Doubles Strategy (Pickleball)
Also known as: pickleball doubles strategy, doubles strategy, pickleball doubles tips, how to win at pickleball doubles, winning pickleball doubles, basic pickleball doubles strategy, doubles game plan in pickleball, targeting the weaker player in pickleball
Win more doubles points by getting both of you to the kitchen line together, then staying patient. Serve and return deep, and use a third-shot drop, or a drive off a short, high return, to move up. Dink crosscourt until someone lifts a ball. Aim at the middle and the weaker side, and call every middle ball.
USA Pickleball notes that most doubles points are won at the kitchen line, so the plan is built around getting there. The returning team has the head start. Hit the return deep and move straight up. The serving team must let the return bounce, so serve deep and stay back for the third shot. Drop the third shot off a low return, and drive it off a short, high one. Move up together after a good third shot. If it was weak, hold back and try again on the fifth.
At the line, patience wins. The crosscourt dink crosses the lowest part of the net and gives the most room for error, so make it your base shot. Mix in middle and straight dinks to keep opponents guessing. Keep the ball low and attack only balls that sit up. Shots down the middle take away sharp angles, force opponents to talk, and often reach two backhands.
Teamwork ties it together. Move forward and side to side as a pair so no gap opens. Decide quickly and commit, because hesitation causes errors in fast exchanges. Call "mine" or "yours" early, especially on middle balls. Play to your strengths and look for weak spots, such as a poor backhand, limited movement or a shaky third shot. In social games, USA Pickleball's sportsmanship guide asks stronger players not to pick on a weaker player too much.
Tips by skill level
Return deep, then walk up to the kitchen line with your partner. When serving, stay back until the return bounces, then move up together after a good third shot.
Plan the rally from the serve. Serve deep to the weaker backhand, read the return's height to choose drop or drive, and use the fifth shot to finish moving forward when the third was not good enough.
Example
Down 3-7, a pair stops trading drives from the baseline. They return deep and walk in together, drop their third shots crosscourt, and dink until the other team lifts a ball. They win the next run of points at the kitchen line.
Why it matters
Many players learn pickleball through doubles, and the team that holds the kitchen line controls most rallies. A simple shared plan cuts unforced errors and confusion between partners.
Common mistakes
- Staying at the baseline after the return instead of moving up
- One partner rushing the net while the other stays back, leaving a gap
- Speeding up balls from below net height
- Letting a middle ball go because neither partner called it
- Missing serves by going for too much, which gives away the rally
Frequently asked questions
How do I win more pickleball doubles games?
Get both players to the kitchen line, keep the ball low, and be patient in dink rallies. Serve and return deep, aim at the middle, and call middle balls early.
What is the best doubles strategy in pickleball?
No single plan fits every match, but USA Pickleball's core plan is simple. Serve and return deep, move up together, and drop or drive the third shot based on the return. Then dink crosscourt and attack only balls that sit up.
What should the serving team do in pickleball doubles?
Serve deep, then stay back until the return bounces. Hit a third-shot drop or drive, and move up together after a good one. If it was weak, wait and try again on the fifth shot.
Should we hit everything to the weaker player in doubles?
In competitive play, aiming at a weaker backhand or a slower mover is a standard tactic. In social play, USA Pickleball's sportsmanship guide asks stronger players to be kind and avoid hitting too much to a weaker player.
Sources
Related terms
- Kitchen Line PositionKitchen line position refers to standing as close to the non-volley zone line as legally possible. This maximizes net coverage and offensive angle while minimizing the court area opponents can attack.
- Third-Shot DropThe third-shot drop is a soft, arcing shot hit from the baseline that lands in the opponent's kitchen — forcing them to hit upward and giving the serving team time to advance safely to the kitchen line.
- Third Shot DriveA third shot drive is a hard, low third shot hit from the baseline instead of a drop. It aims to pressure the returning team into a defensive pop-up.
- Dink Rally PatienceDink rally patience is the discipline to keep the ball low and controlled through a long dink exchange. You wait for a real opening instead of forcing an early attack.
- Cross-Court DinkA cross-court dink is a soft shot played diagonally over the lowest part of the net. This gives the hitter the largest margin for error and the best angle for pulling an opponent sideways.
- Middle BallA middle ball is a shot aimed directly between two opponents in doubles, designed to create confusion about who should take it and generate communication errors.
- Partner CommunicationPartner communication in doubles pickleball is the ongoing verbal and non-verbal exchange — "mine", "yours", "switch", "bounce it" — that keeps both players coordinated and prevents errors from confusion.
- Return DepthReturn depth means hitting the serve return deep, near the opponent's baseline. That makes it harder for them to approach the kitchen line comfortably before the third shot.
- StackingStacking is a doubles strategy where both players line up on the same side before the serve or return. Once the ball is in play, they slide to their preferred sides, overriding the score-dictated positions so each player plays from their preferred side.
- Being a Good Doubles PartnerA good doubles partner stays positive, talks on every ball and keeps blame off the court. After a miss, a quick "next one" helps more than a lecture. Give tips only when asked, agree on a simple plan before you start, and save longer talks for between games or after the match.
Related guides & benchmarks
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