Side-by-Side Formation
Also known as: parallel formation, standard doubles formation
Side-by-side formation is the standard doubles alignment where both partners stand level with each other — either at the kitchen line or the baseline — dividing court coverage left and right.
The side-by-side formation is the default alignment for doubles and the one that maximizes court coverage. At the kitchen line, both players stand shoulder-to-shoulder and shift together as a unit as the ball moves. Coverage responsibilities are usually split at the centerline. The player whose forehand covers the middle (usually the player on the left side for right-handers) takes middle balls. Side-by-side breaks down when one player poaches excessively, creating seams the opponents can exploit.
The side-by-side formation at the kitchen line requires active maintenance, not just initial positioning. As dinks move left and right, both players slide together to maintain middle coverage. When one player is pulled wide for a dink, the other closes to cover the center seam. This unit movement — moving as if connected at the hip — prevents the gaps that opponents exploit with middle attacks or body shots to the uncovered side.
In the baseline side-by-side after a return of serve, both partners wait for the third shot before deciding to advance. The baseline partner covers their half of the court with drives or resets while the serve team attempts their third-shot pattern. Returning to a tight side-by-side after every attack or erne attempt — rather than staying in the aggressive wide position — is what makes the formation sustainable across a long rally.
Think of a rope connecting you to your partner at the hip — whenever you slide left, they slide left, and vice versa — unit movement keeps the middle closed.
Establish a clear middle-coverage rule with your partner before the match — usually the player whose forehand is in the middle takes all middle balls — so you never hesitate under speed.
Example
Both partners advance to the kitchen line after the return and hold a tight side-by-side position, moving left together to cover a crosscourt dink.
How it shows up on video
On video, watch both players' side-to-side positions during kitchen exchanges. Look for moments when the middle seam opens because one player drifts wide and the partner does not compensate.
Common mistakes
- Moving independently of the partner to cover a dink, leaving the center seam open for a middle attack
- Standing in side-by-side at the kitchen line without both players being at the same depth from the line
- Failing to slide back together to side-by-side after a wide erne attempt or attack, leaving the formation asymmetric
- Allowing one player to reliably poach toward the center, creating a predictable wide-side gap opponents exploit
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
Motion Lab follows one athlete, so it does not track your partner or the centre line. On video, watch for moments when one of you is at the kitchen and the other has drifted back.
Related terms
- Up-and-Back FormationUp-and-back is a doubles alignment: one partner at the kitchen line, the other at or near the baseline. It usually occurs during a rally's transition phase.
- 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 to keep both forehands covering the middle.
- 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.
- Court PositioningCourt positioning is the ongoing management of where you stand relative to the net, your partner, and the ball — the foundation of all tactical decision-making in pickleball.
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