To compete successfully at an advanced level in doubles, players must be functional from all areas of the court.

Many people who consider themselves advanced players are in fact good ball strikers from the backcourt, but are totally inept and nonfunctional when they are anywhere but in the back of the court playing the ball after the bounce.

The true test of an advanced doubles player is what happens in the transition zone at midcourt and then in the kill zone in the extreme frontcourt.

I see many players begin the point at the net and gradually, without a tactical need or purpose, work their way backward to the baseline and into a defensive position, rather than maintaining a frontcourt presence and pressuring the opponent into errors, or cutting off shots with aggressive volleys and overheads.

This is a fundamental error in the understanding of how to build a point in doubles and relegates these players to the "undesirable partners" category if they're attempting to compete at the upper levels of club tennis.

Do you understand how to position yourself at the net to cut down the court your opponent has available to play toward safely, or are you just standing around without a clue as to where or why?

Are you moving forward at the right time, or charging the net wildly and indiscriminately?

Do you back up through midcourt and end the point, for better or worse, from behind the baseline even if your partner is serving?

If you consider yourself an advanced player, are you just a good backcourt ball striker, or do you really know how to develop and execute a logic-based point in order to play advanced doubles?

If you want to be in demand as a doubles partner, make it a point to learn the tactics and strategies that the better players employ to succeed.

Howie Burnett is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association and tennis director at the Island Country Club on Marco Island. Burnett welcomes questions on strokes, tactics or etiquette. To reach him, call the tennis shop at 394-4464 or e-mail him at islandclubtennis@hotmail.com.