6 Pickleball Doubles Strategies New Players MUST Know

Keeping Fit & Well

Our new pickleball group has been running for a month and the players, completely new to the game, are all managing to enjoy playing. Most have mastered the scoring and we are insistent that all servers call the score before they serve, which is a bit of a struggle but necessary.

The following video provides a very good summary of the six doubles strategies that are an essential part of the game, but which new players struggle with. 

To Summarise the six strategies:-

1. Return & Run - return the serve deep and run up to the kitchen line. When you are both at the kitchen line, this is when you are most dangerous.
2. Stand & Punch - stand in the active position with your paddle up in the air in the ready position to block and punch. Avoiding big backswings in favour of short compact swings.
3. Serve & Stay: beginners have a tendency to serve and then walk into the court. The two bounce rule means that a more experienced player could hit the ball directly at the player, effectively forcing a volley return and faulting.
4. Third Shot Tactics: Option are to drive the ball down the middle of the court and this may work. Or drive the ball towards the server who will be running in towards the kitchen. The preferred option is the third shot drop into the kitchen and a shot mostly used by experienced players. Aim to drop the shot into the middle, or if you have greater control aim to drop the shot on your opponents backhand. Generally the backhand is the least offensive shot.
5. Hold the Line: stand and hold the kitchen line and avoid rushing forward and back. Be compact in your movement taking short steps left and right. Use side steps to reach the ball or back drop step.
6. Dink to their backhand: there is a greater likelihood that your opponent will hit the ball into the net or hit a pop up that you will be able to punch and win.