Player Profiles: Kerith Flynn and Susan Tarzian

As a team, how did you find each other and was it an instant match?

Keri: Sue and I are both from Long Island and we played against, and with, each other often for practice before we decided to team up. I think we were a good match from the start because of our different playing styles. I tend to be more aggressive, and Sue has the ability to keep us in the points, set me up and also bring some offense when the opportunity presents itself.

Sue: Keri and I met through playing in the local women’s platform league. She plays for Nassau Country Club, and I play out of the Garden City Community Park. We have mutual paddle playing friends and we played socially on many occasions. When her partner became injured, she called me to fill in as her partner in a tournament. We had moderate success and began to play a few more events together. Her partner never recovered and we decided to continue to play as a team. We had very good chemistry from the start. It was an easy fit.

Were there any obstacles that you as a team needed to overcome to find success, such as sharing the same strengths and weaknesses, or do the strengths of one of you come to the aid of the weaknesses of another?

Keri: As with any team, it took us a while to get comfortable playing together. We had to play together for a while before we figured out what worked best for us as a team. I think from the very beginning we complemented each other. Sue is an amazing lobber and she sets up the points perfectly, while I tend to be more aggressive from the back court and at the net. She is also a great strategist and can point out the weaknesses in other teams.

Sue: Keri and I have very different strengths and weaknesses. She is obviously a better backhand player than me, with an awesome two-handed backhand, and I am more of a set-up type of player, which suits the forehand side. We know each other’s job on the court and are content with these roles. Keri is more aggressive, and I am more conservative. We complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

What is your practice routine/frequency?

Keri: I work full time as a designer, so unfortunately I don’t get to play as much as I would like. I try to get out at least twice a week for a game.

Sue: Since I teach platform and work at a tennis and platform facility, I practice or play at least five days a week. Keri and I strive to play a practice match together once or twice a week, but if we can’t get a game we will practice one-on-one once a week. We will take a lesson or two a few times during the season to tweak our game plan or improve a skill.

If either of you has migrated to platform from tennis, are there any advantages/disadvantages that your style brings to the game?

Keri: I grew up playing tennis at Nassau Country Club. I think coming from a tennis background is really helpful when you take up paddle. My style of play in paddle is very similar to my tennis game. The advantage is that I can end a point quickly from either the back court or the net. The disadvantage is that my aggressive nature can backfire when I’m not 100 percent on my game. You have to find the right balance of patience and offense.

Sue: The advantages of having played sports and particularly tennis and racquetball are numerous. Since I didn’t have to learn the basic skills of how to hold, swing and hit a ball with a racket, I just had to learn the strategy of the game and how to execute. There is no downside or disadvantage to having played tennis prior to learning the game of platform. Embracing the differences and the similarities of the two games is the key to taking your game to the next level.

How do you challenge each other on the court in practice and during tournaments?

Keri: When Sue and I are practicing, she is always challenging me to learn new shots and work on them until I’m comfortable using them in a match. I try to do that for her as well. When we’re playing in tournaments, we really try to work as a team and bring out the best play in each other.

Sue: Easy – I know Keri always wants to win, whether in practice or in a match. Her confidence is infectious and motivational. When we practice, we try to work on sticking to a game plan and maintaining focus. During tournaments we play the way we practice.

What racquet are you playing with and do you feel it gives you any particular advantage as far as your play style?

Keri: I play with the Wilson Blitz low density. I love it! I feel like I have great control on my drives and volleys with it.

Sue: Right now, I am playing with the Wilson Surge. This paddle is relatively on the light side, and absorbs the ball well, making it is easy on the arm. I feel this paddle is easy and quick to maneuver at the net and it is the best paddle for my game.

What advice would you give to fledgling teams trying to find success on the court?

Keri: It takes a long time to really be comfortable on the court as a team – to really know what each other is going to do and be secure in the roles you each play. We played together for quite a while before we finally started to get past the round of 16 in tournaments, and several years before we won a tournament. It takes a lot of patience, and you can’t get disappointed if you don’t get fast results.

Sue: Take some lessons as a team. Attend a good paddle clinic like Performance Paddle Camp run by Gerri Viant and Mike Gillespie at the beginning of paddle season to get yourselves off to a good, cohesive start.

Have you identified any teams that you think will be your toughest challenges this season?

Keri: I think all of the teams in the top 10 present different challenges and they are all capable of winning tournaments. You really have to take it one match at a time.

Sue: There are several very good paddle teams out there capable of winning the national championship on any given day. We are not going to underestimate any of them.

Source: Patricio Misitrano, Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 13, Issue 4, March, 2012