The Ultimate Guide to Pickleball Doubles Skills and Strategy

High-level pickleball doubles play requires mastery of complex skills and strategies.

As a coach, I’ve seen how implementing the right techniques at the right moments can determine the outcome of a match. Over, and over, and over again.

In this (seriously) comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the essential skills and key strategies for doubles success.

Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned player looking to step up your game, read on to gain the edge on the pickleball court.

A Solid Foundation: Mastering Core Skills for Doubles Play

Before we dive into specific doubles game strategy, let’s break down the fundamental skills that enable those winning tactics. Consistently executing these core techniques will win you more points and give you a foundation to implement more advanced maneuvers on the court.

The Serve

• Aim to serve deep. The power and placement of your serve can put opponents on their heels right from the start. Try to hit your serve to land in the back third of the service box. This depth pushes opponents back, limiting their return options.
• Aim for the weak spot. Identify where your opponents’ returns tend to break down – forehand, backhand, middle – and target that section.
• Move opponents out of position. Use spins and placement to move opponents side-to-side, compromising their positioning.
• Quick serves. Catch opponents off-guard by quickly serving early out of your usual sync. This can elicit weak returns.
• Vary speed and spin. After consistently achieving depth, introduce some variations. Try different spins like topspin or sidespin. Changing speeds can also keep opponents guessing. Just ensure depth isn’t compromised.
• Move forward after serving. Resist charging into the court after your serve. Hold your position to assess the return, then move forward decisively on the bounce. This allows you to build momentum into your third shot.

The Return

• Give yourself room at the baseline. Position yourself a few feet behind the baseline to allow time to move into the return. If serves are consistently deep, move back even further.
• Use compact motions. Avoid big backswings on your return. Instead, block the serve back with control, keeping the motion compact. This facilitates quicker advances to the net.
• Move forward immediately. As soon as you make contact, start moving up to the net, ideally to the kitchen line. The faster you claim this offensive position the better.
• Chip returns. Weaken serves by blocking soft returns just over the net. This gives you time to advance.
• Direct down-the-line. Go straight down the sideline with your return. Your opponent on that side will have to move laterally to defend.
• Change return stance. Close or open your stance on the return to deceive opponents of your directional intentions.
• Signal fake. Use your paddle to fake one direction before going the opposite way on your return.

The Third Shot

You have options on the third shot, each with pros and cons. Mastering both the drive and the drop is essential for situational pickleball and keeps opponents guessing.

Third Shot Drop

• Pros. Gives time to take up a position at the net. Can set your opponent up for a challenging 4th shot.
• Cons. Requires accuracy and finesse. An inaccurate drop can be easily attacked. Hard to hit softly into the kitchen with the accuracy to force an upward 4th shot.

Third Shot Drive

• Pros. Applies immediate pressure. Can elicit weak 4th shots if well placed.
• Cons: Can be predictable. Requires good positioning to defend against a strong 4th shot.

The Volley Game

• Use compact strokes. At the kitchen line, resist big backswings. Short, crisp strokes allow better control.
• Block power volleys. If forced to counter hard-hit drives, brace yourself and block the ball to absorb pace. A firm wrist helps redirect energy.
• Look for open spaces. Scan for undefended areas of the court and aim for those gaps.
• Follow aggressive shots. After an attack, immediately prepare for the next volley. Preparedness for second-shot opportunities in volleys often lead to points.
• Initiate timely volley exchanges. Get into rapid back-and-forth volleys to move opponents out of position when you’re at a positional advantage
• Target the weaker player. Identify and repeatedly pressure the opponent with the weaker volleying skills.
• Change pace. Mix in slower volleys to disrupt the opponent’s timing and tempo.
• Go at the body. Aim volleys at the opponent’s torso to limit their options and control.

Positional Play and Movement

• Hold the kitchen line. Avoid backpedaling from the net. Maintaining optimal court positioning keeps you on the offensive.
• Sidestep laterally. Shuffle to cover shots moving side-to-side. Small adjustments along the line retain your position of advantage.
• Split step for explosiveness. The split step, hopping to land with feet apart, builds quickness into your footwork.
• Communicate with your partner. Simple phrases like “yours” and “I got it” avoid confusion.

Third Shot Strategies

• Down-the-line drive. Hit your drive straight down the line. The opponent on that side has to scramble to defend the sideline.
• Behind the server. Hit behind the server as they move to the net. Making them backpedal and lose momentum.
• Get them on the wrong footing. Direct the drive at the opponent’s weaker side to catch them moving the wrong way.
• Two-shot combo. Follow a driving third with a dropping fifth shot. This change of pace can create opportunities.

Defensive Strategies

• Know your coverage. Understand whether you or your partner should take a given shot based on positioning.
• Retreat in sync. When your partner hits lobs or needs time, backpedal in unison so you both stay engaged.
• Shield your body. Protect yourself by keeping the paddle in front of you and maneuvering effectively.
• Know when to drop your paddle when facing putaways. Lowering your paddle when anticipating low attacks allows you to react faster.
• Reset from defense. Aim defensive shots deep and low to neutralize the point and regain position.

Poaching Strategies

• Be unpredictable. Mix up when you poach to keep opponents guessing. Avoid being predictable.
• Go behind. Poach to hit shots directly behind opponents before they can turn and defend.
• Pull them off the Kitchen/NVZ. Draw opponents off the net by faking a poach then hitting behind them.
• Down-the-line. Poaching down-the-line when the opponent least expects it can yield winners.
• Communicate. Subtly confirm poaching intentions with your partner to avoid collisions.

The Journey to Doubles Excellence

Reaching your full potential as a doubles player is an ongoing endeavor. While skills can be taught, insight only comes through hours of focused practice and play.

Follow these steps to continually improve:

• Identify your strengths: Know your abilities so you can play to them.
• Recognize weaknesses: Don’t ignore flaws; address them through drilling.
• Vary partners: Playing with different partners exposes you to new perspectives.
• Analyze opponents: Observe opponents’ tendencies to inform your tactics.
• Review matches: Study footage of yourself to learn and adjust.
• Practice deliberately: Don’t just play games; isolate skills with targeted drills.
• Implement new skills: Gradually integrate new techniques into competitive play.
• Enjoy the process: Embrace doubles as a social, stimulating challenge.

The allure of pickleball is that there are always new skills to polish and tactics to try. Adopting this comprehensive approach, both broad and nuanced, will help you master the doubles game one step at a time.

Keep learning, keep improving, and relish the friendly competition pickleball offers.

-Rylan