Pickleball is arguably the one racket sports that gets more views and attention for its doubles format rather than singles, and yes we said’ ‘racket sports.’ Doubles pickleball opens the door to strategy, teamwork, communication, and that special kind of chaos that makes you laugh even while you’re scrambling for the next shot. It’s social, fast-paced, and incredibly rewarding once you begin understanding how two players can move and think as one unit. As a coach, I’ve seen so many players instantly fall in love with doubles simply because it adds layers to the sport that singles just can’t replicate.
So let’s break it all down. How do you actually play doubles? What strategies matter most? And how do you become the kind of partner that people want to play with every time? Below, I’ll walk you through everything starting from rules, fundamentals, advanced tactics, all the way to mindset training, so you are always confident stepping onto the court with any partner you play with.
Understanding the Rules of Doubles Pickleball
The rules for doubles pickleball are very similar to singles, but there are a few extra details you need to know—especially when it comes to calling the score. In singles, it’s simple: your score first, your opponent’s score second. In doubles, we add a third number: the server position. Before every serve, the server calls out their team’s score, the opponents’ score, and whether they are server 1 or 2 for that rally.
Throughout the game, both players on a team will get a chance to serve before a side-out occurs. That’s why identifying server 1 and 2 matters. The only exception is the very first service of the match where only one player serves at the start, and a fault immediately results in a side-out. After that, normal rotation takes place.
It sounds confusing at first, but trust me, it becomes second nature. If you want to fast-track your comfort with doubles, a couple of private lessons or drilling sessions with a local coach can speed up the learning process, only for rules though. To get better and be more consistent you will still have to do drills regularly.
Basic vs. Advanced Pickleball Doubles Strategies
When you’re just starting out, your job is simple: get the fundamentals down. You don’t need stacking, crash & drive, or precision poaching right away. Start with consistent serves, cleaner footwork, and reliable shot placement. Get a feel for how the game flows with a partner precisely the timing, the rhythm, and the communication.
But once those basics feel comfortable, that’s when the fun begins. Advanced doubles strategies like stacking, poaching, and patterned movement add a new dimension to your game. And when you and your partner finally sync up on these concepts? That’s when you start playing real doubles pickleball.
Now without further adieu, let’s break down the core strategies you should focus on at each stage.
Getting to the Kitchen Line Immediately After the Return
The single most important strategy in doubles: advance to the non-volley zone (NVZ) as soon as you return the serve. Almost every high-percentage play happens from the kitchen line. If you stay stuck at the baseline, you’re playing defense the entire point and your chances of winning drop dramatically.
Good teams sprint to the line together. Great teams know exactly why they’re doing it and even when to stay back, yes you read that right!
Develop a Reliable Drop Shot
The drop shot is the bridge between the baseline and the kitchen. When your opponents beat you to the NVZ line, a soft, controlled drop shot forces them to hit up on the ball and gives you time to move forward. A well-executed third-shot drop is often the difference between winning and losing against strong teams.
Keep Your Opponents Pinned to the Baseline
Just like you don’t want to stay back, your opponents don’t either. If you can keep them deep while you and your partner control the kitchen line, the point is already tilting heavily in your favor. Use deep drives, heavy topspin, and firm volleys to keep pressure on them and prevent them from advancing. Check out our article on the types of shot to learn how to execute these shots better.
Aim for the Feet
Simple but deadly. Shots at the feet force awkward upward contact, which usually leads to a pop-up—your opportunity to finish the point. Whether you’re driving, dinking, or countering, the feet are always a high-percentage target.
Serve Deep & Consistently
A deep serve buys you time. It pushes the returner back and prevents them from charging the kitchen too quickly. Instead of overhitting focus on depth, direction, and reliability.
Stand Behind the Baseline on the Return
Many new players stand right on the line and end up jammed or forced to backpedal. Standing a couple of feet behind gives you time to react, step into your return, and maintain balance. And remember you must let the serve bounce, so you don’t want to be standing too close to the baseline while receiving a serve.
Hit Deep Returns
A deep return of serve keeps your opponent back long enough for you to get to the kitchen line. It also makes their third shot tougher, forcing them into lower-percentage drops or rushed drives.
Be Intentional With Your Positioning
Great doubles teams don’t just stand in “their side.” They adjust based on opponent tendencies, partner strengths, and shot patterns. Sometimes that means shifting closer to the middle, shading toward a dangerous shot, or spreading wide to protect angles.
