INSTRUCTION By Alice Tym
HOW TO BE THE
UNIVERSAL PARTNER
It is not about you ; it is all about your partner .
The best thing Bart Brannon , my mixed partner , ever said to me is , “ You seldom ever give me a bad shot .” A key feature in being a good partner is the attitude that it is all about him , not about you . A local player here cannot understand why no one wants to enter tournaments with him . He prides himself on his speed primarily because he can take all your shots ! Being a Universal Partner requires skills , knowledge of the game , and a teamwork attitude .
First , let ’ s look at the attributes of the Partner from Hell . He talks all the time and tells you what to do . His serve is unpredictable . He sprays returns like buckshot . His volleys are hard but poorly placed , so they come back even faster . He plays singles in doubles events . He is in a world of his own . We have all played with him and some of us just need to look in the mirror .
In contrast , the Universal Partner can play with anyone and adapt . First and foremost , he sees himself as support staff . He is there for you , to complement your skills . He
ILLUSTRATION BY ADRIÀ VOLTÀ
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