Pickleball Doubles Strategies: How to Dominate the Court

Pickleball has rapidly become one of the most popular racquet sports in the United States, offering an exciting and fast-paced game that's easy to learn but tough to master. If you’re a beginner or intermediate player looking to improve your skills, doubles pickleball is the way to go. But mastering doubles isn't just about being able to hit the ball. It’s about teamwork, communication, and having the right strategy to control the game.

Whether you're playing for fun with friends or entering local tournaments, implementing the right strategy can give you the edge and help you dominate the court. Here are the key strategies to play successful doubles pickleball, which will improve your game and get you one step closer to victory.

Key Doubles Strategies 

1. Communication is Key

In doubles pickleball, effective communication is vital. Unlike singles, where you're only concerned about your own movements, doubles requires you to coordinate with your partner, and this starts before the game even begins. One of the most common reasons for errors in doubles play is a lack of communication.

Pre-match communication:

• Positioning and coverage: Agree on who will take what shots. For example, one player may be responsible for forehand shots, while the other handles backhand shots. Discussing these roles before the game starts helps avoid confusion during the match.
  
  
• Who calls the shots? One player should be designated as the "caller" for all shots. This eliminates confusion over who will hit the ball, particularly in fast-paced rallies when both players may think they have an opportunity to strike the ball.
  

During the game communication:

• Verbal cues: Use simple and clear verbal cues like “mine,” “yours,” or “switch” to avoid confusion about who will take a shot. This can be especially important in fast rallies where your partner may be closer to the ball but you’re in the best position to make the play.
  
  
• Non-verbal cues: Eye contact or a hand gesture can help signal intentions during the game. A quick glance or a subtle wave of the paddle to indicate readiness or alert the partner to a potential play can be incredibly effective.
  

2. The “Stack” Formation

One of the most common and effective strategies in doubles pickleball is the "stack" formation, where players position themselves in a way that optimizes their strengths while allowing them to cover the court more effectively.

How it Works:

• When you and your partner are at the baseline, you can position yourselves to face each other, which enables you to cover your half of the court more efficiently. This positioning makes it easier for both players to predict where the ball is likely to land, improving reaction time and shot accuracy.
  
  
• The stack can also help when you have a particular player who is stronger with one shot, such as their forehand, and you want to position them in a way that maximizes their chances to hit a winner. For example, when serving, you can switch sides, so the stronger player serves from their favored side.
  

Benefits of the Stack Formation:

• The stack creates a more predictable coverage pattern, allowing for faster transitions between offense and defense.
  
  
• It can disrupt your opponents' positioning and make it harder for them to anticipate where you’re going to hit the ball.
  
  
• It enables both players to focus on what they do best, whether it's attacking or defending.
  

3. Positioning and Court Coverage

In doubles pickleball, positioning is everything. Proper court coverage is crucial to winning points and avoiding mistakes. Both players need to be able to move together seamlessly while ensuring there are no gaps in your defense.

Basic Positioning:

• The "Two-back" formation: When you and your partner are both near the baseline, you’re in a defensive posture. While the "two-back" formation can be effective for defensive play, it can also leave gaps in the middle of the court for opponents to exploit. This formation is ideal when you are up against a powerful opponent or need to reset after a mistake.
  
  
• The "Two-up" formation: After your serve or return of serve, both players should ideally move toward the kitchen line. Being at the net provides you with a much stronger offensive position and allows you to attack the ball more easily. The "two-up" formation is most effective for generating offensive plays, with both players ready to intercept volleys and put pressure on your opponents.
  
  
• The "side-by-side" formation: This formation is used when you're covering different parts of the court, such as when you’re returning a serve or when an opponent has hit a particularly sharp angle shot. This allows each player to take control of a larger portion of the court.
  

Court Coverage Tips:

• Be aware of your partner's movements. In doubles, you're often responsible for a larger area of the court than you would be in singles, so it’s essential to anticipate your partner’s actions and position accordingly.
  
  
• Always be ready to switch from defense to offense. This means staying light on your feet, being able to quickly move to the ball, and working with your partner to cover all angles of the court.
  

4. Target the Opponent's Weaknesses

In doubles pickleball, one of the most effective strategies is to target your opponent's weaknesses. Each player has their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and identifying these weaknesses during the match can provide a significant advantage.

How to exploit weaknesses:

• Focus on the weaker player: If you notice one of your opponents consistently struggles with a certain shot, position your team to focus on exploiting that weakness. For example, if one player has a weak backhand, aim for their backhand side with every shot.
  
  
• Pressure on volleys: If one of your opponents struggles with quick reactions or volleys, keep the ball coming at them with fast pace and angles. This will force them to either make an error or give you an easier opportunity to attack.
  
  
• Examine footwork: Pay attention to your opponent’s footwork—are they stepping incorrectly when moving laterally or forward? If so, you can aim to make them move quickly across the court to force errors.
  

Keep it Dynamic:

• Change your shots up, using a mix of soft dinks, deep drives, and angled volleys to keep your opponents on their toes. This forces them to react quickly and gives them less time to recover from mistakes.
  
  
• Always be ready to switch strategies and adapt if your opponent starts to adjust to your tactics.
  

5. Serve and Return Strategy

Your serve and return of serve play a significant role in the success of your doubles strategy. A strong serve and a well-thought-out return can set the tone for the rest of the point.

Serve Strategy:

• A deep serve to your opponent's backhand or middle is a great way to start the point with an advantage. A deep serve limits the opponent's options and forces them to react under pressure.
  
  
• Mix up the serve placements: by alternating between fast and soft serves, you force your opponents to adjust and limit their ability to predict your next move. Serving wide or at an opponent's body can limit their ability to return effectively.
  
  
• Use the "third-shot drop": After your serve, it’s often best to play a soft, controlled drop shot that lands just over the net. This allows you to move forward toward the kitchen line, setting you up for the next volley.
  

Return Strategy:

• When returning, aim for the opponent’s weaknesses. A cross-court return can force the opponent to move and provide an opening for you to attack.
  
  
• Keep the ball deep and low, forcing your opponents to make difficult volleys. A deep return keeps your opponents further from the net, giving you time to get to the kitchen line.
  

6. The Importance of Patience

In pickleball, patience is often one of the most important attributes for success. While it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a fast-paced rally, it’s crucial to recognize that consistent, controlled shots will win points more often than power-driven, risky shots.

• Play long rallies: Instead of attempting risky shots from the baseline, look for opportunities to set up a short, controlled rally. This allows you to wear down your opponents and eventually create an opening for a winning shot.
  
  
• Control the tempo: Keep the ball in play, and take your time setting up your shots. Let the opponent make the first mistake, and keep the ball where they are less comfortable.
  

7. Always Be Ready for the Next Shot

Pickleball doubles require constant alertness. After every shot, you should always be ready for the next one, whether it's a quick volley at the net or a high lob from your opponent.

• Stay on your toes and move efficiently around the court.
  
  
• Anticipate the opponent’s next move, but be ready to adjust if they surprise you with a change in their shot.
  
  
• Always position yourself in a way that you can react quickly, especially if you’re working together with your partner to cover the court.
  
  

To dominate in pickleball doubles, you need a combination of strategy, teamwork, and adaptability. Communicate effectively with your partner, control your positioning, and always be ready to adjust to the ebb and flow of the game. With the right serve and return strategy, patience, and an understanding of your opponent’s weaknesses, you’ll be able to take your doubles game to the next level. Keep working on your coordination with your partner, and you’ll find that mastering these strategies can lead to consistent victories on the court.

‍