Patology # 64
“In tennis one always has to try to make fewer steps than the opponent.”
–William Pato Alvarez
Note from Chris:
Starting in the 1970’s in Spain, Pato Alvarez created an innovative teaching system and built his method around the “double rhythm” footwork, which consists of a series of side shuffles along the baseline forming an X-pattern.
Pato insisted that a player should command the baseline and take fewer steps than his or her opponent by utilizing the double rhythm and strong deep shots that prevent being attacked.
It was his contention that a player who is hitting strong shots with good patterns should rarely have to run, and shouldn’t have to use any crossover step footwork; rather, the player should play the entire match using the double rhythm. Economy and grace of footwork was a high priority.
Many modern day coaches in Spain and around the world have taken the brilliant essence of Pato’s system, especially the X-drill, and added it to their coaching formula. However, many of these coaches have minimized the reliance and obsession with the double-rhythm that characterized Pato’s original system. Some modern Spanish coaches now teach the X movement with a crossover step as well–a good example of how the systems in Spain continue to evolve and adapt.
Learn more about Pato Alvarez’s philosophy.
Learn more about Spanish Tennis and Chris Lewit’s studies in Spain.
Pato still teaches at the Sanchez-Casal Academy in Barcelona.