How to Play Pickleball Doubles: Strategies and Tips
Playing doubles in pickleball offers a unique blend of teamwork, strategy, and quick reflexes. Whether you’re new to the game or an experienced player looking to sharpen your skills, understanding the strategies and techniques specific to doubles play can make a significant difference. This article will guide you through the essentials of playing pickleball doubles, including key strategies, positioning tips, and communication techniques to help you and your partner dominate the court.
1. Understanding Court Positioning
Court positioning is crucial in doubles play, as it determines how well you and your partner can cover the court and execute your strategies.
a. The "No Man’s Land" Rule
- What It Is: The area between the baseline and the non-volley zone (also known as the kitchen) is often referred to as "no man’s land" because it’s a vulnerable position. Standing here leaves you susceptible to awkward shots and makes it difficult to play aggressive volleys.
- Tip: Move quickly to the net after your serve or return, or stay near the baseline when you expect a deep shot. Avoid lingering in the middle of the court.
b. Side-by-Side Formation
- What It Is: The most common and effective positioning in doubles is the side-by-side formation, where both players are positioned near the kitchen line.
- Tip: This formation allows you to cover the court width effectively and apply pressure on your opponents. Always aim to get both you and your partner to the net as quickly as possible after the serve or return.
c. Staggered Positioning
- What It Is: Sometimes, especially when one player is returning a lob or when your team is on the defensive, you may need to adopt staggered positioning, with one player closer to the baseline and the other near the net.
- Tip: Communicate clearly in these situations to avoid confusion. The player at the baseline should focus on returning deep shots, while the net player covers the middle and looks for opportunities to intercept.
2. Effective Communication
Communication is the backbone of successful doubles play. Without it, even the best strategies can fall apart.
a. Calling Shots
- Why It’s Important: To avoid confusion and ensure both players are not going for the same shot, it’s crucial to call “mine” or “yours” on balls that land in the middle of the court.
- Tip: Establish clear communication habits with your partner before the match. Practice calling shots during warm-ups to get comfortable with each other’s play style.
b. Discussing Strategy Between Points
- Why It’s Important: Taking a moment between points to discuss what’s working and what’s not can help you and your partner adjust your strategy on the fly.
- Tip: Keep these conversations brief and positive. Focus on what you can control, such as positioning, shot selection, and how to exploit your opponents’ weaknesses.
c. Hand Signals and Non-Verbal Cues
- Why It’s Important: In the heat of the moment, quick hand signals or non-verbal cues can help you communicate with your partner without shouting across the court.
- Tip: Develop simple signals for specific strategies, like where to aim the serve or who will cover a certain area. This can be especially useful when you’re playing against a noisy crowd or opponents who might pick up on your verbal cues.
3. Mastering the Serve and Return
The serve and return are crucial elements in pickleball doubles, setting the tone for each rally.
a. The Serve
- Strategy: While the serve is not typically an offensive weapon in pickleball, it’s essential to get it in play consistently and place it strategically.
- Tip: Aim for deep serves to push your opponents toward the baseline, giving you and your partner time to advance to the net. Vary your serves slightly to keep your opponents guessing, but prioritize accuracy over power.
b. The Return of Serve
- Strategy: The return of serve should be deep and ideally directed at the opponent who is weaker or less aggressive.
- Tip: After returning the serve, move quickly to the kitchen line with your partner to take control of the net. A well-placed return allows you to dictate the pace of the rally and puts pressure on your opponents.
4. Developing Net Play Skills
Net play is where most doubles points are won or lost. Being strong at the net allows you to control the rally and finish points decisively.
a. The Dink Shot
- What It Is: A dink is a soft shot played from near the net that lands just over the net into the opponent’s kitchen. It’s a critical shot in doubles because it can neutralize your opponent’s power and force them into making errors.
- Tip: Practice your dinks regularly. Aim to keep the ball low and land it just over the net. Be patient and wait for an opportunity to attack, rather than trying to force a winner from a dink exchange.
b. The Volley
- What It Is: A volley is a shot taken out of the air before the ball bounces. Effective volleying can keep your opponents on the defensive and set up winning shots.
- Tip: Stay balanced and keep your paddle in front of you at chest height when at the net. Anticipate where the ball is going, and aim to place your volleys at your opponents’ feet or into open spaces.
c. The Drop Shot
- What It Is: The drop shot is similar to the dink but typically used from further back in the court. It’s a soft shot intended to land in the opponent’s kitchen, forcing them to hit up, giving you an advantage at the net.
- Tip: Use the drop shot to transition from the baseline to the net. The key is to make it soft enough that it doesn’t bounce too high, giving your opponents an easy attack.
5. Exploiting Your Opponent’s Weaknesses
Understanding your opponents’ weaknesses and exploiting them is a key strategy in doubles.
a. Targeting the Weaker Player
- Why It’s Effective: In doubles, there’s often a disparity in skill between the two players. Identifying and targeting the weaker player can tilt the match in your favor.
- Tip: Focus your shots on the weaker player, particularly during crucial points. This could mean directing serves, returns, and aggressive shots at them to force errors.
b. Using Angles and Placement
- Why It’s Effective: Hitting sharp angles or placing the ball where your opponents are not can create open space and force them out of position.
- Tip: Practice placing your shots at sharp angles, making it difficult for your opponents to reach the ball. A well-placed shot to the sidelines can force your opponents to stretch or move out of position, opening up opportunities for you and your partner to attack.
c. Varying Your Shots
- Why It’s Effective: Predictability makes it easier for your opponents to anticipate and counter your shots. Varying your shot selection keeps them off balance.
- Tip: Mix up your shots by combining dinks, drives, lobs, and drop shots. This unpredictability will force your opponents to constantly adjust, making it harder for them to develop a rhythm.
6. Handling Lobs
Lobs can be a challenging shot to deal with, but with the right approach, you can turn them to your advantage.
a. Anticipating the Lob
- Why It’s Important: Being prepared for a lob allows you to react quickly and prevent your opponents from gaining an advantage.
- Tip: Watch your opponents’ body language and paddle position—if they look like they’re going to lob, be ready to move back quickly. Practice your footwork so that you can retreat smoothly and return the lob with control.
b. Responding to the Lob
- What to Do: When faced with a lob, you have two main options: hit an overhead smash if you’re in a good position, or play a controlled defensive shot if the lob has forced you back.
- Tip: For an overhead smash, focus on timing and control rather than just power. If you’re forced into a defensive position, aim to return the ball deep into your opponents’ court to give yourself time to reposition at the net.
Conclusion
Mastering pickleball doubles requires a combination of solid teamwork, strategic thinking, and technical skills. By focusing on court positioning, communication, net play, and understanding your opponents, you and your partner can create a formidable doubles team. Remember, the key to success in doubles is not just about individual skill but how well you work together with your partner to outplay your opponents. Practice these strategies, stay positive, and enjoy the game—because when it all comes together, pickleball doubles is as rewarding as it is fun.
