Pickleball Strategies for Doubles: How to Play as a Team

Doubles pickleball is all about teamwork. While singles is more of a solo battle, doubles requires you to work in perfect harmony with your partner. The best teams know how to cover the court efficiently, communicate clearly, and support each other during every point. Whether you’re playing casually or competing in a tournament, learning the right strategies can make all the difference in your doubles game.

In this post, we’ll explore some key strategies to help you and your partner become a formidable doubles team.

1. Communicate Constantly

Clear and consistent communication is the backbone of any successful doubles team. Without it, you’ll end up with missed shots, confusion, and frustration. Here’s how to ensure smooth communication:

Call Your Shots: Decide ahead of time who will take shots down the middle. Typically, the player with the stronger forehand will take these, but always call “mine” or “yours” to avoid hesitation.
Plan Strategies Beforehand: Discuss tactics between points. For example, if your opponents are weak on the backhand side, agree to target that area.
Encourage Each Other: Mistakes happen, but it’s important to keep a positive attitude. A simple “good try” or “let’s get the next one” can go a long way in keeping your partner’s confidence up.

Pro tip: Use hand signals behind your back during serves to indicate which side you’ll cover or any planned plays. This helps you stay on the same page without tipping off your opponents.

2. Stacking to Maximize Strengths

Stacking is a common tactic in doubles pickleball that allows you to play to each partner’s strengths. By positioning both players on one side of the court during the serve or return, you can set up a stronger player for specific shots:

Right-Handed vs. Left-Handed Players: If one player is right-handed and the other is left-handed, stacking can help you keep forehands in the middle, maximizing court coverage.
Better Player at the Net: If one player excels at net play while the other is stronger from the baseline, stacking can help position each player where they’re most comfortable.

Pro tip: Practice your transitions between stacking and regular positioning to avoid confusion or leaving parts of the court open.

3. Covering the Court: Don’t Leave Gaps

One of the biggest challenges in doubles is covering the court effectively without leaving gaps that your opponents can exploit. Here’s how to maintain solid court coverage:

Move Together: Think of you and your partner as being connected by an invisible string. If one player moves to the right, the other should shift in the same direction to cover the court efficiently.
Avoid Standing Too Far Apart: The wider the gap between you and your partner, the more vulnerable you are to shots down the middle. Stay close enough to quickly cover any ball hit between you.
Adjust Based on Opponents: If your opponents are more likely to hit crosscourt, position yourself slightly toward the sidelines. If they like to hit down the middle, both of you should be ready to close the gap.

Pro tip: After each shot, return to a neutral position with both players near the centerline of their half of the court, ready to respond to the next shot.

4. Master the Dink Game

Dinking is one of the most important strategies in doubles pickleball. It slows the game down, forcing your opponents to come up to the net where they’re more likely to make a mistake. Here’s how to master the dink:

Be Patient: Don’t rush the dink. Keep the ball low and in play until you see an opportunity to hit a more aggressive shot.
Target Weaknesses: If you notice your opponent struggles with dinks, or tends to pop the ball up, keep targeting them until you get a high ball to attack.
Crosscourt Dinks: Crosscourt dinks are effective because they give you more room to work with, reducing the chances of hitting the ball out.

Pro tip: Practice dinking drills with your partner so you can develop consistency and patience. A solid dink game can give you a huge advantage in doubles.

5. Dominate the Net

In doubles pickleball, the team that controls the net usually controls the game. The closer you are to the net, the easier it is to hit down on the ball and force your opponents into defensive positions. Here’s how to dominate at the net:

Move Forward Quickly: After your serve or return, look to move up to the kitchen line as soon as possible. The faster you get to the net, the more pressure you’ll put on your opponents.
Close the Gap: Once both players are at the net, position yourselves close to the kitchen line, but not too close that you risk foot faults. By staying low and keeping your paddles up, you’ll be ready to block volleys and hit quick winners.
Avoid Lobs: If you notice your opponents lobbing often, adjust your positioning slightly back from the net to give yourself more time to react.

Pro tip: Practice your volley game to become more aggressive at the net. Soft, controlled volleys allow you to maintain the advantage without overcommitting.

6. Use the Third Shot Drop

The third shot drop is a crucial play in doubles pickleball that allows you to transition from the baseline to the net. This soft shot lands in your opponents’ kitchen, making it difficult for them to attack. Here’s how to execute it effectively:

Aim Low: The goal of the third shot drop is to land the ball softly in the opponent’s kitchen, forcing them to hit up on the ball. Keep the ball low and slow to reduce the chances of an easy return.
Use It to Advance: After hitting a third shot drop, move forward to the net. This allows you to take control of the point and apply pressure.
Mix It Up: While the third shot drop is effective, don’t use it every time. Mix it with other shots, like a deep drive, to keep your opponents guessing.

Pro tip: Practice your third shot drop with your partner to ensure consistency. The better your drop, the easier it will be to move forward and control the net.

7. Support Your Partner

Playing as a team means supporting your partner, both mentally and physically. If your partner makes a mistake, it’s crucial to stay positive and keep the energy up. Here’s how to offer support on the court:

Encourage, Don’t Criticize: If your partner misses a shot or makes an error, offer encouragement instead of criticism. A positive mindset leads to better play.
Cover for Each Other: If your partner is pulled wide or out of position, be ready to cover more of the court until they recover. Great doubles teams instinctively fill in gaps and help each other out.

Pro tip: Developing chemistry with your partner off the court—through practice sessions or even casual games—can lead to better teamwork during matches.

Final Thoughts

Doubles pickleball is a game of strategy, communication, and teamwork. By staying connected with your partner, covering the court efficiently, and mastering techniques like the dink and third shot drop, you can outplay your opponents and take control of the game. Remember, the best teams support each other and play as one unit—so always keep communication open and stay positive throughout the match.