, for example. But on most occasions, at least one doubles partner has thought of dissolving the team long before the actual decision has been made. There are countless reasons why a player decides to break up a partnership, and many ways to go about it. But, certainly, as Neil Sedaka sang so many years ago, "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do."
"I was shocked," said Todd O'Neil, recalling being dumped. He and partner Jack Nolan had just won the 1986 World Doubles championship, a "big win," said O'Neal.
"I thought it was a given that we would continue to play together," he continued. "It was disappointing. Sure, there was a little feeling of rejection."
But O'Neil recovered sufficiently enough to pick up a new partner just prior to the next major event and finish third -- ahead of his former partner. A somewhat happier ending.
The difference between men and women are again spelled out in the breakup of a doubles partnership. Women seem to take everything so personally -- the men, less so.
"On the women's tour, it's like a messy divorce, or ending a long-term dating relationship" Levine said. "Some people take it well, and other times, it can be pretty bad. For the guys, it's different. It happens, and they go on."
The traditional macho image of the male probably has something to do with the fact that the men do seem to take getting dumped better. The "stiff upper lip," supposedly enables the male to go back out and find another partner with ego intact.
Either way, when the decision has to be made to end the partnership, our "experts" were unanimous in their advice.
"You need to discuss it with your partner first," said Daub, who said he has never had to "dump" a partner, and has not been dumped himself, "and not with anyone else." Be honest. This goes back to the communication aspect.
You've got to be able to talk it out with your partner.
"I would do it in a neutral location," Daub added. "... away from the racquetball court."
Levine also urged anyone who is thinking of getting rid of their partner to do it quickly.
"Don't wait around," she said. "And, don't do it right before a big tournament."
Gould has changed partners often. She is, after all, arguably the greatest player of all time, and has no shortage of players who would like to play with her. "I think change is good," she said. "Relationships need to grow."
She wholeheartedly agreed with Levine's comments on the timing.
"I delayed telling a person once, waiting for the right time, and it hurt me," she said. "If you make the decision, be honest and get it all out right away. The important thing is to keep your friendship intact. That is sometimes hard to do, but if you handle it right, it can be done."
So, if you get dumped, don't take it personally -- sometimes it is best for your growth as a player. And, if you have to dump your partner, do it quickly and keep the partner as a friend if possible. Sounds like pretty sound advice.
O'Neil has had an interesting history in ending his doubles relationships.
"Almost all the partners I have played with, like retired after I finished playing with them. Maybe I just wore them down mentally." O'Neil said. Then, referring to his current partner (with whom he recently won the national doubles title), Todd wondered aloud "I hope Derek Robinson isn't ready for retirement."
Author's Note: If you have an amusing anecdote (and WE will be the judge of what is 'amusing,'-- thank you very much) on dumping a doubles partner or having been dumped by your partner, we want to hear from you. Write, call, fax or email (this IS the 90's after all) the USRA office. We will publish some of the better anecdotes.
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