Win the Race to the NVZ
Back when I was new at Pickleball, a senior player would always tell me, “take control of the net, take control of the net,” at first I did not realise how important that it but later when I got to higher levels, I realized that almost all points are decided by which team gets to the kitchen first and holds it. So remember, tour mission: get to the kitchen early, make sure you’re partner gets there too, and stay disciplined once you’re in the NVZ.
Third Shot Options: Drop or Drive
Your third shot is your first tactical decision as the serving team.
- Drop when the return is low, short, or when you want to advance safely.
- Drive when the returner is out of position, when you see a backhand target, or when you want to set up a fifth-shot drop.
Attack on the Fourth if You Can
If your opponent fails to get to the kitchen line, the fourth shot can be a fantastic time to go on offense. Keep the ball low, find their weak side which is mostly a player’s backhand, and force them to hit up.
Use Spin When Appropriate
Adding topspin, backspin, or sidespin creates unpredictable bounce and trajectory. It doesn’t need to be excessive, controlled, consistent spin is more dangerous than flashy inconsistency.
Attack the Middle
Hitting down the middle creates hesitation, confusion, and miscommunication. It also provides plenty of margin for error. If you hear your opponents arguing about whose ball it was, you’re doing something right. Besides aiming for the middle is always a high percentage shot in comparison to aiming for the corners.
Poaching With Purpose
A poach is an aggressive move where you take a ball intended for your partner. It’s not about stealing, it’s about capitalizing on patterns. Great poachers communicate clearly, move decisively, and finish points efficiently. Poor poachers… well, they frustrate teammates.
Stacking
Stacking allows each player to stay on their preferred side of the court. Lefty/righty combos benefit most, but even same-handed teams use stacking to maximize forehands, protect weaknesses, and control the middle.
Dinking with Patience
Dinking is a chess match. You’re not just hitting soft shots you’re building patterns, targeting weaknesses, and waiting for the ball that sits even half an inch too high. Patience wins more dink rallies than power or skill ever will. As a pro tip I would suggest that not every high dink needs to be put away, bide your time and make the put away count the most.
Keep Every Ball Low
If you consistently send high, attackable balls, you’ll constantly be defending. A soft grip and clean technique help you keep the ball skimming just above the net.
Pro/Advanced Tips for Playing Doubles Pickleball
Improve Your Decision-Making
Skill matters, but smart decisions win matches. Know when to attack, when to reset, and when to simply keep the ball in play.
Accuracy Over Power
You can’t overpower strong players, but you can outplace them. Hit smarter, make your opponents move around, once you tire them out you improve your chances to not only win the rally but even the entire match.
Communicate Constantly
Call “yours,” “mine,” “switch,” “no,” and “bounce.” The quieter the team, the more points they give away.
Trust Your Partner
Good teams back each other up. Great teams anticipate each other’s moves. You should be well aware of your partner’s skillset, for eg even if you are on the left side and your partner has a strong backhand let them pick the center balls, that way the opponent will always have to second guess their strategies.
Read Out Balls
Learning to let balls go long is one of the fastest ways to jump levels. Shoulder-high drives with pace almost always sail long so let them, by chance if it lands it, your opponent will still stop driving hard knowing you are up for letting high balls sail away.
Move Together
If your partner moves left, you shift left. If they move back, you do the same. Think of yourselves as connected by an invisible rope.
Stay Patient
The best players don’t rush. They wait for the right ball, the right moment, the right angle. Patience is a weapon.
Should You Drive or Drop the Third Shot?
It depends on the return. If it’s low and short, a drop is your best option. If it’s deep and gives you space to generate pace, a drive might create a pop-up or force an error. Your goal isn’t to hit a perfect shot—it’s to put your team in a better position for the fifth.
How to Become an Ideal Doubles Partner
Practice with your regular partner often, do match pattern drills, as that is where the real magic happens. Play with your partner often. Learn their habits. Celebrate their good shots, support them after bad ones, and stay calm no matter what. Body language matters do not slump, groan, or show frustration. Be the partner who lifts the team, not the one who sinks it.
Remember Doubles isn’t just about great shots it’s about great energy.
Final Thoughts
Doubles pickleball adds strategy, teamwork, and fun to every match. Whether you’re learning the basics or stepping into advanced tactics like stacking and poaching, every layer you add makes the game richer. So grab a partner, hit the courts, and start building the kind of chemistry that turns rallies into highlights.
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