From local parks to country clubs, I have been witnessing the craze of pickleball all around. Skills like pickleball doubles strategies have made this game more interesting. It has been bringing together both the young and the young-at-heart players on the court. You might say it’s just my observation, but I have statistics to prove its popularity.
According to SFIA Topline Report 2023, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America. It has been maintaining its dominance for three years straight in a row.
Even I have been playing this recreational game for the past few months. I must say that pickleball is an easy–to–learn and accessible sport for people of all ages and skills. So, if you are a beginner and are thinking about taking that first step onto the court, then this blog is for you.
I’ll be your guide by sharing the most effective pickleball doubles strategies. They will help you and your partner become an unbeatable duo on the court.
Top 5 Pickleball Doubles Strategies For Beginners
To a beginner, pickleball doubles may seem like a simple game of hitting the ball over the net. But you’ll soon find out that you can’t beat your opponent if you don’t know the best pickleball doubles techniques.
Below are some of the pickleball doubles strategies that I have learned from my experience that can help you win matches. You, as a newcomer, can follow these tactics to build a strong foundation in the world of pickleball:
Practice Smart and Well-Planned Court Positioning
One of the most important pickleball doubles strategies is court positioning. According to the game rules, one player should stand near the kitchen (the non-volley zone). While your partner should cover the backcourt.
This way, your effective net coverage will improve, and empty spaces on the court will be reduced. In return, it will force your opponent to play difficult shots and make mistakes. Thus, smart positioning enhances team coordination and sharpens shot response. It even enables you to easily transition from an attacking to a defending role during the match.
Source: Unsplash
Learn to Serve Deep and Master Low Return Techniques
One of my favorite pickleball doubles strategies is to become a pro at serving and returning. I have learned that if you want to earn winning points, you must practice a precise underhand serve. It should be accurate enough to clear the net and must land in the opponent’s service box.
Moreover, try to keep your return low over the net. This strategy will force your opponents to hit upward, ambitious, and harder shots. Thus, it will increase their chances of making mistakes.
Establish Good Communication With Your Team
When you play pickleball with a new partner, it’s important to discuss and plan your game with him before the match. Take your time and understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Decide who will take lobs or who will handle shots coming down the middle of the court.
You and your partner should build a habit of calling out ‘mine,’ ‘yours,’ ‘no,’ and ‘out’ to every shot. This communication will help you maintain synchronization as a team. Furthermore, it will help prevent chaos and confusion during the match.
Moreover, it will save you from a lot of post-match blame game drama. Thus, beginners should practice open and loud communication during their game. As a result, it will help them build trust in their partner’s skills and judgment.
Source: Freepik
Hit the Ball At Your Opponent’s Feet
One of the smartest pickleball doubles strategies that few people may tell you is to attack your opponent’s feet. As a beginner, this strategic move of aiming low forces the competing team to bend and reach low for the ball. As a result, it makes it difficult for them to volley effectively and hit back powerful shots.
Hence, it disrupts your opponent’s positioning, resulting in weaker returns. Furthermore, it puts your doubles team in a dominant and defensive position. Thus, you and your partner would be able to enjoy better control over the points during the game.
Practice Defensive Strategies
So there you have it! The awesome pickleball doubles strategies. Facing experienced or aggressive opponents can be challenging for a beginner player. You might feel under pressure and nervous at different crucial stages of the match. Hence, it’s important for you to learn strong defense tactics. It will help you to maintain a balanced flow of the game and avoid a single-sided match.
Some of them are dink shots, lobbing, cross-court, and angle shots, and returning to the baseline. Thus, such pickleball doubles techniques will help reset the rally. It will bring you back into the game with a stronger position on the court.
FAQs
Below are some of the commonly asked questions related to pickleball:
How many sets are played in pickleball?
Usually, a pickleball match consists of a best-of-three game format. According to the game rules, each match is played to 11 points.
Is pickleball played with 2 or 4 players?
In a singles pickleball match, there are two players on each side of the net. But, to play a doubles pickleball match, two players should be on each team.
What is the two-bounce rule?
The two-bounce rule says that when you serve a pickleball, it must bounce once on each side of the net. After that, you can volley it in the non-volley zone or kitchen.
Conclusion
By using the above pickleball doubles strategies, you can build a solid base to excel in the game. It will help you and your partner unlock your maximum playing potential in the future. Just remember not to be too hard on yourself at the beginning stage of your pickleball journey.
It will take some time, patience, and regular practice to add these tactics naturally to your game. After that, you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful pro pickleball doubles player. So, wait no more. It’s time to order your favorite pickleball equipment and accessories.
In the next article, we’ll learn how pickleball can be a fun activity for the kids.