ALL LEVELS 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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