The Previdi System

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

TOPIC: The First Rule of Doubles is:  Keep the ball low so that your opponents are always hitting up and if you can't keep it low, lob.

EFFECT ON THE GAME:  My college coach taught me that rule many years ago and it still holds up today. 

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

Topic:  The most effective return of serve in The Previdi System is the SAL return. Short, angled and low. It is equally effective against servers who stay back and those who serve and volley. It minimizes the opponents ability to lob, hit aggressive passing shots and forces the volleyer to hit up with a large opening between the opposing partners. The area the SAL return is hit to is called Jail. This the saying you will often hear us and our players say, "Put 'em in jail!"

EFFECT ON GAME:  Once you've mastered the SAL return you will be putting the server under a lot of pressure and keeping their partner out of the action. We complement this return with the Offensive lob return which goes over the net players head and must be retrieved by the server as well. All the returns in The Previdi System are complementary and set up the others to form a cohesive game plan.

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

Topic:  The average doubles point lasts fewer than four shots. if you and your partner want to win every match you play , get great at the first two shots of a point.

Effect On Game:  In The Previdi System, everything we work on is based on mastering the first two shots of every point. Serve and the second shot or return and the second shot. Shot selection, positioning, consistency and accuracy!If you and your partner can be accurate and consistent at these two shots you will dominate your matches and you will still be battling when the point lasts longer than four shots.

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

Topic:  In The Previdi System, the doubles partners have different roles and different names. The Hunter is directly in front of the ball when it's on the opponents side and The Helper is always crosscourt from the ball. The Hunter is always closer to the net and The Helper is always farther from the net so we're in a staggered formation.

EFFECT ON GAME:  Once a doubles team has mastered the roles, positioning and shot selection for Hunter and Helper, their teamwork will be seamless. There are no overlapping responsibilities so confusion is eliminated. We will effectively neutralize the most damaging shots the opponents can hit. Crosscourt lobs can't get over our heads, we have opportunity and responsibility on middle balls instead of confusion and we take away crosscourt angles. Stay tunes for more about Hunter and Helper in future videos!

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

TOPIC: The most important game of the match is the first game of the second set ( and the first game of the third set if you're still playing third sets). Learn to focus and win this game in every match to be a successful team.

EFFECT ON GAME: If you and your partner can consistently win the first game of the second set you will learn to keep momentum when you're winning and stop the opponents momentum when you're losing. 

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

Topic:  Everyone we meet has lost to players with worse strokes than they have, yet most players spend all their time worrying about and working on their technique. Learning how to set up points is the key to better results in your doubles matches.

Effect On Game:  Changing your strokes, once you've been playing for a while is an arduous and difficult process with no guarantee you will see better results in matches even if you're successful in making changes. If you learn how to use the strokes you already have to set up points you can start having better doubles match results today! You'll learn shot selection and patterns, positioning and teamwork. You will refine your shots for specific situations and you will begin to win all of your matches! 

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

TOPIC: In doubles, the most important point in a match is the point you're playing because it's the only one you can ever win.

EFFECT ON GAME: As a tennis player, it's imperative that you learn to stay present and only focus on the point you're playing. Once you learn this skill you can be a consistently effective doubles team because you're not allowing unnecessary thoughts to enter your head and you are keeping focus on the present.

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

TOPIC: The things you need to do to beat weaker and stronger teams are more similar than you might think. Watch this video as Billy explains how The Previdi System handles matches against teams of all levels.

EFFECT ON GAME: If you follow the game plan described in the video, you will have a good chance to beat strong teams and you will never lose to weak teams again!

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

TOPIC: Some players think that poaching a lot will make them a successful team but in our experience as players and coaches, we find that players need to understand their area of responsibility first and cover it well. Once they have learned this, then in the proper circumstances they can look for opportunities to expand the area they're covering and take some chances. Too many attempted poaches can led to disaster for your team. 

EFFECT ON GAME: Be consistent and accurate first. Keep hitting set up shots and when you're ahead and the opportunity presents itself you can poach. But poaching alone won'y win you any matches against quality players. It has to be part of a systematic approach to doubles.

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

TOPIC: Many players over complicate  what it takes to hold serve in doubles. In reality there are only four possible scenarios and you're only required to do anything (after the serve) in two of them. Watch this video as Billy explains how The Previdi System handles these four scenarios.

EFFECT ON GAME: Once you understand what it takes to hold serve, it will seem less complicated and easier to master.